Township of River Vale, NJ Fire Police

The River Vale Volunteer Fire Department may nominate not more than five volunteer members of the Department to serve as fire police. Candidates nominated to said office shall be confirmed by the Township Council and shall serve for a term of one year or until their successors are nominated and confirmed. Fire police officers shall serve without compensation from the Township.

§ 17-28 Requisites for appointment.

No member of the River Vale Volunteer Fire Department shall be appointed to the office of Fire Police unless the person:

Is a volunteer member of the River Vale Volunteer Fire Department in good standing;

Is a citizen of the United States;

Will be at least 18 years of age on the date of appointment;

Is able to read, write and speak the English language well and intelligently;

Is of good moral character and has not been convicted of any criminal offense involving moral turpitude;

Has a valid New Jersey driver's license prior to the date of appointment;

Has successfully passed a physical examination and submitted to a criminal history search as defined in § 18-4 of the Code of the Township of River Vale not more than three months prior to said appointment; and

Has successfully completed the "NJ adopted fire police officer instructional program" or an equivalent course approved by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Division of Fire Safety, and has passed the associated state exams approved for such instructional program; and

Provides written proof of having been certified by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Division of Fire Safety, as a fire police officer.

§ 17-29 Oath of office.

Each individual appointed and qualified as a fire police officer shall, before entering upon the performance of his or her duties, take and subscribe to an oath, administered by the Township Clerk, to faithfully, impartially and justly perform all of the duties of his or her office. The original of the oath shall be filed with the Township Clerk and a copy thereof filed with the Secretary of the River Vale Volunteer Fire Department.

§ 17-30 Duties and powers.

The rights, privileges, powers and duties of a fire police officer shall be as follows:

(1)

The protection of property;

(2)

The establishment and maintenance of fire lines;

(3)

The performance of such necessary traffic control duties from the fire station to and at the vicinity of the fire scene, fire drill or other emergency call as the River Vale Volunteer Fire Department may respond to, until the arrival of a duly authorized police officer, or any public event where Fire Police services may be requested to protect the public, subject to the approval of and supervision by the chief law enforcement officer of the Township;

(4)

The investigation of all causes of fires and preservation of all evidence pertaining to fires of questionable origins, in the absence of investigating authorities; and

(5)

The wearing and exhibition of an authorized Fire Police badge on the left breast of the outermost garment while on duty and acting in the capacity of a fire police officer.

Nothing herein shall confer on a fire police officer the right to arrest or detain any person.

§ 17-31 Supervision.

[Amended 11-27-2023 by Ord. No. 419-2023]

The performance of the duties of a fire police officer shall be under the supervision of the Fire Chief or the highest-ranking fire officer in charge of the fire scene or fire drill, until the arrival of a duly authorized police officer, who shall assume responsibility for the supervision of traffic duties, preservation of evidence and all other law enforcement duties. Nothing in this article shall diminish the powers of the Chief or other superior officer(s) of the River Vale Volunteer Fire Department in the exercise of his or her duties or confer on a fire police officer the right to supersede a duly authorized police officer.

§ 17-32 Bylaws and standard operating procedures.

The River Vale Volunteer Fire Department shall amend the Department's bylaws and standard operating procedures to provide for the establishment of the position of fire police officer and for the process of nomination to said position.

§ 17-33 Violations and penalties.

The refusal to obey a direction or command given by a fire police officer in the performance of his or her duties shall be considered a violation of this article;

Any person, firm, or corporation violating any of the provisions of this article shall be subject to such penalties as are provided for in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article I, § 1-14 of the Code of the Township of River Vale, except that nothing herein shall confer on a fire police officer the right to arrest or detain any person.