[Ord. #8-93]
N.J.S.A. 40A:14-156.2 et seq., (hereinafter the "statute") allows municipalities to provide emergency intermunicipal police assistance to other municipalities which adopt similar reciprocal ordinances.
The Borough Council of the Borough of South Bound Brook deems it to be in the best interests of the residents of the Borough to enact an ordinance pursuant to the statute in order to provide for the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the Borough.
The Borough hereby cooperates with all other municipalities which adopt a similar reciprocal ordinance providing for the intermunicipal police assistance in times of emergency.
This intermunicipal assistance will be provided if and when the Borough of South Bound Brook has an emergency within its boundaries requiring additional police assistance to protect life and property, or to assist in suppressing a riot or disorder; and whenever another municipality, which has enacted a similar reciprocal ordinance, may experience a similar emergency requiring additional police assistance.
The Chief of Police of the Borough of South Bound Brook or the highest ranking officer on duty at the time, is hereby authorized to request assistance from the Chief or the highest ranking officer on duty of the police departments of the other municipalities for intermunicipal police assistance during and/or after an emergency situation.
The Chief of Police of the Borough of South Bound Brook or the highest ranking officer on duty at the time, shall provide assistance to another municipality or municipalities making a valid request to supply such personnel and equipment, to the extent possible without endangering person or property within the Borough of South Bound Brook.
Members of the South Bound Brook Police Department supplying emergency assistance to another municipality shall have the same powers and authority, as have the members of the Police Department of the municipality in which said assistance is being rendered. Additionally, said members shall also have, while so acting, said rights and immunities as they may otherwise enjoy in the performance of their normal duties within the Borough of South Bound Brook.
The Borough of South Bound Brook shall, upon providing assistance to another municipality which has enacted a similar Intermunicipal Assistant ordinance, assume the cost and expense of providing said personnel and equipment to the requesting municipality; excepting such instances when the requesting municipality receives State or Federal aid as reimbursement therefore. In this event, the cost incurred by the Borough shall be submitted to the municipality which requested assistance, for reimbursement.
At such times that an emergency may occur and intermunicipal police aid is requested, the Chief of Police of the municipality wherein said emergency situation exits, shall be the senior ranking officer of all members of any police department rendering assistance within the boundaries of said municipality.
In the event any member of a police force summoned pursuant to an agreement to render assistance, suffer injury or death in the performance of his or her duties, he/she or his/her designee or legal representative shall be entitled to such salary, pension rights, workman's compensation or other benefits as would have accrued, if such injury or death had occurred in the performance of his or her normal duties.
A copy of this section shall be transmitted to the Municipal Clerk of each municipality within Somerset and Middlesex Counties no later than five (5) business days following its adoption. The Clerk of the Borough of South Bound Brook shall maintain a record of all such similar ordinances adopted by other municipalities.
The provisions of this section are deemed severable and in the event any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase herein shall be declared invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, said decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases of the section and said section shall remain in full force and effect.