[Added 1-16-2013 by Ord.
No. 13-02]
The Office of Professional Responsibility is hereby established
within the Police Department of the Borough of Seaside Heights.
A.
The Office of Professional Responsibility shall be responsible for
organizational oversight of training, officer professionalism and
internal affairs for the Seaside Heights Police Department.
B.
The Office of Professional Responsibility shall be staffed by such
regular or Class II Special Police Officers as are assigned by the
Chief of Police. Personnel assigned to the Office of Professional
Responsibility shall serve at the pleasure of, and be directly responsible
to, the Chief of Police.
C.
The internal affairs function of the Office of Professional Responsibility
is to ensure that the integrity of the Police Department is maintained
through the system of internal investigations and discipline where
fairness and justice are assured by objective, impartial investigation
and review.
D.
The Office of Professional Responsibility shall conduct investigations
of allegations of misconduct by members of the Department and review
the adjudication or minor complaints handled by supervisors. In addition,
the Office of Professional Responsibility shall be responsible for
the coordination of investigation involving the discharge of firearms
by Department personnel. The Office of Professional Responsibility
will also be responsible for any other investigation as directed by
the Chief of Police. The Office of Professional Responsibility may
conduct an internal affairs investigation on its own initiative, upon
notice to or at the direction of the Chief of Police. The Office of
Professional Responsibility may also refer investigations to the employee's
supervisor for action as permitted by Department policy and procedures.
E.
Any officer or member assigned to the Office of Professional Responsibility
is hereby conferred with the authority to interview any member of
the Department and to review any record or report of the Department
relative to the officer's assignment or the investigation being conducted.
Officers or members conducting internal affairs investigations shall
be acting as designated representatives of the Chief of Police and,
in that capacity, shall be subordinate only to the Chief of Police.
Requests to members of the Police Department and any other employees
thereof from the Office of Professional Responsibility personnel made
in furtherance of the duties and responsibilities of the Office of
Professional Responsibility shall be given full cooperation and compliance
by all members and employees of the Police Department as though the
request came directly from the Chief of Police.
F.
In accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:14-181, the Office of Professional
Responsibility and internal investigations conducted by the Police
Department for the Borough of Seaside Heights shall be consistent
with the guidelines governing the Internal Affairs Policies and Procedures
of the Police Management Manual promulgated by the Police Bureau of
the Division of Criminal Justice and Department of Law and Public
Safety, together with any amendments or supplements thereto, and pursuant
to applicable Seaside Heights Police Department standard operating
procedure and policies governing internal affairs investigations.
G.
One member of the Office of Professional Responsibility, so designated
by the Chief of Police, shall serve as Training Coordinator to staff
of the Office of Professional Responsibility. The Training Coordinator
will fulfill the requirements for departmental training as detailed
within the Seaside Heights Police Department training policy.
