Whenever any words and phrases are used in this article, the
meanings respectively ascribed to them in N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.9 shall
be deemed to apply to such words and phrases used herein.
There is hereby established the position of special police officer
in and for the Township of Lacey.
Before any special law enforcement officer is appointed, the
Chief of Police or, in the absence of the Chief, other chief law enforcement
official of the Township shall ascertain the eligibility and qualifications
of the applicant and report these determinations, in writing, to the
Mayor and Committee.
Special law enforcement officers may be appointed for terms
not to exceed one year, and the appointments may be revoked by the
Mayor and Committee for cause, after adequate hearing, unless the
appointment is for four months or less, in which event the appointment
may be revoked without cause or hearing. Nothing herein shall be construed
to require reappointment upon the expiration of the term. The special
law enforcement officers so appointed shall not be members of the
police force of the Township, and their powers and duties shall cease
at the expiration of the term for which appointed.
There are hereby established three classifications of special
law enforcement officers. The Police Training Commission shall prescribe
by rule or regulation the training standards to be established for
each classification. The classifications shall be based on the duties
to be performed by the special law enforcement officer, as follows:
A. Class One. Officers of this class shall be authorized to perform
routine traffic detail, spectator control and similar duties. Class
One officers shall have the power to issue summonses for disorderly
persons and petty disorderly persons offenses, violations of municipal
ordinances and violations of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes. The
use of a firearm by an officer of this class shall be strictly prohibited
and no Class One officer shall be assigned any duties which may require
the carrying or use of a firearm.
B. Class Two. Officers of this class shall be authorized to exercise
full powers and duties similar to those of a permanent, regularly
appointed full-time police officer. The use of a firearm by an officer
of this class may be authorized only after the officer has been fully
certified as successfully completing training as prescribed by the
Police Training Commission.
C. Class Three. Officers of this class shall be authorized to exercise
full powers and duties similar to those of a permanent, regularly
appointed full-time police officer while providing security at a public
or nonpublic school on the school premises during hours when the public
or nonpublic school is normally in session or when it is occupied
by the public or nonpublic schools students or its teachers. While
on duty in the jurisdiction of employment, an officer may respond
to offenses or emergencies off school property if they occur in the
officer's presence while travelling to a school facility, but an officer
shall not otherwise be dispatched or dedicated to any assignment off
school property. The use of a firearm by an officer of this class
shall be authorized pursuant to the provisions of Subsection b. of
Section 7 of P.L. 1985, c. 39 (N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.14). An officer
of this class shall not be authorized to carry a firearm while off
duty unless the officer complies with the requirements set forth in
Subsection I. of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-6, authorizing a retired law enforcement
officer to carry a handgun.
Every special law enforcement officer prior to the commencement
of his duties shall be furnished with a uniform which shall identify
the officer's function. The uniform shall include, but not be limited
to, a hat and appropriate badges which shall bear an identification
number or name tag and the name of the Township of Lacey. The uniform
shall also include an insignia issued by the Police Training Commission
which clearly indicates the officer's status as a special law enforcement
officer and the type of certification issued by the Commission. All
special law enforcement officers prior to the commencement of duties
shall be in uniform properly displaying the appropriate insignia.
Whenever a special law enforcement officer's appointment is
revoked or a special law enforcement officer is not reappointed upon
the expiration of the term, the special law enforcement officer shall
return to the officer in charge of the station house all Lacey Township
issued uniforms, badges and equipment within 15 days of the revocation
or expiration of term.
The special law enforcement officers shall carry and return
firearms pursuant to the guidelines established in N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.14b.
Special law enforcement officers shall comply with the rules
and regulations applicable to the conduct and decorum of the permanent,
regularly appointed police officers of the Township, as well as any
rules and regulations applicable to the conduct and decorum of special
law enforcement officers.
Special law enforcement officers may be employed only to assist
the Township law enforcement unit but may not be employed to replace
or substitute for full-time regular police officers or in any way
diminish the number of full-time officers employed by the Township.