[HISTORY: Article I §§ 7-1—7-2 adopted March 18, 1998 by Ord. No. 4-1998 as amended through December 31, 2016. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Ord. No. 4-1998]
N.J.S.A. 40A:14-156 et seq. (hereinafter the "Statute") allows municipalities to provide emergency inter-municipal police assistance to other municipalities which adopt similar reciprocal ordinances.
The Council of the City of South Amboy deems it to in the best interests of the residents of the City, to enact an ordinance pursuant to the Statute, in order to provide for the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the City.
[Ord. No. 4-1998]
A. 
The Council of the City of South Amboy ordains as follows:
(1) 
The City shall cooperate with all other municipalities which adopt a similar reciprocal ordinance providing for inter-municipal police assistance in times of emergency.
(2) 
Inter-municipal assistance will be provided if and when the City of South Amboy 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.
(3) 
The Chief of Police of the City of South Amboy 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 other municipalities for inter-municipal police assistance before, during and/or after an emergency situation.
(4) 
The Chief of Police of the City of South Amboy 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 City of South Amboy.
(5) 
Members of the South Amboy 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, the same rights and immunities as they may otherwise enjoy in the performance of their normal duties within the City of South Amboy.
(6) 
The City of South Amboy, shall upon providing assistance to another municipality which has enacted a similar inter-municipal assistance ordinance, assume the cost and expense of providing said personnel and equipment to the requesting municipality; except in those instances where the requesting municipality receives State or Federal Aid as reimbursement therefor. In that event, the costs incurred by the City shall be submitted to the municipality which requested assistance, and such costs shall be reimbursed to the City.
(7) 
At such times that an emergency may occur and inter-municipal police aid is requested, the Chief of Police of the municipality wherein said emergency situation exists, shall be the senior ranking officer of all members of any police department rendering assistance within the boundaries of said municipality.
(8) 
In the event any member of a police force summoned pursuant to an agreement to render assistance, suffers injury or death in the performance of his or her duties, his/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.
(9) 
A copy of this Ordinance No. 4-1998 adopted March 18, 1998 shall be transmitted to the Municipal Clerk of each municipality within Middlesex County no later than five business days following its adoption. The Clerk of the City of South Amboy shall maintain a record of all such similar ordinances adopted by other municipalities.
(10) 
The provisions of this Section 7-2 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 this Section 7-2 and said Section 7-2 shall remain in full force and effect.
(11) 
Ordinance No. 4-1998 shall become effective immediately upon final adoption, and publication, according to law.