[Amended 12-9-2014 by Ord. No. O-14-041]
The paid Police Department as heretofore established is hereby
continued. The Department shall be composed of one Chief, and not
more than two Deputy Chiefs, five Captains, 11 Lieutenants, 14 Sergeants,
120 patrol officers, and such probationary patrol officers and other
personnel as the Manager from time to time may determine are essential
to be appointed under this chapter in order to meet the police needs
of the Township.
The Manager shall have full administrative control
of the Police Department and of its members. He or she is directed
and authorized:
A. To promulgate from time to time, as provided in Article
I of this chapter, such administrative rules and regulations as may be necessary for the efficient management and operation of the Department.
B. To enforce the provisions of this chapter and of the
rules and regulations governing the Department.
C. To authorize the examination of applicants for positions
in the Department in accordance with this chapter and the rules and
regulations, and, with the assistance of the Chief, to select from
such applicants the persons best qualified for the positions to be
filled.
D. To appoint persons to the Department.
E. To receive from the Chief charges preferred against
any member of the Department.
F. To try all members against whom charges have been
preferred and to impose such punishment as may be commensurate with
the offense charged and proved.
G. To make all promotions after an examination has been
given in accordance with this chapter and the rules and regulations.
H. To receive from the Chief his or her annual report
and recommendations and to submit the same to the Township Council
with recommendations.
[Amended 5-23-2000 by Ord. No. 00-19; 5-23-2017 by Ord. No. O-17-018; 11-18-2019 by Ord. No. O-19-036]
The Chief shall be the executive head of the Department. He
or she shall exercise sole and complete control over the Department,
its members and employees and over its property, subject only to the
authority of the Manager. The Chief shall be directly responsible
to the Manager for the conduct, efficiency and management of the Department.
The Chief shall be charged with the preservation of the public peace
and the protection of life and property in the Township. He or she
shall be charged with the responsibility of causing the laws of the
state and the ordinances of the Township to be strictly and impartially
enforced. The Township Manager shall appoint a Chief of Police who
shall have all of the powers set forth in N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118. In
addition to any other powers conferred on the Chief by the laws of
the State of New Jersey, the Chief shall, pursuant to policies established
by the appropriate authority:
A. Administer and enforce rules and regulations and special emergency
directives for the disposition and discipline of the force and its
officers and personnel;
B. Have, exercise, and discharge the functions, powers and duties of
the force;
C. Prescribe the duties and assignments of all subordinates and other
personnel;
D. Delegate such of his authority as he may deem necessary for the efficient
operation of the force to be exercised under his direction and supervision;
and
E. Report at least monthly to the appropriate authority in such form
as shall be prescribed by such authority on the operation of the force
during the preceding month, and make such other reports as may be
requested by such authority.
In the absence of the Chief from duty, the Manager
may designate a qualified member of the Department to act in his or
her place. Such person shall be named as Acting Chief of Police.
Upon authorization by the Manager, the Chief
may create within the Department organizational units such as sections,
departments, bureaus or schools, as may be deemed necessary or desirable
to increase the efficiency and management of the Department. Such
units shall perform duties and functions as directed by the Chief
and in accordance with this chapter and the rules and regulations
of the Department. Said units shall be under the immediate supervision
of such members of the Department as the Chief shall nominate. Such
supervisory personnel shall be directly responsible to the Chief for
the functioning and efficiency of the respective units.