Class Three special law enforcement officers (SLEO III) who are retired regular police officers and who may from time to time be appointed and shall serve at the pleasure of the Commissioner of Public Safety for a term not to exceed one year, which officers shall not be members of the regular police force but shall nevertheless be under the control and supervision of the Chief of Police for use solely as school security officers as detailed in N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.10, et seq. The number of SLEO III officers shall be determined as necessary by the Commissioner of Public Safety.

It shall not be necessary that any or all of these positions should be filled, and the appointment of a member of the Department to a respective position or the employment of a nonpolice officer, such as in the Record Bureau, shall be at the discretion of the Commissioner of Public Safety.

In the event that there is an unfilled vacancy in any of the superior officer positions, the maximum number of patrol officers shall be increased by the number of such vacancies. However, in no event shall the maximum number of officers in the Police Department, including the Chief, Captain, Lieutenants, Sergeants and patrol officers, but excluding auxiliary police officers, exceed 35 members.

§ 77-2 Functions and duties.

It shall be the function of the Police Department to protect life and property, preserve the public peace, prevent and detect crime, detect and arrest offenders, enforce the laws, including statutes of the United States and this state and the Code of the Village of Ridgefield Park, and all other ordinances of the Village, regulate and control traffic and perform such other duties or functions not specified above as may be considered proper functions of a police department or as may be covered by the rules and regulations of the Police Department.

§ 77-3 Department rules and regulations.

[Amended 9-23-2008 by Ord. No. 08-09]

The Commissioner in charge of the Police Department shall recommend to the Board of Commissioners from time to time amendments and supplements to the manual of rules and regulations of the Ridgefield Park Police Department, which, if accepted, shall be adopted by ordinance by the government body. Such manual shall provide for the administration and operation of the Police Department, shall prescribe the duties and rules of conduct of the members thereof, and shall contain such other matters as are necessary for the proper functioning of the Police Department. All of the members of the Police Department and its civilian employees shall be subject to and faithfully abide by the Police Department rules and regulations contained in the aforesaid manual.

§ 77-4 Powers and duties of Chief.

[Amended 9-23-2008 by Ord. No. 08-09]

The general administration and control of the Police Department is vested in the Chief of Police, who shall be responsible to the Commissioner in charge of the Police Department, who shall be known as the "appropriate authority" under N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118, for the efficient and routine day-to-day operations of the Police Department and the members and civilian employees thereof. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118, the Chief of Police shall have the following powers and duties:

To administer and enforce rules and regulations and special emergency directives for the disposition and discipline of the force and its officers and personnel; provided, however, that no such rules, regulations or directives shall in any way conflict or be inconsistent with the rules issued by the appropriate authority;

To issue orders and to amend and supplement existing orders as may be necessary for the proper conduct and efficiency of the Police Department; provided, however, that no such order shall in any way conflict or be inconsistent with the rules issued by the appropriate authority;

To have, exercise, and discharge the functions, powers and duties of the force;

To prescribe the duties and assignments of all subordinates and other personnel;

To delegate such of his authority as he may deem necessary for the efficient operation of the force, to be exercised under his direction and supervision; and

Report at least monthly to the appropriate authority in such form as shall be prescribed by such authority on the operation of the force during the preceding month, and make such other reports as may be requested by such authority.

§ 77-5 Captain of Police.

The Captain of Police shall be second in command of the Police Department and be directly responsible to the Chief of Police for the efficiency and good order of the Patrol Division, Detective Bureau, Traffic Bureau and Records Bureau and all other police and civilian personnel of the Police Department. In the absence or disability of the Chief of Police, the Captain of Police shall perform the duties and exercise all the authority and functions of the Chief of Police.

§ 77-6 Senior Lieutenant of Police.

In the absence or disability of the Chief of Police and Captain of Police, the Senior Lieutenant of Police shall perform the duties and exercise all of the authority and functions of the Chief of Police and Captain of Police.

§ 77-7 Residency requirements.

[Amended 9-23-2008 by Ord. No. 08-09]

In accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:14-122.1, no member of the Police Department nor civilian employee shall be required to be a resident of the Village of Ridgefield Park as a condition of original appointment, continued employment, promotion, or for any other purpose in the Police Department. However, every member and civilian employee of the Police Department shall be a resident of the State of New Jersey, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-122.8.

§ 77-8 Appointments and promotions.

All appointments to and promotions in the Police Department shall be made by the Commissioner in charge of the Police Department in such manner and form as may be provided for by state law and by rules and regulations of the Police Department. All such appointments and promotions shall be made by such Commissioner in writing to the Village Clerk and Chief of Police.

All appointments to the grade of patrolman shall have graduated from a New Jersey police academy and received a PTC certification prior to such appointment and shall be retained for a probationary period of no less than one year, during which period the appointment may be revoked by the Commissioner in charge of the Police Department. At the end of such probationary period, the Commissioner in charge of the Police Department shall appoint such person as a regular patrolman, if: 1) the service of such appointee has been satisfactory; 2) he is not otherwise disqualified from employment at the Police Department; and 3) he has been recommended for hire by the Chief of Police.

[Amended 9-23-2008 by Ord. No. 08-09]

Appointment and promotion. All appointments to be considered for the grade of sergeant shall have served as a PTC-certified police officer in the Ridgefield Park Police Department for a minimum of six years.

[Added 9-23-2008 by Ord. No. 08-09]

§ 77-9 Vacancies in office.

[Amended 9-23-2008 by Ord. No. 08-09]

The creation of or existence of a vacancy in any office or position provided for in this chapter shall be filled by the Commissioner in charge of the Police Department, in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated in this chapter.

§ 77-10 Oath of office.

Every member and employee of the Police Department shall, before entering upon the performance of his duty, subscribe to an oath or affirmation to bear true faith and allegiance to the government established in this state, to support the Constitution of the United States of America and the state, and to faithfully, impartially and justly perform and discharge the duties of his office, which oath shall be filed with the Village Clerk and shall be in the form provided by statute.

§ 77-11 Tenure in office; removal.

[Amended 9-23-2008 by Ord. No. 08-09]

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, regular members of the Police Department shall hold the offices to which they have been appointed, provided that they maintain good behavior, physical and mental capacity and efficiency in said office. No regular member of the Police Department shall be removed from office for political reasons or for any other reasons other than those enumerated in this chapter or authorized by statute. Proceedings for removal from office of any member of the Police Department shall be in accordance with statute and the rules and regulations of the Police Department.

§ 77-12 Salaries and compensation.

[Amended 1-27-1981 by Ord. No. 2-81; 3-26-1985 by Ord. No. 6-85; 4-26-1988 by Ord. No. 8-88]

Except in cases fixed by referendum pursuant to statute or as provided in this chapter, the Board of Commissioners shall fix and authorize by ordinance the salary to be paid to members and employees of the Police Department. Those members of the Police Department covered by contract agreement between the Village of Ridgefield Park and the Police Benevolent Association and any other member of the Police Department assigned to five-and-two duty shift shall be compensated by taking the base salary, which shall be divided by 1,945 and then multiplied by 40, and that result shall be added to their base salary according to their equivalent rank.

In a case where the Chief of Police shall assign a member of the Police Department to the Traffic Bureau, Range Officer or TAC Officer, or when the Commissioner in charge of the Police Department assigns a member of the Police Department to the Detective Bureau, he may, by written order to the Village Clerk, direct that such member receive an additional amount of compensation equal to the amount set forth in Subsection C of this section, which compensation for the officer assigned to these duties shall be in addition to any overtime. Upon termination of such detail or assignment, such additional compensation shall be discontinued.

[Amended 9-23-2008 by Ord. No. 08-09]

The following stipends shall be paid to a member of the Police Department who serves in the aforementioned bureaus:

[Amended 9-23-2008 by Ord. No. 08-09]

	Bureau or Function	Annual Stipend
	Detective Bureau	$1,200
	Traffic Bureau	$1,200
	Range Officer	$1,200
	TAC Officer	$1,200

§ 77-13 Applicability of statutory provisions.

All members and employees of the Police Department shall be subject to all laws of the state enacted for the conduct, benefit and protection of members and employees of any police department in municipalities of this state.

§ 77-14 Detective Bureau.

There is hereby created within the Police Department a Detective Bureau, which shall function as prescribed by the Police Department rules and regulations and the Chief of Police. The Commissioner in charge of the Police Department may designate such number of Detectives and other members of the Police Department to serve in the Detective Bureau as he may deem necessary. Such appointments may be terminated by the Commissioner at his pleasure.

A Juvenile Officer shall be designated by such Commissioner to serve in the Detective Bureau and shall have such duties as may be prescribed by the rules and regulations of the Police Department and the Chief of Police. Such appointment may be terminated by the Commissioner at his pleasure.[1]

[1]

Editor's Note: Former Subsection C, pertaining to an identification section, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 9-23-2008 by Ord. No. 08-09.

§ 77-15 Traffic Bureau.

[Amended 9-23-2008 by Ord. No. 08-09]

There is hereby created within the Police Department a Traffic Bureau, whose members shall be selected from the members of the Department by the Chief of Police. The Traffic Bureau shall function as prescribed by state law, this chapter and other Village ordinances, and by the rules and regulations of the Police Department.

A Civilian Police Utilityman shall be assigned to the Traffic Bureau by the Commissioner in charge of the Police Department and shall have such duties as may be prescribed by the Chief of Police and by members of the Traffic Bureau.

§ 77-16 Records Bureau.

[Amended 9-23-2008 by Ord. No. 08-09]

There is hereby created within the Police Department a Records Bureau, which shall function as prescribed by the rules and regulations of the Department and the Chief of Police. The Records Bureau may be operated by civilian records clerks under the supervision and direction of the Chief of Police.

§ 77-17 Police Physician.

The Commissioner in charge of the Police Department may appoint any licensed doctor of medicine of the state as Police Physician. The Police Physician shall perform such medical services as the Commissioner may require and as are prescribed by the rules and regulations of the Police Department. The Police Physician shall receive such reasonable compensation for services rendered as may be approved by the Commissioner. The appointment of the Police Physician may be terminated by the Commissioner at any time without cause or hearing.

§ 77-18 Reserve force.

The Commissioner in charge of the Police Department may establish a reserve force by appointing special policemen or policewomen in such number as he may deem necessary. Such members shall not be construed to be members of the regular Police Department. Members of the reserve force shall be under the direct supervision of the Chief of Police and shall be subject to drill and training in police duties and routine.

The Chief of Police may detail for special duty, whenever in his opinion it shall be advisable, as many special policemen or policewomen for periods of times as he may deem necessary. While performing such special duty, members are vested with the authority of special officers of the Village, as provided by state law.

Members of the reserve force are subject to the rules and regulations of the Police Department.

Members of the reserve force while on special duty may be compensated on a per diem basis in such amount as the Commissioner may determine, but such amount may not exceed the rate of pay of a patrolman of the regular Police Department in the first year of service.[1]

[1]

Editor's Note: Former Subsection E, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 9-23-2008 by Ord. No. 08-09.