[1972 Code § 31.001]
A Police Department is hereby established in
the Borough under the name of "Police Department of the Borough of
Ramsey."
[Ord. No.
457; Ord. No.
536; Ord. No.
592; Ord. No.
665; Ord. No.
723 § 1; Ord. No. 723-A § 1; Ord. No. 723B; Ord. No. 723C § 1; Ord. No. 33-2000 § 1; Ord. No. 38-2002 § 1; Ord. No. 8-2003 § 1; Ord. No. 17-2004 § 1; 10-22-2008 by Ord. No.
15-2008; 8-9-2023 by Ord. No. 08-2023]
The Police Department shall consist of as many
policemen or patrolmen as shall be authorized by the Borough Council,
all of whom shall act and be known as "police officers for the Borough
and members of the Police Department of the Borough of Ramsey." One
of the members shall be appointed and designated as the "Chief of
Police." One of the members shall be appointed and designated as "Captain
of the Police Department." Two of the members shall be appointed and
designated as "Lieutenants of the Police Department." Eight of the
members shall be appointed and designated as "Sergeants of the Police
Department."
[Ord. No.
488; Ord. No.
986 § 1; Ord. No. 25-2005 § I]
Policemen or patrolmen shall not become official
members of the Police Department unless and until they have served
a probationary period of 12 months, and have completed and satisfactorily
passed a police training course in a training school approved by the
Borough. No probationary member shall be made a permanent member of
the Police Department until he has completed both the twelve-month
period of probation and the training course provided above. The time
period may exceed 12 months for those persons enrolled prior to the
twelve-month limit in a police training course scheduled to end subsequent
to the twelve-month limit, and for those persons who, prior to the
twelve-month limit, have been scheduled to attend a police training
course which commences subsequent to the twelve-month limit. In no
case shall any extension granted for the reasons herein listed exceed
six months.
[1972 Code § 31.015]
The Police Department shall be under the immediate
charge and direction of the Mayor and Public Safety Committee of the
Council, subject, however, to the ultimate control of the Council.
[1972 Code § 31.020; Ord. No. 1146; Ord. No. 38-2002 § 2]
The Chief of Police shall be the chief executive
of the Police Department, and shall obey, and shall cause the members
of the Police Department under him to obey, the rules and regulations
and orders of the Department, the regulations and ordinances of the
Borough, and the laws of this state and of the United States. He shall
be held responsible for the efficiency, general conduct and good order
of the Department, and shall promptly report to the Chairman of the
Public Safety Committee every case of dereliction of duty coming in
any way to his knowledge and also all complaints made to him against
members of the Department.
[1972 Code § 31.025]
The Mayor, on recommendation of the Public Safety
Committee, shall nominate and, with the advice and consent of the
Council, shall appoint all members of the Police Department.
[1972 Code § 31.030; Ord. No. 643 § 1]
The regular members of the Police Department
shall severally hold their respective offices as municipal officers
during good behavior, efficiency and residence in the Borough.
[1972 Code § 31.035; Ord. No. 1175; Ord. No. 19-2002 § 1; Ord. No. 6-2005 § 1; 7-27-2022 by Ord. No. 12-2022]
No person shall be appointed as a member of
the Borough Police Department unless such person meets all of the
qualifications and requirements set forth in N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118,
et seq., as amended and supplemented and the following criteria:
a.
A four-year college degree from an accredited college
or university; or
b.
At least two years of active military service with
an honorable discharge or an active NJ PTC certification, together
with either a two-year college degree from an accredited college or
university or the accumulation of at least 60 credits from an accredited
college or university. Applicants who are transferring from a current
New Jersey law enforcement agency must have a minimum of two years
since the time of their appointment to that agency or bear the responsibility
for any costs incurred by the former employer under Title 40A:14-178.
In addition, transfer applicants must provide a waiver releasing their
current department's complete disciplinary record to this agency for
review in accordance with N.J.S.A. 52:17B-247.
c.
At least four years of active military service with
an honorable discharge provided, however, that said appointment, pursuant
to this paragraph, shall be contingent pending within five years of
said appointment receipt of either a two-year college degree from
an accredited college or university or the accumulation of at least
60 credits from an accredited college or university.
[1961 Code § 3.08; 1972 Code § 31.040]
The Council shall adopt rules and regulations
for the government of the Police Department; and the members thereof
as may in their judgment be needed for the proper efficiency of the
Department; the enforcement of the ordinances of the Borough and the
laws of the state; and of the United States; to fix and enforce penalties
for the violation of such rules and regulations; and the members of
the Department shall be subject to such rules, regulations and penalties
as the Council may adopt.
[1961 Code § 3.09; 1972 Code § 31.045]
Regular members of the Police Department shall
be removed from office or employment, suspended, or disciplined in
the manner prescribed by the New Jersey Statutes Annotated.
[1961 Code § 3.10; 1972 Code § 31.050]
Before entering upon the duties of his office
and within 10 days after his appointment, each member of the Police
Department shall take and subscribe an oath or affirmation faithfully
and impartially to discharge the duties of his office and shall file
such oaths or affirmations with the Borough Clerk, and upon failure
to do so the office shall be deemed vacant.
[1961 Code § 3.11; 1972 Code § 31.055]
Each member of the Police Department shall devote
his whole time and attention to the business, work and duties of the
Department, although certain hours are allotted to the members for
the performance of duty, yet at all times they must be prepared to
return for duty immediately on notice that their services are required.
[Ord. No.
1013 § 1; Ord. No. 17-2004 § 2; amended 8-29-2012 by Ord. No.
16-2012]
a.
The Manual
of the Borough Police Department dated March 15, 2001, is hereby approved
and adopted for the governing of the Police Department, and the rules
and regulations set forth therein are hereby approved and adopted
as the Rules and Regulations of the Police Department.
b.
The Internal
Affairs Policy of the Borough Police Department dated January 24,
1996, last revised on July 12, 2012, is hereby approved and adopted
for the governing of the Police Department, and the rules and regulations
set forth therein are hereby approved and adopted as the Internal
Affairs Policy of the Police Department.
[Ord. No. 1013-D; Ord. No. 38-2002 § 1]
Any member or employee of the Department who
violates the rules and regulations thereof and against whom charges
are preferred has the right to request a hearing in lieu of accepting
the disciplinary action imposed by the Chief of Police. The Public
Safety Committee of the Borough Council or such other hearing authority
as may be designated by the governing body is hereby designated and
directed to conduct such hearings. At such hearing, the member or
employee of the Department may act in his own defense or be represented
by an attorney at law of the State of New Jersey. The hearing shall
be fully recorded by tape or a certified court reporter. The Public
Safety Committee of the Borough Council may affirm, reverse or modify
the disciplinary action imposed by the Chief of Police. If the governing
body designates a hearing authority other than the Public Safety Committee
of the Borough Council, such hearing authority shall make findings
of fact and conclusions of law and shall recommend to the Chief of
Police the penalty, if any, to be imposed by the Chief of Police which
recommendation shall not be binding upon the Chief of Police.
All appeals from such hearing and disciplinary
action shall be directly to the Superior Court of New Jersey in accordance
with N.J.S.A. 40A:14-150.
[3-23-2022 by Ord. No. 04-2022]
a.
Purpose. For the convenience of those persons and entities which
utilize the services of off-duty law enforcement officers of the Ramsey
Police Department and to authorize the outside employment of Borough
police while off duty, the Borough hereby establishes a policy regarding
the use of said officers.
1.
Members of the Police Department shall be permitted to accept police-related
employment for private employers or school districts only during off-duty
hours and at such time as will not interfere with the efficient performance
of regularly scheduled or emergency duty for the Borough.
2.
Any person or entity wishing to employ off-duty police shall first
obtain the approval of the Chief of Police, which approval shall be
granted if, in the opinion of the Chief, such employment would not
be inconsistent with the efficient functioning and good reputation
of the Police Department and would not unreasonably endanger or threaten
the safety of the officer or officers who are to perform the work.
b.
Escrow accounts.
1.
Except as provided hereinbelow, any person or entity requesting the
services of an off-duty law enforcement officer in the Ramsey Department
shall estimate the number of hours such law enforcement services are
required, which estimate shall be approved, in writing, by the Chief
of Police, and shall establish an escrow account with the Chief Financial
Officer of the Borough by depositing an amount sufficient to cover
the rates of compensation and administrative fees set forth hereinbelow
for the total estimated hours of service. If services are required
on an immediate basis and it is not feasible to establish an escrow
account, the Chief of Police or his or her designee shall have the
authority to waive the requirement of an escrow account.
2.
If the amount required to be deposited with the Borough pursuant
to paragraph b1 hereinabove exceeds $20,000, an escrow deposit of
$20,000 shall be required. Said deposit of $20,000 shall be maintained
until such time as the amount required to be deposited for all remaining
services on any given project shall be less than $20,000, and then
such lesser amount shall be required to be maintained.
3.
Prior to posting any request for services of off-duty law enforcement
officers, the Chief of Police or his designee shall verify that the
balance in the escrow account of the person or entity requesting services
is sufficient to cover the compensation and fees for the number of
hours specified in the request for services. The Chief of Police shall
not post a request for services from any person or entity unless all
fees and compensation required in the manner described above have
been deposited with the Chief Financial Officer, except if the requirement
of an escrow account has been waived as permitted hereinabove. No
officer shall provide any such services for more hours than are specified
in the request for services.
4.
In the event the funds in such an escrow account should become depleted,
services of off-duty law enforcement officers shall cease and requests
for further or future services shall not be performed or posted until
additional funds have been deposited in the escrow account in the
manner prescribed above.
5.
The person or entity requesting such services shall be responsible
for ensuring that sufficient funds remain in the escrow account in
order to avoid any interruption of services.
6.
Houses of worship, local public schools and not-for-profit organizations
shall be exempt from the requirements for the posting of an escrow
deposit.
c.
Rate of compensation; administrative fee.
1.
The rate of compensation for contracting the services of off-duty
law enforcement officers shall be pursuant to the police officer's
overtime rate and shall be 1 1/2 times the officer's regular
hourly pay.
2.
An additional fee shall be paid to cover administrative costs, vehicle
costs, overhead and out-of-pocket expenses of the Borough, which shall
be $25 per hour in addition to the rate as calculated in paragraph
c1 above.
3.
A four-hour minimum shall be required for each private-duty assignment
and a minimum of two-hour increments after the first four hours.
4.
If the person or entity cancels the assignment after the officer
has been called in for the assignment, then the person or entity shall
still be responsible for payment for the four-hour-minimum assignment.
[1972 Code § 32.001]
A Fire Department is hereby established in the
Borough to be known as the "Ramsey Fire Department."
[1972 Code § 32.005]
The members of the Ramsey Fire Department shall
be approved by the Council.
[1972 Code § 32.010]
The Ramsey Fire Department shall be governed
by the bylaws, rules and regulations previously in force for the former
volunteer fire organization which are not inconsistent with any provisions
of this chapter. Such bylaws, rules and regulations may be amended
or repealed by tow-thirds-majority of the members of the Ramsey Fire
Department at any regular meeting, or special meeting called for that
purpose, not inconsistent with the provision of this chapter. No such
amendment shall take effect until approved by the Council.
[1972 Code § 32.015]
The officers of the Ramsey Fire Department shall
be such as are provided for by the bylaws, rules and regulations of
the voluntary fire organization. They shall be elected by the members
of the Ramsey Fire Department, but before acting shall be approved
by the Council.
[1961 Code § 4.05; Ord. No. 499; 1972 Code
§ 32.020]
The Mayor and the Public Safety Committee of
the Council shall have control of the Fire Department, its officers
and members, subject to the ultimate control of the Council. The Fire
Department, its officers and members, shall in all matters relating
thereto be governed and controlled under such rules and regulations
as the Council shall by resolution or ordinance adopt. The Council
shall also have the right to remove any officer of the Department
from office or any member from membership; provided, however, that
any such officer or member shall first be given written notice of
any charges made and given an opportunity to be heard at a hearing
to be held on such charges.
[1961 Code § 4.06; 1972 Code § 32.025]
All fire apparatus and equipment purchased by
the Council shall be the property of the Borough for use by the Fire
Department.
[Ord. No.
957A §§ 1-2]
[Ord. No.
957A § 3]
The Ramsey Rescue Squad Department shall be
governed by those bylaws, rules and regulations in force for the present
volunteer rescue squad subject, however, to approval by the governing
body. Such bylaws, rules and regulations may be amended or repealed
at any regular meeting or special meeting of the Ramsey Rescue Squad
Department called for that purpose provided such amendment or repeal
is passed by a 2/3 majority vote of the entire membership of the Department.
All amendments and repeals to the bylaws, rules and regulations of
the Department shall be subject to the approval of the governing body.
[Ord. No.
957A § 4]
The officers of the Ramsey Rescue Squad Department
shall be such as are provided for by the bylaws, rules and regulations
of the Department. They shall be elected by the members of the Ramsey
Rescue Squad Department and shall be subject to the approval of the
governing body.
[Ord. No.
957A § 5]
The Mayor and the Public Safety Committee of
the governing body shall have control of the Rescue Squad Department,
its officers, and members, subject to the ultimate control of the
governing body. The Rescue Squad Department, its officers and members
shall in all matters relating thereto be governed and controlled under
such rules and regulations as the governing body shall from time to
time by resolution or ordinance adopt. The governing body shall also
have the right to remove any officer of the Department from office
or any member from membership provided, however, that any such officer
or member shall first be given written notice of any charges made
and given an opportunity to be heard at a hearing to be held on such
charges.
[Ord. No.
957A § 6]
All rescue apparatus and equipment purchased
by the Borough shall be the property of the Borough for use by the
Rescue Squad Department.
[Ord. No.
957A § 7]
The functions of the Ramsey Rescue Squad shall
be as follows:
a.
To render emergency service where necessary within
the Borough of Ramsey when requested by the Borough's Chief of Police,
Fire Chief or Emergency Management Director or their designees.
b.
To participate in area mutual aid services which functions
may require the Rescue Squad to assist other municipalities in emergency
rescue services.
