[Ord. No. 2015-25 § 2, Exh. A; Ord. No. 2019-32]
There is hereby created in and for Princeton, a police department, known as the "Princeton Police Department," which shall consist of the Chief of Police, up to one Captain, up to four Lieutenants, up to seven Sergeants, up to four Corporals and up to 36 permanent Patrol Officers. As used in this chapter, all sworn officers, i.e., the Chief, Captain, Lieutenants, Sergeants, Corporals and Patrol Officers, may be referred to as "members." In addition, the Police Department may be supported by such civilian employees as may be deemed necessary by the Mayor and Council. Such Department shall be governed by applicable laws of the State, this chapter and other applicable laws and ordinances of the municipality and rules and regulations adopted pursuant hereto.
[Ord. No. 2015-25 § 2, Exh. A; Ord. No. 2016-09]
This section establishes and sets forth the line of authority for the administration and operation of the Princeton Police Department.
(a) 
The Administrator shall constitute the "appropriate authority" as required by N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118 and shall thereby have the powers as provided by State law including the authority and duty to:
(1) 
Adopt and promulgate rules and regulations for the government of the Police force and for the discipline of its members; and
(2) 
Coordinate with the Chief of Police with regard to the day-to-day operations of the Police Department; and
(3) 
Handle Police disciplinary matters as more fully set forth in section 26-5 below; and
(4) 
Receive and review, and forward to the Mayor and Council for review, monthly reports concerning the Department prepared by the Chief of Police.
Reference to the Administrator in this Article shall be in his or her capacity as the "appropriate authority."
(b) 
The Chief of Police shall be the head of the Police force and responsible to the Administrator for the efficient and routine day-to-day operations of the Department, including the authority and duty to:
(1) 
Administer and enforce rules and regulations of the Department and special emergency directives for the disposition and discipline of the force and its Officers and personnel; and
(2) 
Have, exercise and discharge the functions, powers and duties of the Police force; and
(3) 
Prescribe the duties and assignments of all subordinates and other personnel within the Department; and
(4) 
Delegate such of his or her authority as the Chief may deem necessary for the efficient operation of the Police force to be exercised under the Chief's direction and supervision; and
(5) 
Report at least monthly to the Administrator on the operations of the Police force during the preceding month and make such other reports as may be requested by the Administrator.
(c) 
The Mayor and Council shall have the duty and responsibility to:
(1) 
Review and conduct investigations of the operations of the Police Department when necessary; and
(2) 
Review and establish from time-to-time the size and rank structure within the Department; and
(3) 
Fix the compensation of members of the Department consistent with the terms and conditions of any applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements; and
(4) 
Approve the appointment of the Chief of Police, promotion of Police personnel and the hiring of any new Police Officers; and
(5) 
Receive and review monthly reports with regard to the Police Department prepared by the Chief of Police.
(d) 
The Mayor and Council hereby establish a Public Safety Committee which shall consist of the Mayor or a member of Council selected by the Mayor to serve as the Mayor's designee, plus the Administrator, both ex officio, as well as two members of the Council appointed by the Mayor with the consent of the Council. The Public Safety Committee shall be advisory to the Mayor and Council and shall assist the Mayor and Council with execution of its responsibilities hereunder and as may be required by law. In accordance with the above, the Public Safety Committee shall:
(1) 
Act as liaison between the Mayor and Council and Chief of Police with regard to any matters related to the Police Department; and
(2) 
Meet with the Chief of Police with regard to matters related to the daily and routine operation of the Police Department, and report regularly to the Mayor and Council as to same; and
(3) 
When requested by the Mayor and Council, conduct such investigations regarding the operations of the Police Department; and
(4) 
Advise the Mayor and Council as to the authorized number of officers in various ranks and promotion of same, and with regard to the hiring of new Police Officers; and
(5) 
Advise the Mayor and Council on such other Police Department matters as may be requested from time to time.
The terms of the appointed members shall expire on the first day of January next following their appointments but they shall serve after the expiration of their terms until their successors shall have been appointed and qualified. Any vacancy in any of the appointed offices shall be filled in a like manner, but for the unexpired term. The Mayor shall designate one of the appointed members as the Police Commissioner and in that capacity such member shall be the Chair of the Public Safety Committee.
[Ord. No. 2015-25 § 2, Exh. A; Ord. No. 2019-32; amended 4-29-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-21]
(a) 
Manner of appointment. All members of the Police Department shall be appointed by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of the Council. The Mayor and the Council may seek and consider, but need not follow, recommendations from the Public Safety Committee as to appointments and promotions.
(b) 
Patrol officers. No person shall be appointed a Patrol Officer unless that person shall have demonstrated an aptitude for police employment for a period of one year as a probationary patrol officer, during which time he or she shall not be considered a permanent member of the Department and instead referred to as a probationary member. For purposes of this section, the probationary period for any patrol officer shall be for a period of one year following the candidate's completion of field training. Candidates shall be drawn from an eligibility list established through recognized examination and testing procedures, interviews and thorough background investigations.
(c) 
Appointments to supervisory positions.
(1) 
No person shall be appointed or promoted to a command or supervisory position above Patrol Officer unless that person shall have demonstrated an aptitude and the qualifications for such position. In addition, no person shall be promoted to Chief unless that person has served as Captain or Lieutenant for at least one year; no person shall be promoted to Captain unless that person has served as Lieutenant for at least one year; no person shall be promoted to Lieutenant unless that person has served as Sergeant for at least one year; no person shall be promoted to Sergeant unless that person has served as Corporal or Patrol Officer for at least five years; and no person shall be promoted to Corporal unless that person has served as Patrol Officer for at least five years.
(2) 
Promotions.
a. 
All promotions to superior positions in the Police Department shall be made from the membership of the Police Department, and shall comply with the requirements of Department rules and regulations and state law, including but not limited to the requirements set forth in N.J.S.A. 40A:14-129.
b. 
Promotions shall be made in the same manner as set forth in § B26-3(a) above.
(d) 
Qualifications generally. Candidates for and members of the Police Department shall comply with all other qualifications prescribed by law, including but not limited to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-122.
(e) 
Residency requirement; exception. Every member of the Police Department shall be a resident of the state of New Jersey while serving in such position, as required by law. New members shall be residents of the state of New Jersey at the time of their appointment and thereafter, unless they served in the armed services of the United States as provided by N.J.S.A. 40A:14-123.1.
(f) 
Age. No person shall be appointed to the Police Department who is under twenty-one years of age or who is over thirty-five years of age, except as otherwise provided by law.
[Ord. No. 2015-25 § 2, Exh. A]
The members of the Police Department shall have the powers and duties and shall be subject to the discipline prescribed by law, this Code and other ordinances of Princeton and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant hereto. They shall receive such compensation for their services as shall be lawfully determined by the Mayor and Council from time to time, consistent with the terms and conditions of any applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements.
[Ord. No. 2015-25 § 2, Exh. A]
(a) 
No permanent member of the Police Department shall be removed or suspended from or reduced in rank in office, employment or position therein, or fined, except by action of the Administrator on the grounds of incapacity, misconduct or disobedience of rules and regulations established for the government of the Department, and then only upon a written complaint setting forth the charge or charges against such member, signed by the person making the charge or charges. Such complaint shall be filed in the office of the Chief of Police, and a copy thereof shall be served upon such member, with notice of a designated hearing thereon by the Administrator, which shall not be less than 10 nor more than 30 days from the date of service of the complaint.
(b) 
A complaint charging a violation of the internal rules and regulations established for the conduct of the Department shall be filed no later than the 45th day after the date on which the person filing the complaint obtained sufficient information to file the matter upon which the complaint is based. The forty-five-day time limit shall not apply if an investigation of a law enforcement officer for a violation of the internal rules or regulations of the law enforcement unit is included directly or indirectly within a concurrent investigation of that officer for a violation of the criminal laws of this State. The forty-five-day limit shall begin on the day after the disposition of the criminal investigation. The forty-five-day requirement of this paragraph for the filing of a complaint against an officer shall not apply to a filing of a complaint by a private individual.
(c) 
Failure to comply with the foregoing provisions as to service of a complaint and the time within which a complaint is to be filed shall require a dismissal of the complaint.
(d) 
The member against whom a complaint is made shall be given every reasonable opportunity to make a defense, if any member has or chooses to make, at and during the hearing on the charges by a hearing officer designated by the Administrator. The hearing officer shall conduct the hearing, receive testimony and other evidence, compile a list of exhibits and make findings and recommendations to the Administrator. The hearing officer shall file a report containing his or her findings and recommendations, with copies provided to the charged member, who will be provided with an opportunity to file exceptions and present oral argument to the Administrator. The Administrator shall make the final determination with respect to the charge and the penalty imposed. The Administrator, may, in his or her discretion, serve as the hearing officer. Any member who has been tried and convicted upon any charge or charges may appeal same to the Superior Court, as provided by law.
(e) 
Any member of the Police Department may, nevertheless, by writing signed by the member and filed with the Chief of Police, waive his or her right to have a written complaint filed and served upon the member and to have a hearing thereon by the Administrator and consent to the summary imposition against the member of a specified penalty by the Chief of Police, as provided by the rules and regulations and particularly those governing internal affairs. A member's consent to any summary imposition of penalties shall be subject to the review and approval of the Administrator. Alternatively, the member may waive the right to a hearing and may appeal the charges directly to any available authority specified by law or regulation, or follow any other procedure recognized by a contract, as permitted by law.
(f) 
Notwithstanding the above, and to the extent permitted by law, a member of the Police Department may, pursuant to the Department rules and regulations and particularly those governing internal affairs, be suspended with or without out pay pending a hearing, as a result of charges made against the member, but such hearing, except as otherwise provided by law, shall be commenced within 30 days after the service of the copy of the complaint upon the member, in default of which the charges shall be dismissed and the member returned to duty.