The Police Division shall preserve the public peace; protect
life and property; detect, arrest and prosecute offender(s) of the
laws of New Jersey and ordinances of the Township of Plainsboro; direct
and control traffic; provide attendance and protection during emergencies;
provide appearances in court; cooperate with all other law enforcement
agencies; and provide training for the efficiency of its members and
officers.
The Township Committee shall be designated as the appropriate
authority unless there is a Police Director, who then shall serve
as the appropriate authority as provided in the New Jersey Statutes.
The Police Director will coordinate with the Township Committee on
a regular basis, and upon their request. The appropriate authority
shall be responsible for the overall performance of the Police Department.
The appropriate authority shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations
for the government of the Police Department and for the discipline
of its members.
The Police Director, absent the appointment of a Chief of Police,
shall be the head of the Police Division and shall be directly responsible
to the appropriate authority for its efficiency and day-to-day operations.
Pursuant to policies established by the appropriate authority, the
Chief of Police shall:
A. Administer and enforce the rules and regulations of the Police Division
and any special emergency directive for the disposition and discipline
of the Division and its members and officers.
B. Have, exercise and discharge the functions, powers and duties of
the Police Division.
C. Prescribe the duties and assignments of all members and officers.
D. Delegate such authority as may be deemed necessary for the efficient
operation of the Police Division to be exercised under Police Director
direction and control, absent the appointment of a Chief of Police.
E. Report at least monthly to the appropriate authority in such form
as shall be prescribed on the operation of the Police Division during
the preceding month and make such other reports as may be requested
by the appropriate authority.
The Township Committee shall have the power to adopt such rules
and regulations for the government and discipline of the Division
of Police not inconsistent with this chapter. The same may include
the delegation to the Police Director, absent the appointment of a
Chief of Police, the power to adopt such rules, regulations, procedures
and orders as shall be deemed to promote the efficiency of the Division.
Any such rules, regulations, procedures or orders of the Police Director,
absent the appointment of a Police Chief, may be modified by the Township
Committee. The regulations heretofore adopted entitled "Plainsboro
Township Police Division, Police Manual for Rules and Regulations,"
as may be amended from time to time by resolution of the Township
Committee, are incorporated herein and made a part hereof and are
reinstated as if set forth herein in their entirety.
All members of the Division of Police shall be appointed by
the Township Administrator, with the exception of the Chief of Police
and/or a Police Director, who shall be appointed by the Township Committee.
Appointment to positions in the Division of Police shall be drawn
from eligible candidates established through a process, such as an
examination or test procedures drafted by the Police Director and
provided to the Township Administrator for final review, approval
and authorization. Such eligible candidates shall be active for consideration
for 18 months. When a vacancy may occur for member positions, such
candidates identified will be eligible upon screening by the procedure
as outlined above.
Police uniforms and other pertinent equipment shall be furnished
to all sworn members of the Division of Police and shall at all times
be and remain the property of the Township of Plainsboro and, upon
separation from the Division, shall be returned to the Township.