There is hereby created in and for the City of Ventnor City
a Police Department whose rank structure shall consist of Chief of
Police, Captain, Lieutenant, Sergeant and patrol officer, to be appointed
to these positions by the governing body of Ventnor City. The decision
whether or not to fill the mentioned positions and the compensation
for same is within the complete and unfettered discretion of the governing
body.
The Police Department shall:
A. Preserve the public peace;
B. Protect life and property;
C. Detect, arrest and prosecute offenders of the laws of New Jersey
and the ordinances of Ventnor City;
D. Direct and control traffic;
E. Provide attendance and protection during emergencies;
F. Make appearances in court;
G. Cooperate with all other law enforcement agencies; and
H. Provide training for the efficiency of its members and officers.
In accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118, the Commissioner of
Public Safety is hereby designated as the appropriate authority and
is hereby vested with the powers and duties of an appropriate authority
as delegated by law. The appropriate authority is responsible for
the overall performance of the Police Department. The appropriate
authority shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations for the
government of the Police Department and for the discipline of its
members.
The Commissioner of Public Safety shall appoint a Chief of Police
with the consent and approval of the governing body. The Chief shall
be directly responsible to the appropriate authority for the efficiency
and routine day-to-day operations of the Police Department. The Chief
of Police shall, pursuant to policies established by the governing
body and consistent with City ordinances:
A. Administer and enforce the rules and regulations of the Police Department
and any special emergency directives for the disposition and discipline
of the Department and 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 all subordinates and other
personnel.
D. Delegate such of his authority as he may deem necessary for the efficient
operation of the Police Department to be exercised under his direction
and supervision.
E. Report at least monthly to the appropriate authority in such form
as shall be prescribed by the governing body on the operation of the
force during the preceding month, and make such other reports as may
be requested by the governing body.
F. Perform other duties as determined by the Commissioner of Public
Safety or his/her designee.
G. Power to appoint temporary replacement. The Chief of Police may act
on his/her own initiative to temporarily place in command any other
officer in order to perform the functions of the Chief of Police if
he/she is unable, by reason or by disability, to perform the functions
of his/her office.
No person shall be appointed to the Police Department who is
not qualified as provided in the New Jersey statutes. The selection
criteria for a police officer shall be in accordance with Department
policy, the rules and regulations of the State of New Jersey Civil
Service Commission and as otherwise prescribed by the statutes of
the State of New Jersey and City ordinances. The Chief of Police shall
also require that an applicant for appointment to the Police Department
shall successfully complete a criminal background check and a physical,
mental and psychological examination.
The City of Ventnor City may appoint from time to time special
law enforcement officers pursuant to and in compliance with the Special
Law Enforcement Officers Act (N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.8 et seq.).
A. Duties.
(1) In addition to the duties set forth under N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.11a,
Class One officers shall be empowered to issue summonses for disorderly
persons' and petty disorderly persons' offenses, violations of the
municipal ordinances and violations of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes.
(2) In addition to the duties set forth under N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.11a,
Class Two officers shall be authorized to exercise full powers and
duties similar to those of a permanent, regularly appointed, full-time
police officer.
(3) In addition
to the duties set forth under N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.11a, Class Three officers
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. While on
duty in the jurisdiction of employment, an officer may respond to
offenses or emergencies off school grounds if they occur in the officer’s
presence while traveling to a school facility, but a Class Three officer
shall not otherwise be dispatched or dedicated to any assignment off
school or college property.
[Added 8-10-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-18]
B. Supplemental.
(1) Special law enforcement officers shall not be continued as regular
members of the Police Department and shall not be entitled to tenure.
(2) Special law enforcement officers shall not be utilized to supplant
regular police officers on City-assigned extra-duty assignments.
(3) Special law enforcement officers are subject to the Personnel Policies
of the City of Ventnor City.
(4) Special law enforcement officers are subject to the Ventnor City
Police Department's Written Directive System, where applicable.
Discipline of employees will be imposed consistent with New
Jersey State Statutes, the New Jersey Administrative Code, and the
rules and regulations of the State of New Jersey Civil Service Commission.
The written charges will be signed by the Chief of Police or his/her
designee as provided in the New Jersey statutes and the Police Department's
Rules and Regulations. Employees may also be subject to discipline
for violating other statutes, ordinances, and policies.
The appropriate authority shall, from time to time as may be
necessary, adopt and amend the rules and regulations for the government
and discipline of the Police Department and employees thereof. Said
rules and regulations may fix and provide for the enforcement of such
rules and regulations and the enforcement of penalties for the violation
of such rules and regulations, and all employees of the Police Department
shall be subject to such rules and regulations and penalties. A copy
of the rules and regulations shall be distributed electronically to
all Police Department employees and is available to all persons desiring
to use and examine the same.