The Police Department of the Township heretofore established
is hereby reestablished. The Police Department shall consist of the
Chief of Police and such members and officers as shall be deemed necessary
by the Township Committee, which shall, from time to time, determine
the number of persons, including temporary officers and members in
an emergency, to be appointed to these positions, together with their
compensation.
The Police Department 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 Cranford; 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.
[Amended 5-7-2013 by Ord.
No. 2013-07[1]]
The Police Committee of the Township of Cranford is hereby established.
The Police Committee shall consist of the Chairperson of the Township
Committee, the Commissioner of Public Safety and the Township Administrator.
The Police Committee shall be designated as the appropriate authority
as provided in the New Jersey statutes. 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 Police Department and for the discipline
of its members.
The Township Committee shall, by majority vote, appoint the
Chief of Police and all officers and members of the Police Department.
The Chief of Police shall be the head of the Police Department
and shall be directly 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 Police Department
and any special emergency directive for the disposition and discipline
of the Department and its members and officers.
B.
Have, exercise and discharge the functions, powers and duties of
the Police Department.
C.
Prescribe the duties and assignments of all members and officers.
D.
Delegate such authority as may be deemed necessary for the efficient
operation of the Police Department to be exercised under the Chief's
direction and control.
E.
Report at least monthly to the appropriate authority in such form
as shall be prescribed on the operation of the Police Department during
the preceding month and make such other reports as may be requested
by the appropriate authority.
F.
Recommend personnel for promotion and appointment to duty commensurate
with the interests of the Police Department.
G.
Analyze the police problem of the Township and plan the Department's
work so as to make the best use of available funds, personnel, equipment
and supplies.
H.
Provide suitable assignments and instructions to subordinates and
be available for advice and assistance when difficult and unusual
problems arise.
I.
Review work of subordinates to assure that proper procedures and
reasonable standards of workmanship, conduct and output toward desirable
police objectives are maintained.
J.
Approve or reject or, as necessary, prefer charges against personnel
in internal disciplinary matters.
K.
Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with civic and business
organizations, other governmental and law enforcement agencies and
groups interested in effective law enforcement.
L.
Assure that proper police protection is provided to all levels of
society and make provisions for police protection and assistance at
such times and places as is necessary to maintain order.
M.
Carry out the lawful orders of the Commissioner of Public Safety
and the Township Committee.
N.
Maintain records and make certain that all the Police Department
equipment, apparatus and supplies are preserved and kept ready for
use.
O.
Keep abreast of developments in the field of crime prevention and
initiate and supervise meetings, drills and instruction of Police
Department personnel.
P.
Prepare and publish standing orders, regulations and routines governing
the Police Department, including standards of uniforms and the wearing
thereof.
Q.
Investigate and examine all applicants for appointment to the Police
Department.
R.
Post in advance schedules of vacation periods.
No member or officer of the Police Department shall be suspended,
removed, fined or reduced in rank for any cause other than for incapacity,
misconduct or disobedience as provided in the New Jersey statutes
and the Police Department's rules and regulations.
No person shall be appointed to the Police Department who is
not qualified as provided in the New Jersey statutes. The appropriate
authority may also require that an applicant for appointment to the
Police Department shall successfully complete a physical, mental and
psychological examination.
Regular police officers shall rank as follows:
A.
Chief of Police.
B.
Captain of Police.
C.
Lieutenant of Police.
D.
Sergeant of Police.
E.
Patrol officers.
[1]
Editor's Note: Throughout this chapter, "patrolman" and "patrolmen" were amended to "patrol officer" and "patrol officers," respectively, and "policeman" and "policemen" were amended to "police officer" and "police officers," respectively, at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
Patrol officers shall be classified as provided by current contract.
[Amended 9-9-2003 by Ord.
No. 2003-28; 10-26-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-40; 8-16-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-19]
The sworn personnel of the Police Department shall consist of
the following officers and members which shall not exceed 54:
[Amended 8-16-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-19]
The records of the Police Department shall be kept accurately
and in a clean condition, open to inspection of any member of the
Township Committee at any time, consistent with the provisions of
state statutes governing the same.
[Amended 8-16-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-19]
The specifications and regulations governing the wearing of
said items shall be determined by and issued by the Chief of Police
unless there is a substantial change to the specifications and regulations
which would then have to be approved by the Township Committee.
[Amended 8-16-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-19]
Standard equipment furnished to each police officer shall remain
the property of the Township. Any such articles lost or damaged through
negligence shall be replaced at the expense of the police officer
concerned and approved by the Township Committee.
The hours of employment are subject to the terms and conditions
of the contract and the Police Chief shall prescribe the work schedule
and shall conform to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original § 42-15, Paid holidays and
vacation leave, § 42-16, Emergency leaves, sick leaves and
absences, and § 42-17, Retirement; withdrawal of election
prohibited, as amended 12-28-1993 by Ord. No. 93-80, which immediately
followed this section, were repealed 8-16-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-19.
[Amended 8-16-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-19]
The salary of each officer, member or employee of the Police
Department shall be determined by the terms of the applicable collective
bargaining agreement.
All new appointments and all promotions within the Police Department
shall be made only by resolution of the Township Committee.
A.
Each person newly appointed to the Police Department shall first
serve as a probationary first-year patrol officer for 18 months from
the date of his appointment. This probationary period may be extended
by the Township Committee upon recommendation by the Chief of Police
and the Commissioner of Public Safety that such action is for the
good of the service.
B.
At the termination of the probationary period specified in Subsection A of this section, the appointment as first-year patrol officer shall become permanent upon recommendation of the Chief of Police and approval by resolution of the Township Committee.
C.
Probationers may be removed from office by the Commissioner of Public
Safety, upon confirmation by resolution by the Township Committee.
In the absence of the Chief of Police, his duties shall devolve
upon the superior officer designated by the Chief of Police and by
the Commissioner of Public Safety in writing.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original § 42-22, Captains, § 42-23,
Lieutenants and sergeants, and § 42-24, Regular members,
which immediately followed this section, were repealed 8-16-2016 by
Ord. No. 2016-19.
The Chief of Police is hereby given authority to suspend any
member of the Police Department who shall willfully disobey any ordinance,
statute or any rule or regulation of the Police Department or commit
such action as, in the opinion of the Chief, adversely impacts upon
the Department, pending trial on charges in accordance with the provisions
of law.
