[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 |
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:
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.