[Amended 2-12-1975 by Ord. No. 1975-1]
A. 
The purpose of this chapter is the reorganization and establishment of an improved Police Department and to provide said Police Department with an organizational structure and method of operation which will be more efficient and render better service to the Township.
B. 
This chapter may be cited and known as the" Riverside Township Police Department Ordinance, 1975."
[Amended 3-28-1994 by Ord. No. 1994-4; 11-1-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-08; 6-16-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-05; 12-18-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-11]
There shall be established a Township Police Committee comprised of two Township Committeepersons or, in the alternative, one Township Committeeperson and the Mayor, who shall be appointed by the Township Committee for one-year terms of office and one of whom shall serve as the Committee's Director of Public Safety. The Township Administrator shall serve as a member of such Committee with all powers and privileges except the right to vote upon any matters.
A. 
The Police Department as heretofore established is hereby reorganized and established as follows:
(1) 
A Chief of Police shall be duly appointed by the Township Police Committee with the approval of the Township Committee, and at the recommendation of the Township Administrator in accordance with New Jersey civil service rules and regulations.
(2) 
(Reserved)[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection A(2), regarding the number of Police Captains appointed, was repealed 3-21-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-5.
(3) 
Such number of Police Lieutenants as shall be duly appointed by the Township Police Committee with the approval of the Township Committee and at the recommendation of the Chief of Police and/or Township Administrator, in accordance with New Jersey civil service rules and regulations.
(4) 
Such number of Police Sergeants as shall be duly appointed by the Township Police Committee with the approval of the Township Committee and at the recommendation of the Chief of Police and/or Township Administrator, in accordance with New Jersey civil service rules and regulations.
(5) 
Such number of other police officers as shall be duly appointed by the Township Police Committee, with the approval of the Township Committee and at the recommendation of the Chief of Police and/or Township Administrator, in accordance with New Jersey civil service rules and regulations.
(6) 
Such number of probationary police officers as shall be duly appointed by the Township Police Committee, with the approval of the Township Committee and at the recommendation of the Chief of Police and/or Township Administrator.
(7) 
Such number of civilian employees as shall be duly appointed by the Township Police Committee, with the approval of the Township Committee and at the recommendation of the Chief of Police and/or Township Administrator.
(8) 
Such number of special police, temporary police, part-time police and emergency police as shall be duly appointed by the Township Police Committee, with the approval of the Township Committee and at the recommendation of the Chief of Police and/or Township Administrator.
B. 
The active and regular Police Department of the Township shall include the Chief of Police, Lieutenants, Sergeants, the police officers, the Detectives and the probationary police officers, but shall not include any civilian employee of the Police Department, special police, temporary police, part-time police or emergency police. All members of the Department shall report to the Director of Public Safety and the Township Committee.
[Amended 3-21-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-5]
[Amended 3-28-1994 by Ord. No. 1994-4]
A. 
The Township Police Committee shall be comprised of two Township Committeepersons or, in the alternative, one Township Committeeperson and the Mayor, who shall be appointed by the Township Committee for one-year terms of office, and the Township Administrator, who shall serve as a full member but without the right to vote upon any matter.
B. 
Each member of the active and regular Police Department shall possess the following general qualifications:
(1) 
He/she shall be a citizen of the United States.
(2) 
He/she shall be sound of body and of good health sufficient to satisfy the Board of Trustees of the Police and Firemen's Retirement System of New Jersey that such person is eligible for membership in the retirement system.
(3) 
He/she shall be able to read, write and speak the English language.
(4) 
He/she shall be of good moral character.
(5) 
He/she shall not have been convicted of any indictable offense or have been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude.
(6) 
He/she shall possess a valid New Jersey driver's license.
(7) 
He/she shall be at least 21 years of age but not more than 35 years of age; said age requirement may be waived when deemed proper by the Township Police Committee, with the approval of the Township Committee and the New Jersey Civil Service Commission.
(8) 
The Township Committee is hereby authorized, subject to existing or future regulations or laws, to appoint qualified persons to the Uniformed Police Department who do not meet the Township of Riverside residence requirements; provided, however, that such person must have been a bona fide resident of the State of New Jersey for at least one year of the closing date of the civil service examination, and further provided that no nonresident of the Township of Riverside shall be appointed as long as there is a qualified resident of the Township of Riverside on the civil service list. If there is not a qualified resident of the Township of Riverside on the civil service list, the next preference shall be given to the residents of the County of Burlington, and the third preference shall be given to residents of the State of New Jersey.
C. 
The Township Police Lieutenants and Sergeants, in addition to the general qualifications outlined in Subsection B of this section, shall possess as a minimum qualification five years of active police experience and education requirements as established by ordinance and shall have sufficient aptitude and skill to hold the police rank of Sergeant, said aptitude and skill to be determined by the Township Police Committee. Said Police Lieutenants and Sergeants shall be appointed by the duly appointed members of the Township Police Committee, with the approval of the Township Committee, in accordance with New Jersey civil service rules and regulations.
[Amended 3-21-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-5]
D. 
The Township police officers, in addition to those general qualifications outlined in Subsection B of this section, shall possess such other qualifications as may be established from time to time by ordinance. Said Township police officers shall be appointed by the duly appointed members of the Township Police Committee with the approval of the Township Committee, in accordance with New Jersey civil service rules and regulations.
E. 
The Township probationary police officers, in addition to the general qualifications outlined in Subsection B of this section, shall possess such other qualifications as may be established from time to time by ordinance. Said Township probationary police officers shall be appointed by the duly appointed members of the Township Police Committee, with the approval of the Township Committee, in accordance with New Jersey civil service rules and regulations.
F. 
The civilian employees of the Township Police Department shall possess those qualifications which are deemed appropriate for the respective offices by the Township Police Committee with the approval of the Township Committee, which shall from time to time establish further standards for the performance of such offices via employees handbook and guide. The civilian employees, who shall be such secretarial, clerical and radio dispatchers as required, shall be appointed by the Township Committee, in accordance with New Jersey civil service rules and regulations.
G. 
Each member of the Township special police shall be appointed by the duly appointed members of the Township Police Committee with approval of the Township Committee in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146 was repealed by L. 1985, c. 439, Sec. 14, effective 10-1-1986.
H. 
Each member of the Township temporary police shall be appointed by the duly appointed members of the Township Police Committee, with the approval of the Township Committee, utilizing the criteria as set forth in N.J.S.A. 40A:14-145.
I. 
The Township part-time police and emergency police shall possess such qualifications as may be deemed proper and appropriate for their respective offices, such qualifications being subject to further revision or change as the Township Police Committee may from time to time require. Said Township part-time police and emergency police shall be appointed by the duly appointed members of the Township Police Committee, with the approval of the Township Committee, in accordance with New Jersey civil service rules and regulations.
J. 
This shall not be construed to deprive those members of the existing Township Police Department of any compensation or fringe benefit which has accrued due to prior service on such Police Department, and the Township Police Committee shall give preference to those members of the existing Police Department who shall possess the necessary qualifications for appointments to those offices hereby established by this chapter, and such existing permanent members shall not be required to serve any probationary period hereunder. This shall not act to diminish the compensation presently being paid to members of the Township Police Department, and no member of such department who shall be a member on the effective date of this chapter shall receive less compensation than he would have received under the terms of any previous ordinance. Nothing in this chapter shall act to deprive the permanent members of the existing Township Police Department of employment with the Township of Riverside even though such employment may be redesignated and the titles may be reassigned and the duties and responsibilities may differ under the terms of this chapter; provided, however, that nothing hereunder shall preclude the realignment and redesignation.
[Amended 3-28-1994 by Ord. No. 1994-4; 12-18-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-11]
A. 
The Chief of Police shall have general supervisory authority over the activities of the Township Police Department, subject to the authority of the Township Administrator and the Township Committee. The Chief of Police shall act upon recommendations of the Township Committee and may originate such instructions for the maintenance, regulation and control of the Police Department as he/she deems proper. The Police Committee shall, however, have the power to investigate matters relating to all activities of the Police Department and shall report any findings of such investigation to the Township Committee. The Chief of Police shall advise the Township Administrator and Township Committee on all matters relating to the Township Police Department.
B. 
The Police Captain and Sergeants shall have and exercise the following authorities and perform the following duties:
(1) 
They shall be superior in rank to those police officers and to those probationary police, special police of all ranks, temporary police, part-time police or emergency police, whether assigned to their command or not, subject to the general supervisory power of the Chief of Police.
(2) 
They shall be responsible for the conduct, efficiency, supervision and discipline of the police officers and probationary officers of their commands.
(3) 
Such other duties as may be promulgated from time to time by the Chief of Police.
C. 
The police officers shall have and exercise the following duties:
(1) 
Perform general police work and be the primary public relations representatives of the Police Department.
(2) 
Be responsible for seeing that all appropriate statutes of the State of New Jersey and ordinances of the Township of Riverside are duly observed and enforced and that public peace is maintained.
(3) 
Be responsible for the protection of the life and property and for the health, safety and welfare and general well-being of the citizens and residents of the Township.
(4) 
Such other duties as may be promulgated from time to time by the Chief of Police.
D. 
The probationary police shall have and exercise the following duties:
(1) 
Those general duties and responsibilities of police officers during such probationary period.
(2) 
Those other duties and responsibilities as the Chief of Police shall require of the office of probationary police.
E. 
The special police shall have and exercise the following duties:
(1) 
Those general duties and responsibilities as outlined herein incumbent upon such office as they shall assume during the period of service and in accordance with the terms of N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146 was repealed by L. 1985, c. 439, Sec. 14, effective 10-1-1986.
(2) 
Those other duties and responsibilities as the Chief of Police shall require of the office of special police.
F. 
The temporary police shall have and exercise the following duties:
(1) 
Those general duties and responsibilities as outlined herein incumbent upon such office as they shall assume during the period of service.
(2) 
Those other duties and responsibilities as the Chief of Police shall require of the office of temporary police.
G. 
The part-time police shall have and exercise the following duties:
(1) 
Those general duties and responsibilities as outlined herein incumbent upon such office as they shall assume during the period of service.
(2) 
Those other duties and responsibilities as the Chief of Police shall require of the office of part-time police.
H. 
The emergency police shall have and exercise the following duties:
(1) 
Those general duties and responsibilities as outlined herein incumbent upon such office as they shall assume during the period of service.
(2) 
Those other duties and responsibilities as the Chief of Police shall require of the office of emergency police.
I. 
The civilian employees of the Police Department shall have and exercise the following duties:
(1) 
Those specific duties and responsibilities necessary for the efficient administration of the Police Department incumbent upon their respective offices.
(2) 
Those other duties and responsibilities as the Chief of Police shall require of the civilian employees.
[Amended 3-28-1994 by Ord. No. 1994-4; 12-18-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-11]
A. 
All persons appointed to the Police Department shall serve a probationary period or term not less than three months; at the expiration of such period or term, such probationary appointees shall become a regular member of the Police Department.
B. 
The Chief of Police shall be responsible for observing and reporting the progress and qualifications of any probationary appointee, and the Township Police Committee shall determine whether or not that the probationary appointee shall become a regular member of the Police Department, with approval of the Township Committee.
C. 
The Township Police Committee shall have the right to terminate the services of any probationary appointee with approval of the Township Committee, without conducting a hearing thereon, and may do so by majority vote solely within the judgment and discretion in the best interest of the Township.
D. 
At the expiration of such probationary period, the appointment shall become permanent.
[Amended 3-28-1994 by Ord. No. 1994-4; 12-18-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-11]
A. 
No person, except during the period of a probationary appointment, shall be removed from office or employment in the Police Department for political reasons or for any other cause than incapacity, misconduct or disobedience of rules and regulations established for the government of the Police Department of Riverside Township.
B. 
It is the intent of this section to give every person not serving a probationary period against whom a charge or charges for any cause may be preferred under this chapter a fair hearing by the Township Police Committee upon said charge or charges and every reasonable opportunity to make his defense, if any, he has or chooses to make.
C. 
In the event that there shall be a charge or charges preferred against a member of the Police Department, the procedure outlined in N.J.S.A. 40A:14-147 et seq. will be strictly followed.
D. 
No police officer shall at any time whatsoever (except as hereinafter expressly provided) while holding office or appointment under the authority of this chapter:
(1) 
Violate any criminal law of the United States or of the State of New Jersey or any ordinance of the Township.
(2) 
Become intoxicated/under the influence of any drug or compound.
(3) 
Commit any act of immorality or indecency.
(4) 
Conduct himself in a manner unbecoming a police officer.
(5) 
Conduct himself in a manner subversive of the good order and discipline of the Police Department.
(6) 
Conduct himself in a manner disrespectful to a superior officer.
(7) 
Use indecent or profane language in the course of duty.
(8) 
Employ unnecessary violence in making an arrest or in exercising custody of a prisoner.
(9) 
Enter any gambling house or house of ill fame, except on police business.
(10) 
Enter, except on police business, any liquor store, saloon or other place where alcoholic beverages are sold located in the Township of Riverside; provided, however, that nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit any police officer, during the hours not assigned to him for service at his place of duty, while not wearing his uniform or any part thereof, from entering, patronizing or attending any club, restaurant or social affair or other place or occasion where the sale or service of alcoholic beverages is merely incidental and subordinate to the primary purpose of such place or occasion.
(11) 
Enter, except on police business, at any time while in uniform or wearing any part of his uniform or at any time during hours assigned to him for service at his place of duty, any liquor store, saloon or other place where alcoholic beverages are sold located outside the Township of Riverside.
(12) 
Enter, except on police business, at any time while in uniform or wearing any part of his uniform or at any time during the hours assigned him for service at his place of duty, any poolroom or other place of amusement or place of entertainment, wherever the same may be located.
(13) 
Comment publicly on the official action of a superior officer.
(14) 
Make known any proposed action or movement of the police officers or of the special police officers or make known the contents of any police order to any person or persons not immediately concerned, on behalf of the Police Department, in the execution of such order.
(15) 
Absent himself from his place of duty without having obtained prior leave from his superior officer, except in case of emergency.
(16) 
Absent himself from the Township, except on days when he shall be off duty pursuant to the order of the Chief of Police, without having obtained prior leave from the Chief of Police (provided, however, that this regulation shall apply to special police officers only while assigned to active duty).
(17) 
Sleep during the hours assigned to him for active service in line of his duty.
(18) 
Accept a bribe, gift or favor as consideration for performance or nonperformance of his duty.
(19) 
Solicit or request any person to intercede with Township Committee or with the Chief of Police in relation to the promotion of any police officer or in relation to determination of the places or hours of service of any police officer or in relation to the disposition of any charge or charges pending against the Chief of Police or any police officer or in relation to the trial, findings or judgment in connection with such charge or charges.
(20) 
Refuse to perform any of his duties as a police officer or special police officer or evade the performance of such duties or any of them, whether on patrol or otherwise, and whether in uniform or not (provided, however, that this regulation shall apply to special police officers only while assigned to active duty).
(21) 
Contract any debts or other financial obligations without reasonable expectation of being able to pay or discharge the same when due.
(22) 
Hold any political office or be a candidate for such office or engage in any political activity.
[Amended 3-28-1994 by Ord. No. 1994-4; 12-18-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-11]
A. 
In the event that any police officer who is a member of the Police Department should suffer any disability as the result of accident, injury or illness, such police officer shall be entitled to a leave of absence without pay or to a leave of absence with pay, as provided in the following Subsection A(1) and (2):
(1) 
If the disability of such police officer shall not have arisen out of and in the course of the performance of his duties and shall not be such as to entitle him to receive compensation under the workmen's compensation law of the State of New Jersey, such officer shall be entitled to a leave of absence without salary or compensation for a period of time, not exceeding six months, as may be determined by the Township Committee after considering the report and recommendation of a physician, and in the event that such officer shall not, before the expiration of such leave of absence, return to full, active duty, he shall cease to be a police officer and member of the Police Department.
(2) 
If the disability of such police officer shall have arisen out of and in the course of the performance of his duties and shall be such as to entitle him to receive compensation under the workmen's compensation law of the State of New Jersey, such police officer shall be entitled to a leave of absence for such period of time as may be determined by the Township Committee after considering the report and recommendation of a physician, and during the period of such disability such police officer shall receive his regular salary from the Township less the amount of compensation which such police officer, by reason of his disability, shall be entitled to receive under said workmen's compensation law; provided, however, that:
(a) 
Such police officer shall not be entitled to receive any salary or other compensation from the Township, by reason of such disability, after the expiration of the period of time during which he shall be entitled to receive compensation for such disability under the workmen's compensation law.
(b) 
If such disability is partial or should the same become partial, such police officer shall, during the period of such partial disability and while such police officer shall be entitled to receive compensation under said workmen's compensation law, perform (as a condition precedent to the obligation of the Township to pay him any part of his salary) such of the duties of a police officer or such other duties in the Police Department as may be assigned to him, provided that said physician, after the physical examination of such police officer from time to time, shall ascertain and report to the Township Committee that the duties so assigned to such police officer are such as he is able to perform.
(3) 
If such police officer shall not have fully resumed the performance of his duties upon the expiration of the period of time during which he shall be entitled to receive compensation, by reason of such disability, under said workmen's compensation law, such police officer shall cease to be a police officer and member of the Police Department.
B. 
The Township Committee shall have and in its sole discretion may exercise the authority vested in the governing body of the Township under the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40A:14-16 to grant a leave of absence with pay to any police officer employed in the Police Department who shall become injured, ill or disabled from any cause so as to be physically unfit for duty during the period of such disability and physical unfitness for duty; provided, however, that such injury or disability shall be evidenced by the certificate of a physician, and provided further that no such leave of absence with pay shall exceed one year, commencing with the date of such injury or disability.
C. 
The Chief of Police shall be deemed to be a police officer within the provisions and operation of this section.
[Amended 12-18-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-11]
All police officers that are members of the Police Department shall severally hold their respective offices during good behavior, efficiency and residence in the Township and shall not be removed from office for political reasons or for any other cause other than one or more of the following:
A. 
Incapacity.
B. 
Misconduct.
C. 
Disobedience of rules and regulations established for the Police Department.
[Amended 2-22-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-02; 12-18-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-11]
A. 
The annual salaries, allowances and other compensation of the members of the active and regular members of the Police Department and the hourly wages, allowances and other compensation of part-time police, emergency police, temporary police and civilian appointees of the Police Department shall be established from time to time by the Salary and Wage Ordinance[1] of the Township Committee within the limits of the ranges from time to time established by the Salary and Wage Ordinance of the Township Committee.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Salary and Wage Ordinance is on file in the office of the Township Clerk.
B. 
There shall be three eight-hour tours of duty during each twenty-four-hour day. Starting and closing times shall be determined by the Police Committee. No police officer shall have less than 30 minutes nor more than 60 minutes for lunch. It shall be the responsibility of the shift supervisor or his representative to see that each police officer and employee shall comply with this ruling.
[Amended 12-18-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-11]
A. 
All promotions within the Police Department shall be made by the Township Police Committee with approval of the Township Committee in compliance with N.J.S.A. 40A:14-130 and the statutes in such case made and provided, and in accordance with New Jersey civil service rules and regulations.
B. 
Each promotion shall first be made on a provisional basis for a probationary period dependent upon civil service examination and receipt of list of eligibles.
-[Amended 12-18-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-11]
A. 
The provisions of N.J.S.A. 40A:14-136 and 40A:14-137 shall govern all matters relating to leave of absence.
B. 
The provisions of N.J.S.A. 40A:14-157 shall govern all matters relating to unclaimed recovered property, the sale thereof and the disposition of unclaimed recovered money.
C. 
All powers and authorities relating to the establishment, organization, regulation and control of the Police Department which are not expressly delegated to other bodies or persons are reserved to the Police Committee, with approval of the Township Committee.