A.
All applicants for the position of police officer shall be eligible
and qualified for appointment as determined by the policies and procedures
established in this chapter, the rules and regulations of the Wood-Ridge
Police Department, the rules and regulations of the New Jersey Civil
Service Commission and the laws of the State of New Jersey. Eligibility
and qualifications shall include, but are not limited to:
(1)
Be a citizen of the United States.
(2)
Be a resident of the State of New Jersey.
(3)
Be at least 18 years of age.
(4)
Be able to speak, read and write the English language.
(5)
Be of good moral character.
(6)
Be physically and mentally fit.
(7)
Possess a valid New Jersey driver's license.
(8)
Possess a high school diploma or general equivalency degree.
(9)
Be able to successfully complete all required pre-appointment and
post appointment screening, evaluation and training processes.
B.
All applicants for the position of police officer shall be subject
to, and required to successfully complete, any and all pre-appointment
screening and evaluation processes permitted under the policies and
procedures established in this chapter, the rules and regulations
of the Wood-Ridge Police Department, the rules and regulations of
the New Jersey Civil Service Commission and the laws of the State
of New Jersey, including but not limited to:
(1)
New Jersey Civil Service Commission's entry level law enforcement
exam.
(2)
Submission of a letter of interest and professional resume.
(3)
Completion of an employment application and screening questionnaire.
(4)
Background check and motor vehicle driving record check.
(5)
Confirmation of residency and/or veteran status.
(6)
Medical, physical, psychological and/or drug screening examinations.
(7)
Interviews with the Chief of Police and/or other sworn officers and
Borough officials involved in the evaluation and hiring process.
C.
In evaluating applicants for appointment for the position of police
officer, the Mayor and Council, subject to the rules and regulations
of the New Jersey Civil Service Commission and the laws of the State
of New Jersey, shall consider the following criteria:
(1)
Score and rank on the New Jersey civil service exam.
(2)
Wood-Ridge residency.
(3)
Veteran status.
(4)
Educational degrees/credits earned; academic record and achievement.
(5)
Performance during interviews with the Chief of Police, other sworn
officers of the Department, the Borough Administrator, the Mayor,
and/or members of the Council Police Committee.
(6)
Recommendations of the Chief of Police, the Borough Administrator
and/or other sworn officers and/or Borough officials involved in the
evaluation and hiring process
(7)
Professional experience and work history.
(8)
Special skills and/or training, i.e., foreign language fluency, EMT
or firefighter certification, etc.
(9)
Such other skills, abilities and/or accomplishments deemed desirable
by the Chief of Police and/or other sworn officers and Borough officials
involved in the evaluation and hiring process.
D.
Notwithstanding
any other provisions of this chapter to the contrary, applicants may
be appointed to the position of police officer without being required
to pass the Civil Service Entry Law Enforcement Exam pursuant to the
rules and regulations of the P.L. 2021, c. 7, (N.J.S.A. 4A:4-3.11
and 4A:4-3.12) as promulgated by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission.
Applicants appointed pursuant to this provision may not be a relative
of either the Mayor, a member of the Borough Council, or the Chief
of Police at the time of their appointment. For purposes of this section,
a "relative" shall be defined as a parent, spouse, son, daughter,
grandchild, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother, sister, brother-in-law,
sister-in-law, nephew, niece, stepparent, stepchild, stepgrandchild,
stepsibling, half-sibling, and the spouses and children of a stepsibling
or half-sibling.
[Added 2-9-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-1]
A.
All sworn police officers shall be appointed by the Mayor, with the
advice and consent of the Council, from a certified list promulgated
by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission.
B.
All appointments shall follow and be subject to the policies and
procedures established in this chapter, the rules and regulations
of the Wood-Ridge Police Department the rules and regulations of the
New Jersey Civil Service Commission and the laws of the State of New
Jersey.
C.
Preference for appointment to the position of police officer, subject
to the rules and regulations of the New Jersey Civil Service Commission,
shall be shown in the following order, descending from first through
third:
D.
After appointment by the Mayor and Council, all appointees shall
swear or affirm an oath of office as a police officer of the Borough
of Wood-Ridge, shall be issued a badge and identification and shall
report as ordered to the Chief of Police for training.
E.
All appointees shall attend the Bergen County Police Academy or,
if approved by the Chief of Police, another accredited police training
program certified by the New Jersey Police Training Commission (PTC)
and shall successfully complete all prescribed courses and evaluations
required to graduate with PTC certification.
F.
Any appointee who fails to complete the academy and/or achieve PTC
certification within one year of appointment shall be immediately
terminated.
G.
Upon successful completion of the police academy and obtaining PTC
certification, all appointees shall serve as probationary police officers
for a period of six months under the direct supervision of a field
training officer, subject to the rules and regulations of the Wood-Ridge
Police Department and the orders of the Chief of Police and all other
superior officers.
H.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter to the contrary,
applicants may be appointed to the position of police officer pursuant
to the rules and regulations of the intergovernmental transfer process
as promulgated by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission.
A.
The conduct of all sworn police officers, including appointees and
probationary officers, whether on duty or off duty, shall be subject
to such rules, regulations and orders as may be prescribed by the
Chief of Police, the Bergen County Prosecutor and the New Jersey State
Attorney General and to rules and regulations of the Wood-Ridge Police
Department, the ordinances of the Borough of Wood-Ridge and the laws
of the State of New Jersey.
B.
All sworn police officers, including appointees and probationary
officers, shall be subject to disciplinary action for noncompliance
with the rules, regulations and orders as may be prescribed by the
Chief of Police, the Bergen County Prosecutor and the New Jersey State
Attorney General and for violations of the rules and regulations of
the Wood-Ridge Police Department, the ordinances of the Borough of
Wood-Ridge and the laws of the State of New Jersey.
C.
The terms of employment for all sworn police officers, including
appointees and probationary officers, shall be subject to policies
contained in the Borough of Wood-Ridge Employee Personnel Policy Handbook,
ordinances of the Borough of Wood-Ridge, provisions of applicable
collective bargaining agreements or individual employment agreements,
the rules and regulations of the New Jersey Civil Service Commission
and the laws of the State of New Jersey.
D.
The terms of separation and/or retirement from the Department for
all sworn police officers shall be subject to policies contained in
the Borough of Wood-Ridge Employee Personnel Policy Handbook, ordinances
of the Borough of Wood-Ridge, provisions of applicable collective
bargaining agreements or individual employment agreements, the rules
and regulations of the New Jersey Civil Service Commission, the rules
and regulations of the New Jersey Police and Firemen's Retirement
System (PFRS) and the laws of the State of New Jersey.
A.
The Chief of Police shall promulgate, subject to approval via ordinance
by the Mayor and Council, rules and regulations for the Wood-Ridge
Police Department which shall govern and regulate the operations of
the Department and the conduct, duties, responsibilities, and performance
of all personnel of the Department.
B.
The Wood-Ridge Police Department rules and regulations shall be subject
to the policies and ordinances of the Borough of Wood-Ridge, the laws
of the State of New Jersey and the rules, regulations and orders as
may be prescribed by the Bergen County Prosecutor and/or the New Jersey
State Attorney General.
C.
The Wood-Ridge Police Department rules and regulations shall be binding
upon all personnel of the Department. Said rules and regulations shall
be issued to all the Department's personnel, who shall confirm receipt
of same in a manner prescribed by the Chief of Police.
D.
Personnel who violate the rules and regulations of the Wood-Ridge
Police Department, the policies and ordinances of the Borough of Wood-Ridge,
the laws of the State of New Jersey and/or the rules, regulations
and orders as may be prescribed by the Bergen County Prosecutor and
the New Jersey State Attorney General shall be subject to discipline
pursuant to the policies, rules, ordinances and laws aforementioned
in this subchapter.
A.
All promotions of sworn police officers shall be made by the Mayor,
with the advice and consent of the Council, from a certified list
promulgated by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission.
B.
In the event that a New Jersey Civil Service Commission list of eligible
candidates for promotion to a specific rank does not exist, or has
been exhausted of eligible candidates, the Mayor may make promotions
on a provisional or acting basis, with the advice and consent of the
Council. To be eligible for promotion on a provisional or acting basis,
officers shall have held the rank immediately below the rank to which
the promotion is being made for a period of not less than one year.
C.
After promotion by the Mayor and Council, all officers shall swear
or affirm an oath of office as a police officer of the Borough of
Wood-Ridge of the rank to which they were promoted and shall be issued
a badge and identification reflecting their new rank.
D.
All promotions shall follow and be subject to the policies and procedures
established in this chapter, the rules and regulations of the Wood-Ridge
Police Department, the rules and regulations of the New Jersey Civil
Service Commission and the laws of the State of New Jersey.
E.
Candidates for promotion shall be evaluated utilizing the following
criteria:
(1)
Score and rank on the New Jersey Civil Service Commission promotional
exam.
(2)
Interview with and recommendation of the Mayor and/or Borough Council
Police Committee.
(3)
Interview with and recommendation of the Borough Administrator.
(4)
Interview with and recommendation of the Chief of Police.
(5)
Interview with and recommendation of other supervisory and/or subordinate
officers, if empaneled by the Chief of Police.
(6)
College degrees and/or college credits.
(7)
Military service record.
(8)
Prior experience in supervisory roles within the Department.
(9)
Advanced training, continuing education and/or professional development
education.
(10)
The needs of the Department.
(11)
Prior performance evaluations.
(12)
Disciplinary record.
(13)
Foreign language proficiency.
(14)
Seniority in current rank.
(15)
Seniority in the Department.
F.
The evaluation process for candidates for promotion may be waived
by the Mayor and Council and the promotion made if, and only if:
[Amended 2-9-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-1]
(1)
There is only one candidate on the New Jersey Civil Service list
of eligible candidates for promotion to a specific rank; or
(2)
All the candidates on the New Jersey Civil Service list of eligible
candidates for promotion to a specific rank are being promoted; or
(3)
All
of the candidates being promoted pursuant to the New Jersey Civil
Service list of eligible candidates for promotion to a specific rank
were previously subjected to the same evaluation process either within
the preceding three years or within the time period that the Civil
Service list is active.
