[Amended 5-16-1969 by Ord. No. 69-12; 11-17-1969 by Ord. No. 69-30; 6-7-1971 by Ord. No. 71-9; 2-3-1986 by Ord. No. 86-2; 9-15-1997 by Ord. No. 97-20; 2-4-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-4; 4-21-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-9; 6-18-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-5; 4-26-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-08; 9-13-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-14; 1-30-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-01; 11-13-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-29]
The Police Department of the Borough of Metuchen shall consist of no more than one Chief of Police, one Captain of Operations/Deputy Chief, two Lieutenants, six Sergeants, and 22 patrol officers, and such other employees as the Mayor and Borough Council may from time to time appoint. Patrol officers shall be appointed by the Mayor in consultation with the appropriate authority/Borough Administrator and the Police Chief upon confirmation by the Borough Council. The Police Chief shall be appointed by the Mayor in consultation with the appropriate authority/Borough Administrator upon confirmation by the Borough Council. The Captain of Operations/Deputy Chief, Lieutenants, and Sergeants shall be appointed by the Mayor in consultation with the appropriate authority/Borough Administrator and the Police Chief.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Previous §§ 19-2, Hours of employment, and 19-3, Vacations, as amended, which immediately followed this section, were deleted 9-15-1997 by Ord. No. 97-20.
For the purposes of this Part I, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively inscribed to them by this section:
OFFICER
Any member of the Police Department of the Borough, from the rank of Sergeant to the rank of Chief, inclusive.
POLICE COMMISSIONER
That member of the Borough Council, acting as Council liaison to the Police Department, as annually appointed by the Borough Council.
[Amended 9-15-1997 by Ord. No. 97-20]
POLICE OFFICER
Any member of the Police Department of the Borough.
SUPERIOR OFFICER
A member of the Police Department holding the rank of Lieutenant or any rank above.
No person shall be appointed to membership in the Police Department unless he or she shall comply with the requirements of the statutes in such cases made and provided and with such other requirements as the Borough Council shall from time to time determine.
Every member of the Police Department, before serving as such and also upon promotion to any of the advanced ranks within the Department, shall swear to the following oath of office before the Clerk of the Borough, and the oath shall be transcribed in the police blotter under the date taken and signed by the member:
"I do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution and laws of the United States and the State of New Jersey and the ordinances of the Borough of Metuchen and obey all the rules and regulations and lawful orders of the Metuchen Police Department and faithfully discharge the duties of .............., and faithfully serve the Borough of Metuchen according to the best of my knowledge and ability, so help me God."[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 19-7, Police headquarters, which immediately followed this section, was deleted 9-15-1997 by Ord. No. 97-20.