[Adopted 4-8-2002 by Ord. No. 1781]
Private employers may employ Borough police personnel in their capacity as police officers, but only in accordance with the provisions of this article. Such employment of Borough police personnel is permitted only during off-duty hours, at such times as will not interfere with the efficient performance of regularly scheduled and/or emergency duty for the Borough, generally within the boundaries of the Borough of Ridgefield. Such availability of the Borough police personnel will be subject to Borough needs which may require the withdrawal of such officers at any time. This article shall apply to the employment of uniformed police personnel to work in their capacity as police officers. This article does not apply to situations where private employers wish to employ off-duty police officers to work without uniforms and in their nonofficial capacities.
Any employer wishing to employ off-duty police must make such a request to the Police Department and obtain the approval of the Chief of Police or his designee, which approval shall be granted if, in the opinion of the Chief or his designee, such employment will not be inconsistent with the efficient functioning and good reputation of the Police Department and would not unreasonably endanger or threaten the safety of the officers who are to perform the work. Such request shall be made in writing to the Police Department on a form to be supplied by the Department. The form shall be completed in its entirety and verified by the applicant. If the employment of police personnel is for a traffic detail in connection with any street excavation, street paving, total or partial street closing and/or the rerouting of vehicular traffic, then the Chief or his designee shall determine the number of officers required and whether one or more police vehicles must be used in connection with the assignment. The determinations of the Chief of Police or his designee shall be final and binding.
Once approved by the Chief or his designee, the request for employment shall be forwarded to PBA Local 330, which organization shall make the assignment of the off-duty officers to the employer. An agreement shall be signed by and between the private employer and the officer(s) as to such employment, and a copy shall be filed with the Borough of Ridgefield Police Department and Borough Clerk.
[Amended 4-28-2008 by Ord. No. 2049; 5-2-2008 by Ord. No. 2051; 3-26-2012 by Ord. No. 2199; 1-17-2018 by Ord. No. 2334; 2-12-2024 by Ord. No. 2474]
A. 
The following hourly rate of pay shall apply to each off-duty police officer employed:
Regular off-duty construction detail
$90
State-funded borough construction
$90
Non-state-funded Borough construction
$55
Residential/charitable/school rate
$45
B. 
All employers shall provide the Borough and the PBA with certificate of liability insurance and worker's compensation insurance in such amounts and according to such terms as are reasonably acceptable to the Borough.
C. 
If police vehicles are required in connection with the employment of off-duty duty members of the Police Department, such vehicles will be billed at a charge of $30 per hour for each vehicle used.
A. 
The PBA shall initiate and forward directly to the employer an itemization of the hours worked by and earnings due to appropriate police personnel using a form established by the Borough Chief Financial Officer or designee.
B. 
The Borough's Chief Financial Officer shall initiate and forward to the employer an itemization of the police vehicles used and the charges due on account of same.
C. 
All bills are due within 30 days of receipt.
The officers employed pursuant to the provisions of this article shall not be considered employees of the person or entity which has requested their employment, but rather shall be considered employees of the Ridgefield Police Department. Such officers shall have all of the rights, duties and responsibilities of regularly scheduled police officers, including specifically, but without limitation, the right to stop the construction or activity giving rise to the assignment if same is found to violate any statute, rule or ordinance or if same is determined to create a nuisance or unreasonable safety risk. Such off-duty officers shall be covered by the Borough's worker's compensation policy for injuries sustained on an assignment under this article.