A. 
The Police Department of the City of North Wildwood is hereby established. This Department shall consist of a sworn police force and such other nonsworn or civilian personnel, as the Mayor and Council of the City of North Wildwood shall appoint. The sworn police force shall consist of no more than one Chief of Police, one Deputy Chief, two Captains, three Lieutenants, eight Sergeants, one Detective Sergeant and twenty patrolmen. These shall constitute the permanent full-time members of the police force. The police force may also consist of such temporary and special police officers as may from time to time be required on a seasonal, temporary or emergency basis. Such employees shall carry out and obey all orders and instructions of the Chief of Police or, in his absence, his designee. In the event of an officer in any of these positions being on leave, immediately preceding an announced retirement, or a suspension with intent to dismiss, the Mayor and Council may, for the efficiency of the Department, appoint a replacement to serve in the vacant position consistent with the applicable civil service statutes and implementing regulations. The Mayor and Council may also choose to leave a position vacant to undertake a review of whether the current table of organization is still beneficial to the police mission. The salary, contractual compensation or other monies paid to members of the police force for their services shall be provided by ordinance. No person shall be appointed to the Police Department who is not qualified pursuant to New Jersey statutes. The general qualifications of the members and officers of the Police Department are governed by Title 40A of the New Jersey statutes, including, but not necessarily limited to, N.J.S.A. 40A:14-122 and 40A:14-127, as amended from time to time.
[Amended 4-6-2021 by Ord. No. 1835]
B. 
The Mayor and Council may decrease the police force for reasons of economy. In accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:14-143 and applicable civil service statutes and regulations, the Mayor and Council, if they shall deem it necessary for reasons of economy, may decrease the number of members and officers of the Police Department or force, or their grades or ranks.
C. 
There shall also be such clerical, secretarial and administrative employees as the Mayor and Council shall appoint. Said members shall not be sworn members of the Police Department within the meaning of any provision of Chapter 14, Title 40A, of the Revised Statutes of New Jersey,[1] as amended and supplemented. Such employees shall carry out and obey all orders and instruction of the Chief of Police or, in his absence, his designee.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40A:14-1 et seq.
D. 
There is hereby created the position of Police Chaplain for the City of North Wildwood Police Department in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:14-141.
[Added 4-5-2022 by Ord. No. 1871]
(1) 
One or two persons may be appointed at a time as Police Chaplains.
(2) 
Police Chaplains shall be appointed by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of Council, and shall serve under the direction of the Chief of Police. The Chief of Police shall make recommendations to the Mayor regarding the appointment of persons qualified for the position of Police Chaplain.
(3) 
Any person appointed as Police Chaplain shall be an ordained member of the clergy in good standing in the religious body from which he/she is selected.
(4) 
Police Chaplains shall receive basic training and shall be certified Police Chaplains credentialed in accordance with the rules and regulations of the North Wildwood Police Department.
(5) 
The duties of a Police Chaplain shall include, but not be limited to, assisting the North Wildwood Police Department in death notifications, station house adjustments and any other duties that may be assigned by the Chief of Police.
(6) 
Any person serving as Police Chaplains shall serve as a volunteer without salary or rank.
(7) 
Any person appointed as Police Chaplains shall serve until such time as the Chief of Police recommends a replacement.
The appropriate authority, as said term is used in N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118, shall be the Mayor of the City of North Wildwood. The Chief of Police shall be the head of the Police Department and shall be directly responsible for the efficiency and routine day-to-day operations of the Police Department to the Mayor. The Mayor shall be responsible for the overall performance of the Police Department. The Mayor, with the advice of the Chief of Police, shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations for the government of the Police Department and for the discipline of its members. The Mayor, with the advice of the Chief of Police, may from time to time amend and repeal such rules and regulations, as he may deem necessary for the government and efficient working of the Police Department. Failure to post rules and regulations shall in no way invalidate such rules and regulations.
The Chief of Police shall, pursuant to policies established by the appropriate authority, have the following duties and responsibilities:
A. 
Administer and enforce the rules and regulations and special emergency directives for the disposition and discipline of the Department, its officers and personnel.
B. 
Have, exercise and discharge the functions, powers and duties of the Police Department.
C. 
Prescribe the duties and assignments of subordinates and other personnel.
D. 
Delegate such of his authority as may be necessary for the efficient operation of the force to be exercised under his direction and supervision.
E. 
Report at least monthly to the Mayor, in such form as shall be prescribed by the Mayor, on the operation of the Police Department during the preceding month, and make such other reports as may be requested from time to time by the Mayor.
[Amended 3-19-2024 by Ord. No. 1927]
A. 
All officers and employees of the Police Department shall be appointed by the Mayor with advice and consent of the Council of the City of North Wildwood, which is empowered to request and receive recommendations made by the Chief of Police. The governing body may require the Chief of Police to process a report upon all applications for employment and upon the applicants.
B. 
Pursuant to the provisions of the New Jersey Police Licensure Act, N.J.S.A. 52:17B-66 et seq., effective January 1, 2024, all current and future law enforcement officers employed by the Police Department of the City of North Wildwood must hold a valid, active license issued by the Police Training Commission (PTC) in order to be employed as a police officer in the State of New Jersey.
A. 
The following line of authority shall exist within the Police Department:
(1) 
Chief of Police;
(2) 
Deputy Chief;
(3) 
Captain;
(4) 
Lieutenant;
(5) 
Sergeant;
(6) 
Patrolman;
(7) 
Special officer;
B. 
Each rank/position shall be subordinate to all higher ranks as illustrated above.
C. 
Civilian employees shall report to their assigned supervisor or designee.
In addition to the regular complement of police officers in the City of North Wildwood, the Mayor and Council of this City may hire up to 50 Class II officers and up to six Class I officers, as defined in N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.8 et seq., as amended from time to time. The duties of special law enforcement officers of the City of North Wildwood are hereby established as follows:
A. 
Class I. Officers of this class shall be authorized to perform routine traffic detail, spectator control and other similar duties assigned by the Chief of Police of the City of North Wildwood. Class I 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 Statues of the State of New Jersey. The use of a firearm by an officer of this class shall be strictly prohibited, and no Class I officer shall be assigned to any duties which may require the carrying or use of a firearm.
B. 
Class II. Officer of this class shall be authorized to exercise full powers and duties similar to those of permanent, regularly appointed, full-time police officers of the City of North Wildwood. The use of a firearm by an officer of this class may be authorized by the Chief of Police of the City of North Wildwood only after the officer has been fully certified as successfully completing training as prescribed by N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.11. See N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.8 et seq. as amended from time to time.
A. 
Except as otherwise provided by law, no permanent member or officer of the Police Department shall be removed from office or employment for political reasons or for any other cause other than incapacity, misconduct or disobedience of rules and regulations established by the government, nor shall such member or officer be suspended, removed, fined or reduced in rank from or in his office, employment or position, except for just cause as hereinabove provided, and then only upon a written complaint setting forth the charge or charges against such member or officer, unless otherwise provided in Title 40A or Title 11A of the New Jersey statutes, and such disciplinary action shall be governed pursuant to such statutes.
B. 
Internal Affairs investigations shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements of N.J.S.A. 40A:14-181.