a.
There is hereby established in the Township of Roxbury a police department,
the head of which shall be the chief of police.
b.
The township manager shall serve as the appropriate authority, as
the same is defined in N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118, to whom the police chief
shall be directly responsible for the efficiency and routine day-to-day
operations of the police department.
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118, the police force shall be organized,
constituted, and administered as heretofore established by ordinance,
to the extent that any such ordinance is not inconsistent with the
charter, this code and general law. The department shall have all
the functions, powers, duties and responsibilities prescribed by law
for a municipal police department generally and by any provision of
the charter and ordinance relating to the township police department,
chief of police, and the officers and men of the department.
a.
The Roxbury Township Police Department shall consist of a chief of
police, captain, not more than four lieutenants, at least three but
not more than eight sergeants, 40 patrolmen (including probationary
officers) and not more than seven police dispatchers.
As used in this section:
a.
"Superior officers" shall mean and include the members of the police
department above the rank of police officer.
b.
"Police officer" shall mean and include any duly appointed member
of the police department below the rank of sergeant.
c.
"Force" shall mean and include, collectively, all active members
of the police department.
d.
"Police chief" shall mean the duly appointed chief of police, or
his authorized alternate.
The members of the police department shall be appointed and
designated by the township manager and shall receive such salaries
as may be provided by ordinance.
The members of the township police department, as presently
constituted, are hereby continued in their respective offices or position;
and, the salaries established by the salary ordinance now in effect
shall prevail; and, nothing contained in this section shall be considered
as affecting the status, rank, tenure or any rights heretofore acquired
by any member of the existing department.
The police department shall be comprised of the divisions and/or bureaus as authorized and approved by the township manager and as established in the Roxbury Township Police Department Rules and Regulations/ Policies and Procedures, Volume II, Chapter 1 Organization and Structure. The manpower assigned to each division/bureau shall be determined by the chief of police, under the supervision of the township manager. Individual members of the police department may be assigned to and reassigned to and from each division/bureau by the chief of police as may be necessary for the efficient operation of the division/bureau and in accordance with the job title of the affected member.
Assignment to and reassignment from a division/bureau shall
in no way affect the existing status, title, seniority and rights
of such members of the police department as may be so assigned or
reassigned. Neither shall the creation of a division and the assignment
of members of the police department thereto constitute the creation
of a new office or rank within the police department.
a.
There is hereby established within the police department a division
which shall be known as the patrol division.
b.
The patrol division shall be responsible for daily patrol of the
entire community, enforcing the ordinances of the township and laws
of the State of New Jersey, providing assistance to the residents
of the community as necessary, reporting and taking necessary corrective
action for all hazardous conditions, and performing those other duties
as established in the Police Duty Manual.
a.
There is hereby established within the township police department
a bureau which shall be known as the traffic bureau.
b.
This bureau shall supplement the operation of the patrol division
as it relates to traffic enforcement and shall perform non-traffic
duties as necessary.
c.
The traffic bureau's basic function is traffic safety and the application
of techniques toward a goal of traffic safety; the enforcement of
those moving and parking violations that are causative factors of
traffic accidents; the decreasing of the number of serious traffic
accidents and of driver improvement, thus increasing the overall efficiency
of the police department.
d.
The operations of the traffic bureau shall consist of:
1.
Patrolling areas of high accident rate being particularly alert for
the violations involving moving vehicles that will cause unsafe conditions.
2.
Operating radar or other approved surveillance equipment on the township
roadways, as well as on county and State highways.
3.
Making recommendations for changes or improvements in existing conditions
relative to traffic safety.
4.
Reporting those intersections where the presence of brush obstructs
the view of the driver and creates a hazardous condition.
5.
Performing a full and thorough investigation of fatal accidents as
well as of serious motor vehicle accidents.
6.
Special assignments which may consist of but shall not be limited
to:
a.
There is hereby established within the police department of the township
a division which shall be known as the detective division.
b.
The detective division shall be in charge of all investigative activities
of the police department.
c.
The detective division shall be under the direct working supervision
of a superior officer, assigned to said division, who shall supervise
and direct the activities of the division and who shall have the command
and control of other members of the department assigned thereto, subject
to the direction of the chief of police.
d.
The detective division shall keep accurate and complete records of
each day's business and shall submit promptly all records in any and
every case assigned to them. No official records or photographs shall
be removed from the files of the detective division or destroyed,
unless such removal or destruction is made in the manner prescribed
by law. The officer in charge of the detective division shall be personally
responsible for the safekeeping of all records.
e.
No member of the police department shall be permitted to have access
to or to search any of the files of the detective division, except
the chief of police and the officers assigned to the division, Information
or data on file in the detective division shall be obtained only through
the chief of police, or the officer in charge of said division or,
by his direction, from members assigned thereto.
f.
Members of the police department assigned to duties in the detective
division shall be furnished with badges, cards or other means of identification.
Such badges and other means of identification shall be turned over
to the chief of police by any member assigned to the detective division
when reassigned to other duties or when leaving the department.
g.
A member of the detective division shall be designated by the chief
of police to serve as custodian of all evidence and property under
the jurisdiction of the police department.
a.
There is hereby established within the police department of the township
a division which shall be known as the records division.
b.
The records division shall be responsible for maintaining the official
files of the department, performing clerical services required within
the department, issuing copies of reports to the public in the manner
prescribed by law, and performing other administrative services as
directed by the chief of police.
a.
There is hereby established within the police department of the township
a division which shall be known as the communications division.
b.
The members of the communications division shall not be considered
to be part of the uniformed services of the department having police
powers.
c.
The communications division shall be responsible for receiving all
communications for assistance from the public, for dispatching public
safety personnel to those requests for assistance, for monitoring
alarm circuitry designed to forewarn police personnel and property
owners of possible safety hazards or crimes in progress, and for other
duties as directed by the chief of police.
d.
Every applicant for appointment to the communications division shall
be employed for a period of six months on a probationary basis prior
to permanent appointment as a dispatcher in order that his qualifications
and fitness for the duties which he is to perform may be observed
and determined.
During such probationary period such applicants shall be known
as "probationary dispatcher" and they may be discharged prior to or
at the termination of said probationary period at the pleasure of
the township manager.
Upon permanent appointment to the department, all time served
by any member during such probationary period shall be considered
as service with the department and shall be applied toward any required
tenure and promotion period.
e.
The fire chief shall advise the manager on the proper dispatching
of fire and rescue squad personnel and equipment.
a.
There is hereby established within the township police department
a bureau which shall be known as the crime prevention bureau. This
bureau shall supplement the operation of the patrol division as it
relates to crime prevention and shall perform patrol duties as necessary.
b.
The crime prevention bureau's basic functions shall include surveying
private residences and businesses to discover safety hazards and to
make recommendations for burglary and theft protection; responding
to requests for public information on crime prevention; monitoring
the operation of the fire and burglar alarms in use in the township;
maintaining accurate records of emergency business addresses and telephone
numbers; and other administrative and related duties as directed by
the chief of police.
The manager may appoint any number of special police which may
be authorized by the council, provided that such appointees comply
with the requirements of ordinances relating to the township police
department and general law and are recommended for appointment by
the chief of police.
a.
Special police shall not be members of the police force, and their
powers, rights and duties shall immediately cease at the expiration
of the term for which they were appointed, or upon revocation of their
appointment. They shall be furnished with a badge which shall be returned
upon expiration of the appointment. A fee to be fixed by the township
manager may be charged for issuing to any such officer a certificate
of appointment.
b.
No person shall be appointed as such a special policeman unless he
is a citizen of the United States, able to read and write and speak
the English language, is physically qualified and of good moral character,
and shall not have been convicted of any indictable offense. No such
special policeman shall carry a revolver or other weapon when off
duty. Every such special policeman shall be fingerprinted and his
fingerprints shall be filed with the Division of State Police and
the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
c.
Every such special policeman shall be under the supervision and direction
of the chief of police.
d.
Every such special policeman shall perform his duties only in the
Township of Roxbury except when in fresh pursuit of any person pursuant
to the provisions of State Statutes.
e.
Every such special policeman shall comply with the regular rules
and regulations promulgated by the chief of police for the conduct
and decorum of the regular members of the township police department.
f.
Before any such appointment is made, the chief of police shall ascertain
whether the applicant for the appointment is eligible and qualified,
as provided herein, and a report thereon shall be made to the township
manager.
g.
When so required, special policemen may perform general police duty
during emergency conditions when, in the judgment of the chief of
police, with the concurrence of the township manager, the services
of such persons shall be required.
h.
Prior to appointment as a special police officer an applicant must
present evidence of medical and psychological fitness for duty by
a physician approved by the township. The township shall reimburse
the applicant for these costs after the successful completion of one
year of active duty.
i.
All applicants shall have successfully completed the basic Special
Police Officer's School approved by the Roxbury Township Manager prior
to performing any assignments.
The township manager may appoint police matrons who shall perform
such duties as may be assigned to them by the chief of police. Any
such appointment shall be for a term not exceeding one year and may
be revoked without cause or hearing.
The township manager may appoint school guards upon recommendation
of the chief of police. The powers and duties of school guards shall
be limited to the protection of children while on public thoroughfares
in the township in connection with their attendance at the several
schools in the township, and to the direction and regulations of pedestrian
and vehicular traffic at the various street intersections and crossings
where they may be stationed.
While on active duty, school guards shall be under the jurisdiction
of and subject to the orders of the chief of police.
No person who shall serve as special policeman, matron or school
guard, or who shall perform any duties of a police nature other than
as a probationary patrolman, prior to appointment as a regular member
of the township police department, shall be entitled to credit for
any such prior periods of duty, or services rendered, either with
or without pay on account of any required tenure or promotion record
in the police department; provided, however, that persons permanently
appointed to the department who shall have served as probationary
policemen shall be entitled to credit for service during their probationary
periods, as hereinafter set forth.
[Amended 11-12-2019 by Ord. No. 16-19]
a.
No person shall be appointed a member of the Police Department unless
the person:
1.
Is a citizen of the United States;
2.
Is sound in body and of good health sufficient to satisfy the Board
of Trustees of the Police and Fireman's Retirement System of New Jersey
as to his or her eligibility for membership in the retirement system;
3.
Is able to read, write and speak the English language well and intelligently;
4.
Is of good moral character and has not been convicted of any criminal
offense involving moral turpitude;
5.
Is a resident of the State of New Jersey at the time of appointment;
6.
Has completed and filed with the Township a written application,
under oath, on a form to be furnished by the Township;
7.
Has a valid New Jersey driver's license prior to the date of appointment;
8.
Has earned at least a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited four-year
college or university; or has a minimum of 60 credits from an accredited
college or university and two years' satisfactory full-time employment;
or has received an honorable discharge from any branch of the Armed
Forces of the United States or United States Coast Guard after serving
a minimum of three years.
9.
Has successfully passed a medical and psychological examination;
10.
Has
successfully passed a physical agility test; and
b.
Each applicant shall submit an application fee of $25 to the Township
along with his/her application for membership in the Police Department.
Every applicant for appointment to or member considered for
promotion within the police department of the township shall, within
two weeks prior to the appointment, submit to a thorough physical
examination by a physician approved by the township manager, who shall
certify that the applicant is in good health, sound body and mind,
emotionally stable and able to perform the duties required of him.
All new appointments shall also submit to a psychological examination
to prove his emotional stability to properly perform the duties required
of him.
In his report, the physician shall set forth in writing in detail
any physical injuries, congenital defects, organic or functional disturbances
or other matters ascertained by or made known to him which might,
in the opinion of the physician, impair the usefulness of the applicant
or cause him to become disabled subsequent to his appointment or promotion.
Every person appointed to the police department shall, as a
prerequisite to becoming a member thereof and before entering upon
his duties as such, take and subscribe to an oath or affirmation as
may be required and prescribed by the laws of the State of New Jersey.
[Amended 11-12-2019 by Ord. No. 16-19]
a.
Every applicant for appointment to the Township Police Department
shall submit to an examination in order to ascertain his mental qualifications,
his educational background and the extent of his general knowledge
and aptitude, and furnish character references from three reputable
citizens.
b.
Oral examinations covering each candidate's general knowledge and
aptitude shall be conducted by a personnel consultant with established
qualifications to conduct said examinations or by a panel of superior
officers of the Department.
c.
Candidates must have attained a passing grade in their oral and physical
examinations for appointment as probationary patrolmen.
d.
New applicants who have performed military service shall furnish
photocopies of military service history and service discharge or certificate
of service for permanent filing with the Police Department.
e.
All newly appointed candidates shall be classified as probationary
patrolmen.
a.
Every applicant for membership in the township police department
shall be employed for a period of one year on a probationary basis
prior to permanent appointment as a patrolman, in order that his qualifications
and fitness for the duties which he is to perform may be observed
and determined.
b.
During such probationary period such applicants shall be known as
probationary policemen, and they may be discharged prior to or at
the termination of said probationary period at the pleasure of the
township manager.
c.
No person shall hereafter be given or accept a permanent appointment
as a police officer in the township unless such person has successfully
completed a police training course at a school approved and authorized
by the Police Training Commission in the Department of Law and Public
Safety by the State of New Jersey pursuant to the provisions of Chapter
56 of the Laws of 1961.
d.
This section shall not prohibit the giving or accepting of a probationary
appointment as a police officer for a period not to exceed one year,
to enable a person seeking a permanent appointment to complete a police
training course as prescribed by the Police Training Commission.
e.
No person shall be permitted to take a police training course unless
he holds a probationary appointment as a police officer in the township,
and such appointee shall be entitled to a leave of absence with pay
during the period of the police training course.
f.
Until such applicant is permanently appointed to the department,
or rejected, the township manager may continue to employ him for a
further probationary period, not to exceed six months.
g.
Upon permanent appointment to the department, all time served by
any member during such probationary period shall be considered as
service with the department and shall be applied toward any required
tenure and promotion period.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former section 19-11, Promotions was amended
in its entirety by Ordinance No. 12-03. Prior ordinance history includes
portions of Ordinance Nos. 11-82, 31-90, 3-91, 14-97 and 22-99.
Promotion denotes vertical movement in the organization hierarchy from one rank classification to another. The validity of the promotional process can only be accomplished through clear and concise procedures. The promotional process for the police department shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures and requirements approved by the township manager and established in the Roxbury Township Police Department Rules and Regulations/Policies and Procedures, Volume I, Chapter 5, Promotional Process.
The Township Manager shall adopt and promulgate such rules and
regulations as may be necessary for the proper government of the Police
Department and for the discipline of its members. Such rules and regulations
shall be administered and enforced by the Chief of Police.
The duties and responsibilities of the members of the police
department shall be those set forth by law, and as prescribed in the
Roxbury Township Police Department Rules and Regulations as adopted
and promulgated by the Township Manager.
When any member of the township police department who has entered
or hereafter shall enter the active military service of the United
States, or of this State, in time of war or an emergency, or for or
during any period of training, or pursuant to or in connection with
the operation of any system of Selective Service, or who has entered
or hereafter in time of war shall enter the active service of the
United States Merchant Marine or any similar organization authorized
by the United States to serve with the army or navy, he shall be granted
leave of absence for the period of such service and for a further
period of three months after receiving his discharge from such service.
If any such person shall be incapacitated by wound or sickness at
the time of his discharge from such service, his leave of absence
shall be extended until three months after his recovery from such
wound or sickness, or until the expiration of two years from the date
of his discharge from such service, whichever shall first occur.
In no case shall such person be discharged or separated from
his office, position or employment during such period of leave of
absence because of his entry into such service. During the period
of such leave of absence such person shall be entitled to all the
rights, privileges and benefits that he would have had or acquired
if he had actually served in such office, position or employment during
such period of leave of absence, except unless otherwise provided
by law, the right to compensation. Such leave of absence may be granted
with or without pay as provided by law. Such person shall be entitled
to resume the office, position or employment held by him at the time
of his entrance into such service, provided he shall apply therefor
before the expiration of his leave of absence. Upon resumption of
his office, position or employment, the service in such office, position
or employment of the person temporarily filling the same shall immediately
cease.
No person who, after entry into such service, shall have been
separated from such service by a discharge of lesser degree than full
honorable discharge shall be entitled to any of the rights, privileges
or benefits herein conferred.
If any person shall be appointed a member of the police department
of the township to fill a vacancy created by this section, the township
manager shall certify how such vacancy occurs or exists, and the name
of the person, if any, who held such office or position immediately
prior to the vacancy.
When any member of the police department of the township is
granted a military leave of absence or pursuant to any law granting
leave of absence to persons entering the military or naval forces
of the United States, or of this State, the township manager may appoint
a person to serve in the place of the person who has been granted
such leave of absence and during the continuance thereof. Such appointment
shall constitute a temporary appointment only, and such temporarily
appointed person shall have no obligation to contribute to any pension
fund and shall acquire no pension or tenure rights.
Such temporary appointment shall terminate upon the expiration
of the leave of absence granted to the appointee's predecessor in
office, or upon official notification of the permanent incapacity
or death of such predecessor. It may be terminated sooner if such
appointment is found to be no longer necessary or in the interest
of economy.
Such temporary appointment shall meet all of the requirements
for a normal appointment to the department.
Any person who has been, or shall be, appointed a member of
the police department of the township while serving in the military
or naval service of the United States in time of war, and who has
been, or shall be, delayed in qualifying and becoming a member of
such police department as a result of such service, and who has qualified
and become a member of such police department or who shall qualify
and become a member of such police department within six months after
being honorably discharged or released from such service, shall be
considered, for the purpose of determining his years of service, rank
and grade, increase in pay, or any other rights or benefits as having
qualified and to have become a member of such department, as of the
date of his appointment, notwithstanding the requirements of any other
law concerning the appointment of members to such police department.
When an award shall be made to a member of the township police
department by a duly constituted governmental or voluntary agency
for heroic or meritorious service, a record shall be made and kept
of such award by the chief of police or other person in command of
the department and such record shall constitute a part of the service
record of such recipient.
[Ord. #11-82; Ord. #21-95, S1; Ord. #4-98, S1; Ord. #32-98,
S1; Ord. #4-01, S1; Ord. No. 06-2014; amended 12-13-2017 by Ord. No. 24-17]
a.
Any request for police attendance for private purposes outside the
regular duty assignments of police officers, such as the use of uniformed
police officers for traffic control, crowd control, security, and
the like police services, at privately sponsored gatherings, events,
or other special private appropriate occurrences, shall be made to
the Chief of Police.
b.
The Chief of Police, at his discretion, may assign members of the
Police Department not on regular duty to perform services described
in the preceding subsection for private purposes. While on said duty,
the members of the Department so assigned shall be under the supervision
and control of the Chief of Police and superior officers of the Department
and shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter.
c.
The Township of Roxbury shall be paid the sum of $90 per hour for
each officer assigned to private duty by the private party making
the request, which sum includes the amount to be paid to the police
officer assigned to the duty and an administrative charge of $10 per
hour for the processing of funds, maintenance of accounts, issuance
of checks, payment of taxes and other administrative costs paid by
the municipality. The Township of Roxbury shall be paid the sum of
$68 per hour for each officer assigned to a Roxbury School event paid
for by the Roxbury Township Board of Education. The Township Manager
is authorized to establish the appropriate procedure for payment and
collection of this charge.
[Amended 12-13-2017 by Ord. No. 24-17]
The Chief of Police, whenever in his opinion the public service so requires, may detail any of the members of the Department to any special or particular duty connected with the police service of the Township, and for such purpose may send any member or members outside of the Township limits together with any police car or equipment required in the performance of such special or particular police service. For services provided in other municipalities that are paid at fixed rates which are less than those provided for private police services within the Township of Roxbury in § 19-17.3, the Township of Roxbury shall charge and collect an administrative charge of $10 per hour for the processing of funds, maintenance of accounts, issuance of checks, payment of taxes and other administrative costs paid by the municipality from any such rate paid or provided for by that municipality and any payment to a Township of Roxbury police officer or patrolman shall reflect the administrative charge adjustment to any rate so paid.
