[Ord. No. 54-2015; Ord. No. 31-2018; amended 9-4-2024 by Ord. No. 46-2024]
Each person applying for a full-time position in the Police Department shall, by the date of the written examination, have the following qualifications to be considered eligible for appointment:
A. 
An applicant seeking appointment as an officer or probationary officer, consistent with N.J.A.C. 13:1-10.2, shall have the burden of providing documentation to the department, demonstrating that they:
(1) 
Are 21 years of age or older;
(2) 
Are a citizen of the United States;
(3) 
Are sound in body and of good health sufficient to satisfy the board of trustees of the police and firemen's retirement system of New Jersey as to his/her eligibility for membership in the retirement system;
(4) 
Can read, write, and speak the English language well and intelligently;
(5) 
Are of good moral character and have not been convicted of any criminal offense involving moral turpitude;
(6) 
Are a graduate of high school or the holder of a general educational development diploma;
(7) 
He/she shall possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university recognized by the New Jersey Department of Education;
(8) 
If served in the military, did not receive a dishonorable discharge; and
(9) 
Meets all eligibility requirements set forth in N.J.S.A. 40:A14-122, N.J.S.A. 52:17B.71b and N.J.A.C. 13:1-10.2.
[Ord. No. 54-2015; Ord. No. 31-2018]
A. 
Each applicant shall be fingerprinted and photographed.
B. 
Each applicant eligible for appointment shall have passed all required tests as specified in § 25-12, Appointment procedure; examinations.
C. 
No person shall be appointed to the Department who has been convicted of any crime of the first, second, third or fourth degree, as designated by the Criminal Code of New Jersey, that constituted an indictable offense or involved moral turpitude or who, at the time of appointment, is undergoing or awaiting court action of any kind in regard to such a crime.
D. 
Each applicant shall be at least 21 and not more than 35 years of age at the time of appointment to a full-time position in the Department as evidenced by a certificate of birth.
E. 
No applicant shall receive a permanent appointment as a police officer unless such a person has successfully completed the basic police training course at a Police Training Commission Certified New Jersey Police Training Academy.
F. 
In addition to the foregoing requirements, each person applying for a full-time position in the Police Department shall pay, upon submission of his/her application, a fee in an amount that is sufficient to reimburse the Township for the administrative costs incurred in administering the written examination and physical agility test, together with such additional fee as shall be required by the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police to cover the costs of the written examination administered by that Association.
G. 
In addition to the requirements listed above, each applicant shall meet the minimum requirement specified by state statute. If any of the above requirements are deemed to be less restrictive than the state statutes, the statutes shall govern.
H. 
In addition to the foregoing requirements, each applicant shall pay, upon passing the written examination and physical agility test, a fee in an amount that is sufficient to reimburse the Township for the administrative costs incurred in administering the oral examination, together with such additional fee as shall be required by the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police to cover the costs of the oral interview, as required by § 25-12F.
[2-5-2020 by Ord. No. 5-2020; 6-17-2020 by Ord. No. 24-2020; Ord. No. 14-2016; Ord. No. 31-2018; Ord. No. 54-2015; 3-18-2026 by Ord. No. 17-2026]
A. 
Announcement.
(1) 
The Mayor or his/her authorized agent shall announce his/her intention to hire police officers through general media sources specifying ordinance requirements and the closing date of application acceptance.
B. 
Alternate Route/PTC Certified Police Hire.
(1) 
At the direction of the Mayor or his/her authorized designee, the Chief of Police may initiate a hiring process to first consider those individuals currently possessing a valid New Jersey Police Training Commission certification and who have completed the Basic Course for Police Officers ("BCPO"), or who have completed or are currently enrolled the Police Training Commission ("PTC") Basic Course for Police Officers (Alternate Route Program) and are eligible for PTC certification upon the date of hire:
(a) 
All prospective Alternate Route/PTC Certified candidates must meet the Qualifications for Application enumerated in § 25-10A.
(b) 
Qualified Alternate Route/PTC Certified Police applicants will not be required to take the written examination in Subsection D(1), undergo the physical agility test in Subsection F, or undergo the oral examination in Subsection G.
(c) 
Qualified applicants must successfully complete the requirements of Background investigation and interview in Subsection I and the Condition offer of employment in Subsection J.
(2) 
Interview process. Each Alternate Route/PTC Certified applicant shall undergo an interview process. The interview process shall be conducted by the Chief of Police and two of his/her designees. The oral examination shall comprise 100% of the total score awarded each candidate. Factors to consider during the interview process are as follows:
(a) 
Prior work experience;
(b) 
Commendations, awards;
(c) 
Disciplinary history;
(d) 
Decision making ability;
(e) 
Knowledge of rules, regulations and Attorney General guidelines;
(f) 
Communication skills;
(g) 
Education, training, and certifications.
(3) 
The Chief of Police shall give due consideration to the list of factors in their totality with all criteria being weighed equally.
(4) 
All eligibility lists prepared must rank the candidates in the order of their final scores from high to low.
C. 
Preliminary application forms shall be made available by the Department through the Department of Administration, Division of Personnel and filled out by each potential applicant. Those candidates not possessing the necessary qualifications are to be so notified. Those candidates possessing the necessary qualifications will be notified of the place and time of the first examination.
D. 
Traditional Testing; scoring.
(1) 
The following factors will be considered in the evaluation and recommendation of candidates for appointment, and the testing will be performed in the order given:
(a) 
Pre-employment.
[1] 
Written examination.
[2] 
Oral examination.
[3] 
Physical agility tests will be required for the first 50 candidates who have successfully passed the written and oral examinations.
[4] 
Background investigation and personal interview.
[a] 
A review of the candidate's application to confirm/verify meeting eligibility requirements;
[b] 
Candidates shall be checked against the New Jersey Central Drug and Domestic Violence Registries.
(b) 
Conditional offer of employment.
[1] 
Psychological examination.
[2] 
Medical examination.
(2) 
The tests of Subsection D(1)(a)[1] and (a)[3] above shall be graded on the basis of a score of 100 being the maximum attainable score and 80 being the minimum passing score. Any candidate who does not attain a grade of 80 or better in each of those tests shall automatically be disqualified.
E. 
Written examination.
(1) 
The Chief of Police, with the approval of the Business Administrator, shall engage the Association of the Chiefs of Police for the State of New Jersey to administer written examinations for the required appointments.
(2) 
Each candidate for appointment shall be required to take the same written examination which shall be prepared by the Association of the Chiefs of Police for the State of New Jersey.
(3) 
The Association of Chiefs of Police will grade the written examinations and furnish the Chief of Police with a list of the grades of all candidates.
(4) 
Failure to obtain a grade of 80 or better on the written examination shall automatically disqualify the candidate.
(5) 
The written examination shall constitute 50% of the overall score.
F. 
Physical agility tests.
(1) 
Each applicant shall take the same series of physical agility tests, administered by designated representatives of the Police Department. The tests shall evaluate the applicant's strength, agility, stamina, speed and ability to swim. The test program may be revised and/or upgraded according to changing physical requirements of the profession or after consultation with physical education specialists.
(2) 
Prior to the test date, each candidate shall receive written notification of the definition and description of each particular test, the grading criteria for each test and the weight assigned to that test in the computation of the overall physical agility test grade. The same data shall be given the candidates verbally immediately prior to the conduct of each test.
(3) 
Failure to obtain the minimum passing score as established by the Department on any part of the physical agility test shall automatically disqualify the candidate.
(4) 
Prior to taking said physical agility tests, the candidate will present himself/herself to a medical physician of his/her own choice, at his/her own expense. The examining physician shall certify that the candidate is able to participate in the vigorous activities of said test. The candidate will furnish the Police Department with the physician's certification on a form provided by the Township at least seven days prior to the actual test.
(5) 
The physical agility test will be on a pass/fail basis.
G. 
Oral examination.
(1) 
The initial oral examination shall be performed by a panel of two Chiefs of Police selected by the Chairman of the Examination Committee of the New Jersey State Chiefs of Police.
(a) 
All entry-level oral examinations shall be in conformance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, and supplements.
(b) 
The questions to be asked each police candidate in the oral examination will be prepared by the New Jersey State Chiefs of Police Examination Committee.
(c) 
Failure to obtain a grade of 80 or better in the oral examination shall automatically disqualify the candidate.
(d) 
The oral examination shall constitute 25% of the overall score.
(2) 
The final interview process shall be conducted by the Chief of Police and two of his/her designees.
(a) 
The final oral examination shall comprise 25% of the total score awarded each candidate.
(b) 
Factors to consider during the interview process are as follows:
[1] 
Prior work experience;
[2] 
Commendations, awards;
[3] 
Disciplinary history;
[4] 
Decision making ability;
[5] 
Knowledge of rules, regulations and Attorney General guidelines;
[6] 
Communication skills;
[7] 
Education, training, and certifications.
(c) 
The Chief of Police shall give due consideration to the list of factors in its totality with all criteria weighed equally.
H. 
Overall ranking.
(1) 
Candidates receiving a grade of 80 or better in both the written and oral examination(s), and having received at least the minimum passing score on the physical agility tests, are eligible for score ranking, the background investigation and final interview.
(2) 
At the time of the written examination, candidates who possess a New Jersey Police Training Commission Certification for Police Officer shall have five additional points added to his/her overall score. If a candidate’s New Jersey Police Training Commission Certification for Police Officer lapses while on the hiring list, the five additional points previously added to his/her overall score will be deducted.
(3) 
For purposes of ranking, each candidate having received passing scores (80 or above) on both the written and oral examinations, and having received a passing score on the physical agility test, shall receive a final score equal to the sum of the physical agility test, written examination and the oral examination. Scoring shall be accurate to two decimal places.
(4) 
All eligibility lists prepared must rank the candidates in the order of their final scores from high to low.
I. 
Background investigation and interview.
(1) 
Once a candidate has successfully passed the written, oral and physical agility phases, the candidate shall be subject to a background investigation and interview.
(2) 
The Chief of Police shall appoint officers of the rank of Sergeant or above and/or members of the Detective Bureau to conduct a detailed background investigation of the passing candidates.
(3) 
The necessary investigation shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following:
(a) 
A review of the candidate's application to confirm/verify meeting eligibility requirements for the position applied.
(b) 
A fingerprint check for criminal record.
(c) 
Motor vehicle background.
(d) 
Character check.
(e) 
Educational institution checks.
(f) 
Employers (past and present).
(g) 
Military information.
(h) 
Neighbors, friends and at least three reference checks.
(i) 
General background investigation.
(j) 
Court and other legal information, including a credit background.
(k) 
In-depth personal interview.
(l) 
Candidates for sworn positions shall be checked against the New Jersey Central Drug and Domestic Violence Registries.
(4) 
The investigating team shall furnish a written report to the Chief of Police with its recommendations concerning the suitability of the candidate for appointment.
J. 
Conditional offer of employment. Once a candidate has successfully passed the written, oral and physical agility phases, and successfully passed the background investigation and interview and is made a conditional offer of employment, the candidate shall be subject to medical, eye and psychological examinations. If more than six months have elapsed since the initial physical agility test, the candidate will be required to undergo another physical agility test and pass same prior to undergoing a medical and psychological examination.
(1) 
Medical examination. Each applicant for appointment to the Police Department shall have a physical examination and eye examination performed by a health care professional designated by the Township. He/she shall furnish the Police Department and the applicant with a written certificate of that examination. The cost of the physical examination shall be borne by the Township. If the candidate fails the medical examination, he/she shall be automatically disqualified.
(2) 
Psychological examination. Each candidate shall be required to submit to a psychological examination to be administered by a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist selected by the Chief of Police. The cost of the examination will be assumed by the Township. A report evaluating the suitability of the candidate for police and law enforcement duty shall be submitted to the Chief of Police.
[Ord. No. 54-2015; Ord. No. 31-2018]
A. 
The Chief of Police shall prepare and furnish to the Business Administrator an eligibility list of candidates in order (from high to low) of the ranking of their overall test scores. The Business Administrator, after review, shall furnish that list to the Mayor.
B. 
All future hiring of police officers shall be from a list developed in accordance with the provisions of the Stipulation of Settlement entered into with the NAACP. In connection with any such list, preference in recruitment and hiring of police officers shall be given to residents of Passaic, Essex, Bergen, Morris and Sussex Counties (combined) over nonresidents of those counties at the time of the candidate’s initial application.
[Amended 2-5-2020 by Ord. No. 5-2020]
C. 
The list shall remain in effect for a period of two years from the date that the total evaluation scores are tabulated, provided that the list is not exhausted prior to that time.
[Amended 2-5-2020 by Ord. No. 5-2020]
(1) 
A candidate for appointment to the Department who at the time of his/her appointment cannot accept the appointment due to the fact that he/she is on active military duty, as a result of a call up by the appropriate military officials, shall be entitled upon discharge from active military duty to the next available appointment to the Department, provided a vacancy exists for the position of police officer. The candidate shall be entitled to this benefit until he/she has either been appointed, declined the appointment, or has been deemed ineligible for the appointment. In the event that multiple candidates are entitled to the benefits of this subsection, the appointments shall be made in the order in which the candidates appeared on the original eligibility list containing their names. Each person applying for a full-time position as a member of the Police Department shall be informed at the time of the submission of his/her application of the provisions of this subsection.
[Ord. No. 54-2015; amended 2-5-2020 by Ord. No. 5-2020]
Each police officer shall be required to serve a probationary period prior to permanent appointment to the Department. The probationary period is 12 months, beginning with the first day of employment credited for the purposes of pay.
[Ord. No. 54-2015]
A. 
The Chief of Police shall require six-month fitness reports concerning each probationary police officer during his/her eighteen-month probationary period. At least 15 days prior to the termination of the probationary period of each probationary police officer, the Chief shall submit to the Business Administrator a separate written report on each probationary police officer. The report shall contain a recommendation from the Chief regarding the retention of the candidate as a full-time member of the Department or the termination of the candidate's service at the conclusion of the probationary period, setting forth therein his observations and findings leading to such recommendation.
B. 
Upon receipt of this report, the Business Administrator shall append thereto his observations and findings and a statement as to whether he concurs with the recommendations of the Chief and shall forward it to the Mayor.
[Ord. No. 54-2015]
Upon receipt of the written report from the Business Administrator, referred to in § 25-15, the Mayor may, provided there is a favorable recommendation from both the Chief and the Business Administrator, retain the candidate as a full-time member of the Department. If there is an unfavorable recommendation from both the Chief and the Business Administrator, the Mayor may terminate the service of the candidate at the conclusion of the probationary period.
[Ord. No. 54-2015]
A. 
Whenever a member or officer of the Police Department is a defendant in any action or legal proceeding arising out of or incidental to the performance of his/her duties, the Township Legal Department shall provide said member or officer with the necessary means for the defense of such action or proceeding in the following manner:
(1) 
The services of the Municipal Attorney or the Township Legal Department, when such representation is free from potential conflict of interest.
(2) 
The governing body may authorize the services of an independent outside attorney, selected by the Township Legal Department, in the event that the Legal Department is not free from potential conflict of interest, to exclusively represent the interest of the member or officer at the expense of the municipality.
(3) 
The governing body may alternately authorize payment for the services of an independent outside attorney selected by the member or officer to exclusively represent the interest of such member or officer, so long as same has been approved by the Township Legal Department.
B. 
Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A above, in the event that a disciplinary proceeding is instituted against the member or officer by the Township or a criminal proceeding is instituted against him/her as a result of a complaint on behalf of the Township, said member or officer shall be reimbursed for the expense of his/her defense by the Township only in the event that such disciplinary or criminal proceeding shall be dismissed or finally determined totally in his/her favor.