As used in this Article, the following definitions
apply:
COMMISSION
The Police Training Commission established in the Department
of Law and Public Safety pursuant to Section 5 of P.L. 1961, c. 56
(N.J.S.A. 52:17B-70).
EMERGENCY
Any sudden, unexpected or unforeseeable event requiring the
immediate use or deployment of law enforcement personnel as shall
be determined by the Chief of Police or, in the absence of the Chief,
the highest ranking law enforcement officer or the Mayor. Vacations,
shortages in police personnel caused by vacancies unfilled by the
Mayor and Council for more than 60 days or any other condition that
could reasonably have been anticipated or foreseen shall not constitute
an "emergency" for the purposes of this chapter, but an "emergency"
may continue for the purposes of this chapter when a vacancy remains
unfilled for more than 60 days and when, on application of the Mayor
and Council, the County Prosecutor grants an extension for one or
more additional sixty-day periods upon a showing by the Mayor and
Council of a diligent, good faith effort to fill the vacancy.
SPECIAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
Any person appointed pursuant to this chapter and the Special
Law Enforcement Officers' Act, N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.8 et seq., to temporarily
or intermittently perform duties similar to those performed regularly
by members of a police force or to provide assistance to the police
force during unusual or emergency circumstances.
The Chief of Police or, in the absence of the
Chief, the highest ranking law enforcement officer of the Borough
may authorize special law enforcement officers when on duty to exercise
the same powers and authority as permanent, regularly appointed police
officers of the Borough, including but not limited to the carrying
of firearms and the power to arrest, subject to rules and regulations,
not inconsistent with this chapter.
Every special law enforcement officer, prior
to the commencement of his or her duties, shall be furnished with
a uniform that shall identify the officer's function. The uniform
shall include but not be limited to a hat and appropriate badges,
that shall bear an identification number or name tag and the name
of the Borough. The uniform shall also include an insignia issued
by the Commission which clearly indicates the officer's status as
a special law enforcement officer and the type of certification issued
pursuant to this chapter. All special law enforcement officers, prior
to the commencement of duties, shall be in uniform properly displaying
the appropriate insignia. Nothing in this section shall preclude the
designation on an insignia to read either "special police" or "special
law enforcement officer."
The Mayor and Council may, by resolution, charge
a reasonable fee for equipment and uniforms supplied to special law
enforcement officers. Officers will not be charged a fee for the costs
of training or issuing a certificate of appointment. The officer will
not be compensated for time spent in training required herein.