[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Mount Holly as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Response to alarms — See Ch. 65.
Enforcement of park rules — See Ch. 187.
Warning of violations of bicycle rules — See Ch. 75.
Enforcement of curfew — See Ch. 102.
Fire lane parking enforcement — See Ch. 126.
Fingerprinting of taxicab license applicants — See Ch. 251.
[Adopted 7-7-1980 as Ch. IV of the Revised General Ordinances]
[Amended 12-28-1992 by Ord. No. 1992-17; 8-14-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-18; 10-28-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-38; 2-26-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-04]
A. 
The Police Department of the Township of Mount Holly is hereby under the general supervision of the Township Manager. The Department shall not exceed the following in the table of organization:
[Amended 11-9-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-10]
Rank
Number of Positions
Chief
1
Captain
1
Lieutenant
1
Sergeants
5
Patrol Officers
20
B. 
In addition, civilian employees may be employed by the Township Manager as may be recommended by the Chief, including but not limited to laborers, telephone operators, clerks, computer personnel and telecommunications officers. Special Law Enforcement Officers, one or more of which the Chief may designate as Parking Enforcement Officers, are authorized as follows: Class II Officers: up to six; Class I Officers: up to 12. Class II Officers, upon successful completion of all training required by the Police Training Commission, may exercise powers to the full extent permitted by N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.11. Class I Officers, upon successful completion of all training required by the Police Training Commission, 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 New Jersey Revised Statutes. Further, the Chief shall have responsibilities and perform duties as assigned by § 36-2 of the Code of the Township of Mount Holly, including overall discretion to make such assignments and prescribe such duties for the Department as are deemed necessary to achieve efficiency and economy of operation.
[Amended 12-28-1992 by Ord. No. 1992-17; 8-14-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-18; 2-26-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-04]
A. 
The Chief of Police shall be the departmental head of the Police Department. The Chief shall be the immediate subordinate of the Township Manager in all matters related to civilian authority and oversight of the Department. The Chief shall have general charge of and overall responsibility for the efficient performance of the Department and shall take such steps and make such rules, subject to the approval of the Township Council, as the Chief deems advisable to promote efficiency and economy in the operation of the Department and shall perform such other related duties as may be assigned or lawfully delegated to the Chief by the Township Manager.
B. 
In the absence of the Chief, the Chief shall designate an officer of his choosing who shall exercise the functions of this section.
The members of the Police Department shall receive such annual salaries as may be fixed by the Salary Ordinance of the Township.
The Township Manager may employ upon a per diem basis such special police as may be necessary and may discharge them at any time without cause or hearing. They shall not be members of the Police Department, but shall, while on duty, be subject in every respect to the orders of the superior officers of the Police Department. They shall receive such compensation each day of service as may be fixed by the Township Council.
[Added 11-9-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-10]
The Police Captain shall supervise the Police Department activities, subject to the policies, directives and procedures established by the Chief of Police and the general supervision of the Chief; shall assist in the supervision of the Lieutenants, Sergeants and patrolmen as well as civilian police personnel; perform his or her duties faithfully and promptly in the promotion of public peace and safety; and such other duties as may be assigned by the Chief of Police.
[1]
Former § 36-5, Chief of Police, as amended, was repealed 8-14-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-18.
A. 
To be eligible for appointment to the police force, a person shall be not less than 18 years of age and a citizen of the United States and shall be sound in body and mind; of good health; able to read, write and speak the English language well and intelligently; and shall be of good moral character. Said person shall also possess the qualifications set forth in Subsections B and C of this section.
[Amended 6-22-1992 by Ord. No. 1992-5]
B. 
In addition to the foregoing qualifications for appointment as a police officer, such person, before receiving permanent appointment, shall successfully complete a police training course at an approved school as defined in N.J.S.A. 52:17B-66 et seq. (herein referred to as the "Act"), and pursuant to the authority given by such Act, no person shall hereafter be given or accept a permanent appointment as a police officer unless such person has successfully completed a police training course at an approved school, as therein defined.
C. 
Pursuant to the provisions of the Act, attendance at an approved school, as therein defined, is hereby authorized by persons holding a probationary or temporary appointment as a police officer, when authorized in behalf of the Township by the Township Manager.
D. 
Residency.
[Amended 4-10-1995 by Ord. No. 1995-8]
(1) 
All qualified applicants for the position of Mount Holly Township police officer shall be classified in the following classes:
(a) 
Class I: residents of Mount Holly Township.
(b) 
Class II: other residents of Burlington County.
(c) 
Class III: other residents of the State of New Jersey.
(d) 
Class IV: all other qualified applicants.
(2) 
All appointments to the position of Mount Holly Township Police Officer shall be made in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:14-123.1a, with all those in Class I to be appointed first and then those in each succeeding class in the order listed above.
(3) 
All applicants classified as Class I must be residents of Mount Holly Township as of the announced closing date of the Civil Service Examination for the position and must maintain such residency continuously up to and including the date of appointment.
(4) 
Once appointed to the police force, a police officer must establish residency within such reasonable distance of the Township as to allow the officer to respond with promptness to emergency calls.
[Amended 2-26-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-04]
All appointments and all suspensions, fines, removals or other disciplinary action shall be made or imposed by the Township Manager, as provided by law, or by the Chief of Police when generally authorized by the Township Manager or applicable law.
Each and every police officer shall make complaint before the Judge of the Municipal Court, or his/her Clerk, of every person known to such officer to have violated any of the laws of the United States or the State of New Jersey or the ordinances of the Township, so that a warrant or summons for the appearance of the person charged with the violation may be issued.
[Amended 2-26-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-04]
A. 
Violations of any regulations or of any rule or regulation for the governance of the Police Department or of the Duty Manual of the Mount Holly Police Department, promulgated by the Chief and approved by the Township Council, shall be cause for dismissal from the Department.
B. 
Suspension with loss of pay. When any member of the police force is suspended from office and later reinstated, he or she shall not receive any pay for the period of such suspension, unless otherwise ordered by the Township Council.
C. 
Penalty in lieu of dismissal. All charges against members of the police force shall be thoroughly examined by the Township Manager or Chief of Police if authorized by the Manager to appoint and remove subordinates. Upon any member of the force being found to have violated any of the rules, regulations or orders of the Department, the Manager or Chief, if appropriate, may, in lieu of dismissal from the force, impose such penalty as in his judgment is warranted by the character of the offense.
[Amended 2-26-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-04; 8-11-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-18]
The Chief of Police shall recommend to the Township Manager, as the appropriate authority, for the Township Manager’s review, amendment and approval such rules and regulations concerning the conduct and duties of the officers and members, the kinds of uniform and insignia to be worn by them and concerning such other matters as may be necessary for the proper regulation of the Police Department. The Chief, with the approval of the Manager, may embody all or any of them, together with the recommended schedules for infractions, in a manual or manuals to be known as the "Duty Manual of the Mount Holly Police Department." The neglect of any member of the Department to carry out each and every rule and regulation or proper order of the Chief shall be sufficient cause for that member to be dismissed from the Department.
The following provisions of the agreement entitled "Agreement Between the Township of Mount Holly and the Association of Mount Holly Police Department Employees, Burlington County, New Jersey," dated May 11, 1977, and approved by the resolution of the Township Council, adopted June 6, 1977, copies of which are on file with the Township Clerk and with the Chief of Police and Director of Public Safety, and subsequent revisions thereto that are formally adopted, are hereby adopted by reference and made part of the rules and regulations for the regulation of the Police Department and shall apply to all members of the Police Department, viz, Section V, Employment Responsibilities; Section IX, Uniforms, Equipment and Personal Articles; Section XI, Other Items and applicable as to Police Grades 5P, 14P and 15P; Section VI, No Strike Pledge and Section VII, Grievance Procedure.
A. 
Enumeration. Police Department employees shall be eligible for the following types of leave according to the annual compensation ordinances of the Township:
(1) 
Annual (vacation).
(2) 
Sick.
(3) 
Bereavement.
(4) 
Military.
(5) 
Leave of absence without pay.
(6) 
Holidays.
(7) 
Personal leave.
(8) 
Supervisory leave.
B. 
Regulations. The Township Council shall establish the amount of various leaves and the regulations governing their use through agreements with the Association of Mount Holly Police Department Employees duly adopted by the Township and filed with the Township Clerk.
C. 
Statutory sick leave. Pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40A:14-137, applicable only to members of Police Departments, a member or officer of the Police Department who shall be injured, ill or disabled from any cause may receive leave of absence with pay not exceeding one year, provided that the examining physician appointed by the Township Manager shall certify to such injury, illness or disability. This section shall be construed to apply to sick leave for a continuous period of time in excess of the period of time specified above for personal sickness.
D. 
Court attendance. Pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40A:14-135, whenever any member of the Police Department or force shall be required to appear before any Grand Jury or at any Municipal, County, Superior or Supreme Court proceeding, except in a civil action, the term during which said member is so engaged shall be considered a time of assignment to and performance of duty, and the member shall suffer no loss of compensation if such appearance occurs during his or her assigned duty hours, and if such appearance is outside his or her assigned duty hours, said member shall receive either compensatory time off from his or her regular duty hours or, in cases where such time off, in the opinion of the Township Manager, will interfere with the efficiency of the Department, additional compensation.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 36-13, Police Captain, was repealed 2-26-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-04.
[Amended 2-26-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-04]
The Police Lieutenants shall supervise the Police Department activities, subject to the policies, directives and procedures established by the Chief of Police and the general supervision of the Chief; shall be responsible for staff functions of recordkeeping, training, reporting and related activities; shall assist in the supervision of the Sergeants and Patrolmen; coordinate and assist in criminal investigations; perform their duties faithfully and promptly in the promotion of public peace and safety; and such other duties as may be assigned by the Chief.
[Amended 2-26-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-04]
The Police Records Clerk shall prepare and file confidential records in the Police Department; maintain, classify, index and cross reference records and files; and do such general clerical and related tasks as may be required or directed by the Chief of Police.
[Amended 2-26-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-04]
The Parking Enforcement Officer shall enforce both on-street and off-street parking regulations; direct traffic and perform other duties of a routine traffic detail as may be necessary to facilitate the movement of pedestrian and vehicular traffic; assist in spectator or other crowd control; assist in the searching and processing of prisoners and serve, when necessary, as matron; perform dispatching or related tasks; and perform such other tasks as may be required or directed by the Chief of Police.
[Added 10-28-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-38]
Police aide, under close supervision of a police officer, performs nonlaw enforcement duties; assists a police officer in performing clerical and routine field duties; does related work as required.
[Adopted 9-28-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-12]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
EMPLOYEES
Regular, full-time permanent police officers and/or special law enforcement officer Class 2 of the Township of Mount Holly that are being hired by a private employer to provide security, traffic control or similar services.
PRIVATE EMPLOYER
Any entity, public or private, other than the Township of Mount Holly, that is hiring an employee, as defined herein, to provide security, traffic control or similar services for the private employer's business, project, or function.
TOWNSHIP
The Township of Mount Holly.
A. 
Employees of the Township's Police Department, whether they be full time or part time, are expressly authorized to engage in security, traffic control or similar services during their off-duty hours for private employers, so long as arrangements therefor are made through the Township, the duties will not interfere with or detract from their primary employment with the Township, and any compensation paid to the employee for such service is channeled through the Township.
B. 
Employees performing such off-duty services are authorized to wear an appropriate Township uniform as directed by the Chief of Police and/or Public Safety Director.
C. 
The authorization provided for in this article shall apply only to off-duty services provided for private employers consistent with the employee's responsibility and training for his/her Township employment.
D. 
In granting this authorization, the Township assumes no responsibility or liability for the actions or nonactions of the off-duty employees except as may be imposed by law. Notwithstanding this disclaimer, in the event that an employee, while performing services contemplated under this article, is required to return to on-duty status (such as a police officer witnessing an illegal act or becoming involved in an arrest or other police function), the Township shall be responsible for the actions of its employees while in off-duty employment. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the private employer shall, nevertheless, defend the Township and its employees, hold them harmless, and indemnify them from any claims arising from their actions or nonaction.
E. 
Pursuant to memoranda issued by the State of New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Pensions, dated August 1989 and February 1990, it is the express intention of this article that off-duty work authorized by this article shall entitle police officers to coverage under the Police and Fireman's Retirement System where they are injured during off-duty or outside employment under the scope of this article. Both the Township and the members of the Township's Police Department are familiar with these memoranda and, because they will be ultimately subject to departmental discipline and control, and because they are ultimately paid by the Township, they are considered in accordance with the February 1990 memorandum to be covered for injury or death that may occur while performing those duties.
F. 
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this article, the Township Manager and the Chief of Police and/or Public Safety Director shall retain, absolutely, the right to refuse any extra-duty assignment if, in their sole discretion, such refusal is necessary for the proper and efficient operation of the Department and protection of public safety. Furthermore, no officer shall have engaged in extra-duty work during the eight hours immediately preceding the commencement of his work shift with the Mount Holly Police Department.
A. 
Any private employer desiring to retain the services of employees of the Township for extra-duty activities shall be required to enter into a contract with the Township. Except in cases of bona fide emergency, no assignment to extra duty may be made unless, prior to the assignment, the private employer or public entity has executed a contract for the services and has made the required deposit pursuant to the Uniform Agreement to Provide Services by Off-Duty Personnel, which form of agreement is on file with the Township Department of Finance. The agreement shall include, but not be limited to, the nature of the duties to be performed, the location where the duties are to be performed, the date and hours of service, the rate of payment of services to the employees (the rate of payment will be approved via separate resolution and may be amended from time-to-time as Council deems appropriate), administrative fees to the Township, and fees for Township-owned equipment. Such agreement shall further provide that the minimum pay for any assignment shall be for four hours at the required rate, regardless of the amount of time actually worked, unless the assignment is cancelled not less than eight hours prior to its scheduled commencement.
[Amended 10-3-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-13]
B. 
The agreement with the private employer shall provide for the deposit of monies in advance by the party for whom the services are to be performed. Should the contract be for a period exceeding one month, the private employer shall be required to tender an estimated payment for the first month's services upon executing the agreement, and will be billed periodically, in advance, thereafter. Should the actual amount due turn out to be less than the amount deposited, the Chief Financial Officer of the Township shall, upon conclusion of the agreement, receipt of the final certified time slips, and receipt of a written request from the private employer, promptly return all unused funds. Should the amount of the deposit be insufficient, the private employer shall pay the deficiency immediately upon receipt of notice from the Chief Financial Officer. No extra-duty assignment may commence without advance payment of the sums set forth above, except in cases where the Township has negotiated an interlocal services agreement with another unit of government that assures compensation of the assigned officers in a manner consistent with the Attorney General's memoranda referred to above.
C. 
Any private employer who determines to cancel the services of the off-duty officer after having scheduled same shall provide at least eight hours' advanced notice of such cancellation prior to the scheduled start time. If lesser notice is given, the private employer shall be obligated to pay for four hours of time for the officer.
[Amended 10-3-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-13]
D. 
In the case of bona fide emergencies, where there is no opportunity to execute an agreement in advance, the private employer shall be billed for the services with payment required to be made within 30 days.
E. 
Should any payment due under this article not be made when due, the Township may institute suit for collection of the same, together with interest at the rate of 12% per annum, costs of collection, and attorneys fees incurred in collecting the amount due. Moreover, no future agreement may be entered into with any private employer unless and until all past due fees, costs, and expenses are satisfied.
F. 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Township Manager may waive the deposit requirement for other public entities, in his sole discretion, provided satisfactory alternate arrangements are made to assure prompt payment for the services provided by the employees.
G. 
Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting the power of the Township to accept or reject any and all assignments with any private employer.
As a pre-condition to the use of employees by a private employer, the private employer shall provide written assurance that it has adequate and appropriate general liability insurance covering its employees and operations. Such assurance may include a copy of the insurance policies or such other information as the Township Manager and/or Chief Financial Officer deems appropriate.
All private employers shall be required to make all payments for extra-duty assignments payable to the Township. All payments shall be forwarded to the office of the Chief Financial Officer of the Township. The Chief Financial Officer shall cause all funds for the payment of extra-duty employees collected from private employers to be deposited into a special escrow account which is hereby established by this article. The escrow fund shall be utilized for the payment to the employees performing extra-duty services. Employees that perform extra-duty assignments will be compensated at the appropriate rate as established by the Township plus an amount calculated by the Township Manager and Chief Financial Officer sufficient to cover the employer's expense for social security, pension, unemployment, disability, and similar direct expenses of the Township. This provision shall not prevent a special rate from being negotiated with the agreement of the employee with other public entities. Such special rates shall be established not less than annually by the Township Manager in consultation with the employees and applicable unions. All employees shall be required to submit pay slips to the Chief Financial Officer, in a form approved by the Township Manager and Chief Financial Officer. Upon receipt of a properly executed pay slip verified by the private employer, the Finance Department shall process the pay slips for disbursement during the employee's regular pay period.
In addition to payments for services, including necessary and applicable taxes, and employer contributions, the private employer shall pay to the Township an administrative fee of $5 per hour or 10% of the amount of the contract, whichever is greater, which shall be utilized to offset costs associated with the Township's administration of the private employment system.
Employees engaged in off-duty activities, as authorized by this article, may be permitted to utilize a municipal vehicle or other equipment subject to the approval and consent of the Township Manager and Chief of Police and/or Public Safety Director. The private employer shall be required, in addition to any other payments, to pay for the use of such vehicle or equipment in advance of use. The rate for vehicle use shall be $10 per hour plus mileage at the current rate established using the Internal Revenue Service allowance. Rates for other equipment shall be established at the time of contracting.
The Chief of Police shall be responsible for the overall conduct of the members of his or her department in following the rules and regulations promulgated herein, and shall insure that the terms, conditions, and provisions of this article shall be fully and faithfully carried out. Additionally, the Chief shall have authority to control employees engaged in off-duty or outside employment pursuant to this article, and shall further have the authority to seek discipline of any and all employees so engaged in outside employment by private employers, should cause for such charge arise or exist as established by the Department of Personnel, and any and all employees shall have the same rights as outlined under the established collective bargaining agreement between the Township and the police union.