There is hereby created in and for the Borough of Mountain Lakes,
in the County of Morris and State of New Jersey, a Police Department.
The Police Department shall preserve the public peace; protect
life and property; detect, arrest and prosecute offenders of the laws
of New Jersey and the ordinances of the Borough of Mountain Lakes;
direct and control traffic; provide attendance and protection during
emergencies; make appearances in court; cooperate with all other law
enforcement agencies; and provide training for the efficiency of its
members.
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118, the Borough Manager is hereby
designated as the appropriate authority. The Borough Manager, as the
personnel officer of the Borough, shall have full charge of all matters
pertaining to personnel administration, including serving as hearing
officer and/or appointing an independent hearing officer to hear disciplinary
charges filed pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-147.
The Borough Manager shall, from time to time as may be necessary,
adopt and amend the rules and regulations for the government and discipline
of the Police Department and employees thereof. Said rules and regulations
may fix and provide for the enforcement of such rules and regulations
and the enforcement of penalties for the violation of such rules and
regulations. All employees of the Police Department shall be subject
to such rules and regulations and penalties.
The Chief of Police shall be appointed by the Borough Manager
and confirmed by the Council and, prior to his/her appointment, shall
be qualified through training and experience in police administration.
The Chief of Police shall be the head of the Department of Police
and shall be directly responsible to the Borough Manager for the Department's
efficiency and day-to-day operations. The Chief of Police shall:
A. Develop, administer and recommend to the Borough Manager and enforce
rules and regulations for the governance of the Department of Police
and issue directives for the disposition and discipline of the Department
personnel.
B. Exercise and discharge the powers and duties of the Department.
C. Prescribe the duties and assignments of all subordinates and other
personnel.
D. Delegate such authority as may be necessary for the efficient operation
of the Department, the exercise of which will be under his direction
and supervision.
E. Report at least monthly to the Borough Manager regarding the operation
of the Department during the preceding month and make such other reports
as may be requested by the Borough Manager.
The Borough Manager may appoint, from time to time, special
law enforcement officers in accordance with New Jersey statues for
terms not exceeding one year. Such appointees shall possess and exercise
all the powers and duties provided by said statutes during their term
in office but shall not be continued as regular members of the Department
of Police. The Chief of Police may authorize special law enforcement
officers, when on duty, to exercise the same powers and authority
as regular officers of the Department of Police, including the carrying
of firearms and the power of arrest, except as specifically set forth
in N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.14 and 40A:14-146.15. Special law enforcement
officers shall not be utilized to supplant regular police officers
on Borough-assigned extra-duty assignments. Special law enforcement
officers are subject to the Borough of Mountain Lakes Police Department's
Written Directive System, where applicable.
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:9-154.1 et seq., the Chief of Police
may, from time to time, appoint as school crossing guards such persons
as he shall deem to be qualified for such position. The powers and
duties of school crossing guards shall be limited to the protection
of children while on public thoroughfares in the Borough of Mountain
Lakes in connection with the attendance of such children at the several
schools in said Borough and to the direction and regulation of pedestrian
and vehicular traffic at the various street intersections and crossings
where they may be stationed. While on active duty, school crossing
guards shall be under the jurisdiction of and subject to the order
of the officers of the Mountain Lakes Police Department.