There shall be a Department of Public Safety. The head of which
shall be the Director of Public Safety. Within the Department of Public
Safety there shall be the following divisions:
B. Division of Fire Protection;
C. Division of Building Code Enforcement.
The Director of Public Safety shall be required:
A. To be the appropriate authority designated by Borough Council through
the Mayor to exercise the authority of Council for the proper and
efficient conduct of all Public Safety functions of the borough government,
including Civil Defense Disaster Control;
B. To be responsible for the execution and enforcement of all laws,
state and federal, and ordinances pertaining to the safety of the
public at large and shall be the head of the Department as generally
established in this chapter;
C. To direct the operation of the Division of Police and, exclusive
of the responsibilities specifically reserved to the Chief Law Enforcement
Officer, to promulgate rules and regulations for the efficient operation
of the Division and to conduct all police disciplinary hearings;
D. To direct the operation of the Division of Fire Protection and, subject
to constraints imposed by applicable law, to promulgate rules and
regulations for the efficient operation of the Division and to conduct
all firefighter disciplinary hearings;
E. To direct the operation of the Division of Building Code Enforcement,
and exclusive of the duties specifically reserved to the Construction
Official, promulgate and enforce rules and regulations for the efficient
operation of the Division.
F. To initiate budget estimates with the advice and consent of the Police
Committee for forwarding to the Borough Administrator and to obtain
the approval of the Police Committee chairperson for expenditure of
funds within the Police Division;
G. To coordinate the operation and management of all divisions within
the Department of Public Safety;
H. To plan, organize, assign and direct all police, fire, and ambulance
operations with respect to personnel, equipment and buildings;
I. To take or recommend disciplinary action for any employee within
the Public Safety Department in accordance with statutory provisions
and with recommendations of subordinate superiors;
J. To keep the Borough Administrator informed of all matters concerning
the duties of the Director of Public Safety;
K. To plan and implement an ongoing program of training and education,
subject to the approval of the Mayor and Council, for all the members
of the Police Department, so that they will be fully apprised of current
developments in law enforcement;
L. To provide technical information to the Borough Council, Planning
Board, Zoning Board or other department heads when required;
M. To promote a close liaison with the various agencies of the borough
and to attend meetings of the Mayor and Council when necessary to
better coordinate the functioning of the Police Department with the
work of all municipal agencies;
N. To regularly revise the ordinances of the borough dealing with public
safety to assure their propriety with the prevailing public safety
needs of the borough;
O. To work with community groups to foster community action related
to public safety activities including personal attendance at public
gatherings to explain safety activities and to elicit citizen support.
[Added 4-1-2015 by Ord.
No. 02-CY2015]
No person shall be qualified for appointment as Director of
Public Safety unless such person shall be of high moral character
and shall not have been convicted of a crime as defined in N.J.S.A.
2C:1-4 or shall not have been convicted of a disorderly or petty disorderly
offense in the past 10 years. Furthermore, no person shall be qualified
for appointment as Director of Public Safety unless such person shall
have:
A. Ten years' administrative business experience and have a high
school diploma or its equivalent; or
B. Five years' experience in business administration for a governmental
agency and have attained a Master of Business Administration; or
C. Three years in rank of lieutenant or greater in law enforcement;
and
(1) Has a post-secondary education in public administration, criminal/justice
studies or similar degree from an accredited institution; and
(2) Advanced law enforcement administrator training from a recognized
agency.
[Added 4-1-2015 by Ord.
No. 02-CY2015]
The office of the Director of Public Safety is hereby declared
to be a part-time position. The Director shall devote appropriate
time to the Department in order to properly and efficiently discharge
his duties.
[Amended 4-1-2015 by Ord.
No. 02-CY2015]
A. The Director of Public Safety's term of office shall be for
one year beginning on January 1 and ending December 31 of each year;
[Amended 9-1-2010 by Ord.
No. 03-FY2011]
B. The Director of Public Safety shall be compensated in amounts as
authorized by Mayor and Council.
[Amended 4-1-2015 by Ord.
No. 02-CY2015]
Within the Department of Public Safety, there shall be a Division
of Police.
A. Chapter
28 of the Revised Ordinances of the Borough of Lawnside (Police Department) shall be amended to substitute Division of Police in every section where the Department of Police is indicated;
B. The position of Chief of Police established by Chapter
28, Section
28-1 of the Revised Ordinances of the Borough of Lawnside is hereby abolished;
C. Chapter
28 of the Revised Ordinances of the Borough of Lawnside shall be amended to substitute the Chief Executive Officer in each section of said chapter wherein duties and/or authority are given to the Chief of Police;
D. In conjunction with the Division of Police the Public Safety Director
shall:
(1) Develop a traffic control program which includes:
(a)
A program for the supervision, development and coordination
of the erection of traffic signs and to ensure vehicle and pedestrian
safety.
(b)
Recommendations to the proper authorities to correct or alleviate
traffic problems.
(c)
A program for provision of crossing guards including personal
service or substitutions if necessary.
(d)
A program to oversee and administer the removal and storage
of abandoned vehicles, disabled vehicles or contraband vehicles towed
or impounded either by independent contract or by direct municipal
action.
(2) Ensure proper files and accurate crime statistics so as to permit
uniform crime reporting.
(3) Organize and develop a safety program for the children within the
schools and other organizations within the borough.
[Amended 4-1-2015 by Ord.
No. 02-CY2015]
Within the Department of Public Safety, there shall be a Division
of Fire Protection.
A. Within the Fire Department shall be the Volunteer Ambulance Squad.
[Amended 4-1-2015 by Ord.
No. 02-CY2015]
Within the Department of Public Safety, there shall be a Division
of Building Code Enforcement.
[Amended 4-1-2015 by Ord.
No. 02-CY2015]
A. Overall responsibility.
(1) Authority to supervise and direct Police, Fire and Building Code
Enforcement Division, hereafter referred to as the Department of Public
Safety.
(a)
Responsible for the protection of lives and property in the
borough and for the organization and direction of all borough activities
concerned with the Police, Fire and Building Code Enforcement.
(2) Powers.
(a)
Under the general directions of the Borough Administrator acting
as agent for the Mayor and Borough Council, the Director of Public
Safety shall have control over the Division of Police in such manner
as may be consistent with all applicable statutes, ordinances and
regulations and shall be responsible for the administration and regulation
of the Department of Public Safety.
(3) Reportability.
(a)
Shall keep the Borough Administrator informed of all matters
concerning the duties of the Director of Public Safety.
(b)
Provide technical public safety information to the Borough Council,
Planning Board, Zoning Board or other department heads when required.
(4) Compensation.
(a)
The Director of Public Safety shall be paid an annual salary
as established by the Mayor and Council.
B. Division of Police.
(1) As head of the Department of Public Safety shall administer the work
subject to the supervision and direction of the Borough Administrator.
(a)
Organize and direct, through subordinates, the activities of
the Division of Police through planning, evaluating, and coordinating.
(b)
Report to the Borough Administrator from time to time such matters
as may require the attention of the Borough Council, with the recommendation
of the Director thereon, relating to conditions of the Department
and its improvements and needs.
(c)
Perform such other matters in connection therewith as may be
prescribed by the Borough Council.
(d)
Examine all applicants with the Police Committee for positions
on the police force and recommend for positions on the police force
such persons as the Director may deem proper, from time to time.
(e)
Prefer charges against and, in his discretion, pending a final
hearing on the charges, suspend any officer or member of the force
and otherwise exercise control over all subordinates, subject to law.
(2) Shall be on call and available for service at all times.
(a)
Promote a close liaison with the various agencies of the borough
and to attend all meetings of the Mayor and Council when necessary
to better coordinate the functioning of the Division of Police with
the work of all municipal agencies.
(b)
Regularly review the ordinances of the borough dealing with
public safety to assure their propriety with the prevailing public
safety needs of the borough.
(c)
Plan and implement an ongoing program of training and education,
subject to the approval of the Mayor and Council, for all members
of the Division of Police, so that they will be fully apprised of
current developments in law enforcement.
C. Traffic.
(1) As head of the Department of Public Safety shall administer the work
subject to the supervision and direction of Borough Administrator.
(a)
Supervise, develop and coordinate programs for signing and traffic
control to ensure vehicle and pedestrian safety.
(b)
Monitor traffic conditions within the borough and make appropriate
recommendations to the proper authorities to correct or alleviate
traffic problems.
(c)
Direct pedestrian traffic as necessary, i.e. to fill-in for
crossing guards and or police staff.
D. Safety.
(1) As head of the Department of Public Safety shall administer the work
subject to the supervision and direction of the Borough Administrator.
(a)
Organize and develop a safety program for the children in the
schools and other organizations within borough.
(b)
Attend meetings and public gatherings to explain safety activities
and functions and to elicit citizen support.
(c)
Develop and supervise crime prevention programs for the community.
(d)
Work with community groups to foster community action relating
to public safety activities.
E. Crime.
(1) As head of the Department of Public Safety shall administer the work
subject to the supervision and direction of Borough Administrator.
(a)
Respond to the scene of all major criminal activity and coordinate
through subordinates the action to be taken.
(b)
Be responsible for and ensure accomplishment of police investigations
of criminal activity within the borough.
(c)
Ensure proper files and accurate crime statistics are maintained
so as to permit evaluation and uniform crime reporting.
F. Personnel.
(1) As head of the Department of Public Safety shall administer the work
subject to the supervision and direction of the Borough Administrator.
(a)
Evaluate with the administrator and Police Committee candidates
for positions in the Division of Police.
(b)
With recommendations of subordinate supervisors, take or recommend
disciplinary action in accordance with statutory provisions.
G. Planning, organizing, budgeting.
(1) As head of the Department of Public Safety shall administer the work
subject to the supervision and direction of the Borough Administrator.
(a)
Plan, organize, assign and direct all police, fire, and ambulance
operations with respect to personnel, equipment and buildings.
(b)
With the advice and consent of the Police Committee, initiates
budget estimates for forwarding to the Borough Administrator and is
responsible for obtaining the approval of the Police Committee chairperson
for the expenditures of funds with the department budget.
H. Building code enforcement.
(1) As head of the Department of Public Safety shall administer the work
subject to the supervision and direction of the Borough Administrator.
(a)
Direct the operations of the Division of Building Code Enforcement,
and exclusive of the duties specifically reserved to the Construction
Official, promulgate and enforce rules and regulations for the efficient
operation of the Division.
I. Training.
(1) As head of the Department of Public Safety shall administer the work
subject to the supervision and direction of Borough Administrator.
(a)
Direct and may participate in the training of subordinates in
the law and in the techniques and procedures of the various functions.
J. Scheduling.
(1) As head of the Department of Public Safety shall administer the work
subject to the supervision and direction of Administrator.
K. Community relations.
(1) As head of the Department of Public Safety shall administer the work
subject to other supervision and direction of administrator.
(a)
Work with the community groups to foster community action related
to public safety activities.
L. Ambulance squads.
(1) As head of the Department of Public Safety shall coordinate the activities
of the Volunteer Ambulance Squad, subject to the supervisions and
direction of the Administrator.
(a)
Provide such assistance as may be necessary for their proper
functioning.
M. Division of Fire.
(1) As head of the Department of Public Safety shall coordinate the activities
of the Division of Fire, subject to the supervision and direction
of the Administrator.
(a)
Provide such assistance as may be necessary for their proper
functioning.
N. Emergency management.
(1) Shall provide assistance as may be necessary for their proper functioning.
O. Authorization of Council to establish rules and regulations.
(1) The Borough Council shall establish, by resolution and may from time
to time amend and repeal, by resolution, such rules and regulations
as it may deem necessary for the government and efficient working
of the entire Department. Such rules and regulations and the amendment
or repeal of such rules or regulations, when adopted by the resolution
of the Borough Council, shall be posted by the Borough Administrator
within five days after the adoption thereof in quarters in the Municipal
Building assigned to the Division of Police and a copy thereof delivered
to each and every member of the Department within five days after
the adoption of such rules or regulations or any amendment or repeal
thereof.
[Added 1-3-2004 by Ord.
No. 05-FY2004; amended 4-1-2015 by Ord. No. 02-CY2015]
A. Training education and uniforms:
(1) All members of the Public Safety Department shall be provided with
uniforms and all members shall maintain in clean and serviceable condition
such wearing apparel and equipment as is prescribed by the Public
Safety Director.
(2) All members of the Public Safety Department shall be provided with
appropriate training as mandated by the New Jersey Police Training
Commission and/or prescribed by the Public Safety Director.
(3) If a Public Safety employee leaves the employment in the Public Safety
Department prior to two full years of service, then such shall reimburse
the Borough of Lawnside for all costs incurred by the Borough of Lawnside
for training or education and uniforms.
(a)
Training or education includes but is not limited to: Agency
Training, Academy Training, Probationary Training and In-Service Training
and Specialized Training.
(b)
The resigning individual shall also be responsible for reimbursing
the Borough for expenses of the Borough expended for medical, psychological
and drug testing.