Exciting enhancements are coming soon to eCode360! Learn more 🡪
Borough of Upper Saddle River, NJ
Bergen County
By using eCode360 you agree to be legally bound by the Terms of Use. If you do not agree to the Terms of Use, please do not use eCode360.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
[Added 10-7-2010 by Ord. No. 13-10[1]]
[1]
Editor’s Note: This ordinance also repealed former Art. X, Department of Police, as amended.
[Amended 2-4-2021 by Ord. No. 2-21]
There is hereby created, in and for the Borough of Upper Saddle River, a Police Department which shall consist of no more than a Chief of Police, a Captain, two Lieutenants, four Sergeants, and a maximum of 13 patrol officers, to be appointed to these positions by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Borough Council. The decision whether or not to fill the mentioned positions is within the complete and unfettered discretion of the governing body.
The Police Department shall preserve the public peace; protect life and property; detect, arrest and prosecute offenders of the laws of New Jersey and the ordinances of the Borough of Upper Saddle River; direct and control traffic; provide attendance and protection during emergencies; make appearances in court; cooperate with all other law enforcement agencies; and provide training for the efficiency of its members and officers.
The Mayor shall appoint a Chief of Police with the advice and consent of the Borough Council. 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 Borough 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.
In accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118, the Mayor is hereby designated as the appropriate authority and is hereby vested with the powers and duties of an appropriate authority as delegated by law.
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 established in department policy consistent with New Jersey Statutes, and such person shall meet all the qualifications and requirements set forth in N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118 et seq., as amended and supplemented, and the following criteria:
A. 
A four-year college degree from an accredited college or university; or
B. 
At least two years of active military service with an honorable discharge, together with either a two-year college degree from an accredited college or university or the accumulation of at least 60 credits from an accredited college or university.
Discipline of police officers will be imposed consistent with N.J.S.A. 40A:14-147. The written charges will be signed by the Chief of Police or designee as provided in the New Jersey Statutes and the Police Department's rules and regulations. Police officers may also be subject to discipline for violating 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.
Each member of the Police Department shall devote 2080 hours per year as a minimum to the business, duties and work of the Department, and each member shall be prepared to return for duty immediately on notice that his/her services are required.
[Amended 5-3-2012 by Ord. No. 1-12]
A. 
Purpose; establishment of policy. For the convenience of those persons and entities that utilize the services of off-duty law enforcement officers of the Upper Saddle River Police Department, and to authorize the outside employment of Borough police while off duty, the Borough hereby establishes a policy regarding the use of said officers:
(1) 
Members of the Police Department shall be permitted to accept police-related employment for private employers or school districts only during off-duty hours and at such time as will not interfere with the efficient performance of regularly scheduled or emergency duty for the Borough.
(2) 
Any person or entity wishing to employ off-duty police shall first obtain the approval of the Chief of Police, which approval shall be granted if, in the opinion of the Chief, such employment would not be inconsistent with the efficient functioning and good reputation of the Police Department and would not unreasonably endanger or threaten the safety of the officer or officers who are to perform the work.
B. 
Escrow account required; exception for emergencies.
(1) 
Any person or entity requesting the services of an off-duty law enforcement officer in the Upper Saddle River Police Department shall estimate the number of hours such law enforcement services are required, which estimate shall be approved in writing by the Chief of Police, and shall establish an escrow account with the Chief Financial Officer of the Borough by depositing an amount sufficient to cover the rates of compensation and administrative fees set forth for the total estimated hours of service.
(2) 
Prior to posting any request for services of off-duty law enforcement officers or consideration for emergency hours above and beyond request, the Chief of Police or his designee shall verify that the balance in the escrow account of the person or entity requesting services is sufficient to cover the compensation and fees for the number of hours specified in the request for services. The Chief of Police shall not entertain a request for services from any person or entity unless all fees and compensation required in the manner described above have been deposited with the Chief Financial Officer. No officer shall provide any such services for more hours than are specified in the request for services. Exceptions may be granted by the Chief of Police on an emergency basis.
(3) 
In the event that the funds in such an escrow account should become depleted, services of off-duty law enforcement officers shall cease and requests for further or future services shall not be performed or posted until additional funds have been deposited in the escrow account in the manner prescribed above.
(4) 
The person or entity requesting such services shall be responsible for ensuring that sufficient funds remain in the escrow account in order to avoid any interruption of services. This may be waived for nonprofit organizations, public utilities, or for companies that have a working relationship with the Borough.
(5) 
In the case of emergency work when there is not an established escrow account, the entity or person shall have five working days to provide payment of compensation.
C. 
Treatment as Borough employee; effect on pension benefits. Any law enforcement officer, when so employed by the Borough, shall be treated as an employee of the Borough; provided, however, that wages earned for outside employment shall not be applied toward the pension benefits of law enforcement officers so employed.
D. 
Rate of compensation; administrative and additional fees.
(1) 
The rate of compensation for contracting the services of off-duty law enforcement officers shall be based on a rate of time and a half. The rate of compensation for contracting the services of off-duty law enforcement officers is established as follows:
(a) 
The rate of compensation as per PBA contract.
(b) 
A fee of 20% for related FICA, Medicare, unemployment, workers' compensation, insurance and administrative fees, in addition to a vehicle use charge of $25 per hour, will be added to the total. Therefore, the total charged to the vendor will be time and a half per hour, according to the current PBA contract, plus a 20% administrative fee and $25 per hour for vehicle use.
[Amended 3-7-2019 by Ord. No. 2-19]