[Ord. No. 3158, 7-26-1988, § 2-13.1; amended
by Ord. No. 3779, 9-9-2003, § 1; Ord. No. 44-2023, 1-23-2024]
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118, there shall be a Department
of Police, the head of which shall be the Police Chief.
[Ord. No. 3158, 7-26-1988, § 2-13.2; amended
by Ord. No. 3779, 9-9-2003, § 1; Ord. No. 4024, 7-25-2007, § 1; Ord. No. 3-2023, 1-24-2023; Ord.
No. 44-2023, 1-23-2024]
There is hereby created, in and for the Township of Teaneck,
a Department of Police, which shall consist of no more than one Police
Chief, one Deputy Police Chief, three Captains (or if there is no
Deputy Chief, up to four Captains), 10 Police Lieutenants, 20 Police
Sergeants and 80 police officers to be appointed to these positions
by the appointing authority.
[Ord. No. 3158, 7-26-1988, § 2-13.3; amended
by Ord. No. 3779, 9-9-2003, § 1; Ord. No. 44-2023, 1-23-2024]
The Department of Police shall preserve the public peace; protect
life and property; detect, arrest and prosecute offenders of the laws
of New Jersey and the ordinances of the Township of Teaneck; direct
and control traffic; provide attendance and protection during emergencies;
provide appearances in court; cooperate with all other law enforcement
agencies and provide training for the efficiency of its members and
officers.
[Ord. No. 3158, 7-26-1988, § 2-13.4; amended
by Ord. No. 3397, 6-26-1994, § 2; Ord. No. 3779, 9-9-2003, § 1; Ord. No. 44-2023, 1-23-2024]
The Municipal Manager shall be designated as the appropriate
authority as provided in the New Jersey Statute, N.J.S.A. 40A: 14-118
et seq. The appropriate authority shall be responsible for the overall
performance of the Police Department. The appropriate authority shall
adopt and promulgate rules and regulations for the government of the
Department of Police and for the discipline of members.
[Ord. No. 3158, 7-26-1988, § 2-13.6; amended
by Ord. No. 3779, 9-9-2003, § 1; Ord. No. 44-2023, 1-23-2024]
The Police Chief shall be the head of the Department of Police
and shall be responsible to the appropriate authority for its efficiency
and day-to-day operations. Pursuant to policies established by the
appropriate authority, the Chief of Police shall:
(a) Administer and enforce the rules and regulations of the Department
of Police and any special emergency directive for the disposition
and discipline of the Department and its members and officers;
(b) Serve as the hearing officer for all discipline matters within the
Department of Police. In those disciplinary matters wherein the Police
Chief cannot serve as hearing officer, the appropriate authority or
his/her designee shall act as the hearing officer;
(c) Have, exercise and discharge the function, powers and duties of the
Department of Police;
(d) Prescribe the duties and assignment of all members and officers;
(e) Delegate such authority as may be deemed necessary for the efficient
operation of the Department of Police to be exercised under the Chief's
direction and control; and
(f) Report at least monthly to the appropriate authority in such form
as shall be prescribed on the operation of the Department of Police
during the preceding month and make such reports as may be requested
by the appropriate authority.
[Amended by Ord. No. 3158, 7-26-1988; Ord. No. 3779, 9-9-2003; Ord. No. 4269, 8-28-2012; 9-19-2023 by Ord. No. 34-2023; Ord. No. 44-2023, 1-23-2024]
(a) No person shall be appointed to the Department of Police who is not
qualified as provided in the New Jersey Statutes. The appropriate
authority may also require that an applicant for appointment to the
Department of Police shall successfully complete a physical, mental
and psychological examination.
(b) The appropriate
authority may appoint an entry level law enforcement officer without
the requirement for the civil service law examination provided that
the candidate meets the requirements for the desired title and have
successfully completed the full Basic Course for Police Officers at
a school approved and authorized by the New Jersey Police Training
Commission pursuant to N.J.S.A. 11A:4-1.3. Nothing herein shall circumvent
the intergovernmental transfer process regulations established by
the Civil Service Commission.
(c) All applicants for appointment to the Police Department shall be
classified according to the following classes:
I
|
Residents of the municipality
|
II
|
Other residents of the county in which the municipality is situate
|
III
|
Other residents of the state
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IV
|
All other qualified applicants
|
[Ord. No. 3779, 9-9-2003, § 1; amended by Ord. No. 45-2014, 12-17-2014; Ord. No. 22-2015, 5-19-2015; Ord. No. 21-2022, 8-30-2022; Ord. No. 44-2023, 1-23-2024]
(a) Special law enforcement officers may be appointed by the Township
of Teaneck in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.8 et seq.
(b) Power of appointment. The power to appoint special law enforcement
officers shall reside in the Township Manager, subject to the parameters
of this section and of the laws of the State of New Jersey. A special
law enforcement officer shall be under the supervision and direction
of the Chief of Police or, in the absence of the Chief, another superior
officer designated by the Chief of Police.
(c) Classes of special law enforcement officers. Special law enforcement
officers appointed by the Township Manager, and approved in accordance
with the parameters of this section, shall perform duties within the
following classifications, in accordance with the requirements set
forth in N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.11:
(1) Class 1. Officers of this class shall be authorized to perform routine
traffic detail, spectator control and similar duties. If authorized
by ordinance or resolution, as appropriate, Class 1 officers shall
have the power to issue summonses for disorderly persons' and petty
disorderly persons' offenses, violations of municipal ordinances and
violations of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes. The use of a firearm
by an officer of this class shall be strictly prohibited, and no Class
1 officer shall be assigned any duties which may require the carrying
or use of a firearm.
(2) Class 2. Officers of this class shall be authorized to exercise full
powers and duties similar to those of a permanent, regularly appointed,
full-time police officer. The use of a firearm by an officer of this
class may be authorized only after the officer has been fully certified
as successfully completing training as prescribed by the Police Training
Commission.
(d) Qualifications. No person may be appointed as a special law enforcement
officer unless the person:
(1) Resides as follows:
a. Is a resident of the State of New Jersey during the term of appointment
subject to the following preferences in appointment:
1.
Residents of the Township of Teaneck at the time of appointment.
2.
Other residents of the State of New Jersey.
b. The foregoing classes of qualified applicants shall be considered
as separate and successive lists of eligibles, and appointments shall
first be made from among Teaneck resident applicants, and other appointments
shall only be made after all qualified Teaneck resident applicants
have either been appointed or have declined appointment, subject to
Civil Service Commission rules and preferences afforded to veterans
and applicants whose natural or adoptive parent was killed in the
lawful discharge of official duties while serving as a law enforcement
officer in any enforcement agency in this state.
(2) Is able to read, write and speak the English language well and intelligently
and has a high school diploma or its equivalent;
(3) Is sound in body and of good health;
(4) Is of good moral character;
(5) Has not been convicted of any offense involving dishonesty or which
would make him unfit to perform the duties of his office;
(6) Has successfully undergone the same psychological testing that is
required of all full-time police officers in the municipality or county;
(7) Has his fingerprints taken, which shall be filed with the Division
of State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and
(8) Is not serving as a special law enforcement officer in more than
one local unit at the same time, nor shall any permanent, regularly
appointed, full-time police officer of any local unit be appointed
as a special law enforcement officer in any local unit.
(e) Approval by Chief of Police. In accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.10e,
before any special law enforcement officer is appointed pursuant to
this section, the Chief of Police or, in the absence of the Chief,
other chief law enforcement officer of the local unit shall ascertain
the eligibility and qualifications of the applicant and report these
determinations in writing to the appointing authority.
(f) Training requirements. No special law enforcement officer may commence
duty as a special law enforcement officer until successful completion
of a training course approved by the New Jersey Police Training Commission,
nor may said Class 2 special law enforcement officer be issued a firearm
until the successful completion of the basic firearms course approved
by said Commission for permanent, regularly appointed police and annual
requalification examinations.
(g) Carrying of firearms. No special law enforcement officer may carry
a firearm except while engaged in the actual performance of the officer's
official duties and when specifically authorized by the Chief of Police
or, in the absence of the Chief, other chief law enforcement officer
of the local unit to carry a firearm, and provided that the officer
has satisfactorily completed the basic firearms course required by
the Commission for regular police officers and annual requalification
examinations as required for permanent, regularly appointed, full-time
officers in the local unit. Any firearm utilized by a special law
enforcement officer shall be returned at the end of the officer's
workday. A weapon may not be carried while off duty.
(h) Term. Special law enforcement officers may be appointed for terms
not to exceed one year, and the appointments may be revoked by the
local unit for cause after adequate hearing, unless the appointment
is for four months or less, in which event the appointment may be
revoked without cause or hearing. The special law enforcement officers
so appointed shall not be members of the police force of the local
unit, and their powers and duties as determined pursuant to this section
shall cease at the expiration of the term for which appointed.
(i) Compensation. Special law enforcement officers may be paid for their
services in accordance with the schedule set forth by the Township
Council. Special law enforcement officers shall be entitled to all
benefits extended to other officers at the employ of the Township.
(j) Conduct. Special law enforcement officers shall comply with the rules
and regulations applicable to the conduct and decorum of the permanent,
regularly appointed police officers of the local unit, as well as
any rules and regulations applicable to the conduct and decorum of
special law enforcement officers.
(k) Hours. The Chief of Police may schedule special law enforcement officers
to perform authorized duties not to exceed 20 hours per week, or otherwise
in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.16. In periods of emergency,
there shall be no limitation as to hours per week.
(l) On-duty time. A special law enforcement officer shall be deemed to
be on duty only while performing public safety functions on behalf
of the Township. A special law enforcement officer shall be deemed
to be on duty only while he is performing public safety functions
on behalf of the local unit pursuant to this section and when he is
receiving compensation, if any, from the local unit at the rates or
stipends as shall be established by ordinance. A special law enforcement
officer shall not be deemed to be on duty for purposes of this section
while performing private security duties for private employers, which
duties are not assigned by the Chief of Police or, in the absence
of the Chief, other chief law enforcement officer of the local unit,
or while receiving compensation for those duties from a private employer.
A special law enforcement officer may, however, be assigned by the
Chief of Police or, in the absence of the Chief, other chief law enforcement
officer to perform public safety functions for a private entity if
the Chief of Police or other chief law enforcement officer supervises
the performance of the public safety functions. If the Chief of Police
or other chief law enforcement officer assigns the public safety duties
and supervises the performance of those duties, then, notwithstanding
that the local unit is reimbursed for the cost of assigning a special
law enforcement officer at a private entity, the special law enforcement
officer shall be deemed to be on duty.
(m) Limitations on number of special law enforcement officers. The Township
of Teaneck may employ up to 10 special law enforcement officers from
either Class 1 or Class 2 and in accordance with other prohibitions
set forth in N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.17.
[Ord. No. 3779, 9-9-2003, § 1; amended by Ord. No. 44-2023, 1-23-2024]
All current and previous appointments in the Police Department
made by the current Township Council and Municipal Manager, as well
as all previous appointments to positions in the Police Department
made by previous Township Councils and previous Municipal Managers,
are hereby ratified and approved.