[Adopted 3-1-1965]
This article may be cited as the "Readington
Township Police Department Ordinance (1965)."
There is hereby established in and for the Township
of Readington a Police Department under the name "Readington Township
Police Department."
The Police Department shall consist of such
officers, patrolmen and other employees as shall from time to time
be determined by the Township Committee to be necessary to preserve
peace and good order within the township.
[Added 5-4-1987 by Ord. No. 213-87]
A.
The Township Committee may, if it deems it necessary
for reasons of economy, decrease the number of members and officers
of the Department and/or their grades or ranks.
B.
In case of demotion from the higher ranks, the members
and officers to be so demoted shall be in the inverse order of their
appointment. When the service of members or officers is terminated,
such termination shall be in the inverse order of their appointment.
C.
Any member or officer who is demoted or whose service
is terminated by reason of such decrease shall be placed on a special
employment list, and in the case of subsequent promotions, a person
so demoted shall be reinstated to his original rank, and in the case
of termination of service and new appointment, prior consideration
shall be given to the persons on said special employment list.
All appointees to the Department shall be of
such age and qualification and shall hold office during such term
as may now or hereafter be provided by law. All appointments and promotions
shall be made by the Township Committee, and each person appointed
or promoted shall first serve a probationary period of six months.
During the probationary period, any appointment or promotion may be
terminated by the Township Committee with or without cause. At the
termination of said six months' probationary period, the appointment
or promotion shall become permanent unless theretofore terminated
by the Township Committee.
[Amended 10-4-1999 by Ord. No. 20-99]
The ranking officer shall be the executive head
of the Police Department and shall be responsible to the Township
Committee for the conduct and efficiency and management of the Department,
including, in cooperation with the Township Administrator, purchasing
and compensation.
[Amended 9-29-1986 by Ord. No. 202-86]
A.
No person may be appointed as a special law enforcement
officer unless the person:
(1)
Is a resident of this state during the term of appointment.
(2)
Is able to read, write and speak the English language
well and intelligently and has a high school diploma or its equivalent.
(3)
Is sound in body and of good health.
(4)
Is of good moral character.
(5)
Has not been convicted of any offense involving dishonesty
or which would make him unfit to perform the duties of his office.
(6)
Has successfully undergone the same psychological
testing that is required of all full-time police officers in the township.
B.
Every applicant for the position of special law enforcement
officer shall have fingerprints taken, which fingerprints shall be
filed with the Division of State Police and the Federal Bureau of
Investigation.
C.
No person shall be appointed to serve as a special
law enforcement officer in the township who is a special law enforcement
officer in any other municipality or who is a regularly appointed
full-time police officer of any other municipality. No public official
with responsibility for setting law enforcement policy or exercising
authority over the budget of the township or supervision of the Police
Department shall be appointed as a special law enforcement officer.
D.
Before any special law enforcement officer is appointed
pursuant to this section, the Chief of Police or, in the absence of
the Chief, other chief law enforcement officer shall ascertain the
eligibility and qualifications of the applicant and report these determinations,
in writing, to the Township Committee.
F.
No special law enforcement officer may be issued a
firearm unless he has successfully completed the basic firearms course
approved by the Police Training Commission for permanent regularly
appointed police and has passed annual requalification examinations.
G.
There shall be two classifications of special police
officers, with training standards for each classification to be established
from time to time by rule or regulation of the New Jersey Police Training
Commission. The classifications shall be based on the duties to be
performed by the special law enforcement officer as follows:
(1)
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 summons for disorderly
persons and petty disorderly persons and petty disorderly persons
offenses, violations of township 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. No Class One officer shall
be assigned any duties which may require the carrying or use of a
firearm.
(2)
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.
H.
All special law enforcement officers appointed and
in service on October 1, 1986, may continue in service if they have
completed all training and certification requirements of this section
by October 1, 1988.
I.
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. 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 whether he is a Class One or Class Two
officer. The township will charge each special law enforcement officer
a reasonable fee as fixed by resolution for equipment and uniforms
supplied pursuant to this section. The cost of training and issuing
a certification of appointment shall be borne by the township. The
township will not compensate a special law enforcement officer for
time spent in training.
J.
Special law enforcement officers may be appointed
for terms not to exceed one year, and the appointments may be revoked
by the Township 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
township police force, and their powers and duties as determined pursuant
to this section shall cease at the expiration of the term for which
appointed.
K.
No special law enforcement officer may carry a firearm
except while engaged in the actual performance of the officer's official
duties and when specifically authorized by the Chief of Police or,
in the absence of the Chief, other chief law enforcement officer of
the Police Department to carry a firearm, and provided that the officer
has satisfactorily completed the basic firearms course required by
the Police Training Commission for regular police officers and annual
requalification examinations as required for permanent regularly appointed
full-time officers in the Police Department. A special law enforcement
officer shall be deemed to be on duty only while he is performing
the public safety functions on behalf of the township pursuant to
this article and when he is receiving compensations, if any, at the
rates or stipends that shall be established by ordinance. Special
law enforcement officers shall not be deemed to be on duty for purposes
of this article while performing private security duties not assigned
by the Chief of Police or, in the absence of the Chief, other chief
law enforcement officer of the Police Department or while receiving
compensation for those duties from a private employer. A special law
enforcement officer may, however, be assigned by the Chief of Police
or, in the absence of the Chief, other chief law enforcement officer
to perform public safety functions for a private entity if the Chief
of Police or other chief law enforcement officer supervises the performance
of the public safety functions. If the Chief of Police or other chief
law enforcement officer assigns the public safety duties and supervises
the performance of those duties, then, notwithstanding that the local
unit is reimbursed for the cost of assigning a special law enforcement
officer to a private entity, the special law enforcement officer shall
be deemed to be on duty.
L.
Any firearm utilized by the special law enforcement
officer shall be returned at the end of the officer's workday to the
officer in charge of headquarters unless the firearm is owned by the
special law enforcement officer and was acquired in compliance with
a condition of employment established by the Chief of Police. Any
special law enforcement officer first appointed after October 1, 1986,
shall only use a firearm supplied by Township Police Department. No
such special police officer shall carry a revolver or similar weapon
when off duty.
M.
A special law enforcement officer shall be under the
supervision and direction of the Chief of Police or, in the absence
of the Chief, other chief law enforcement officer of the Township
Police Department and shall perform his duties only in the township
unless in fresh pursuit of any person pursuant to Chapter 156 of Title
2A of the New Jersey Statutes.
N.
All special law enforcement officers shall comply
with the rules and regulations applicable to the conduct and decorum
of the permanent regularly appointed township police officers, as
well as any rules and regulations promulgated by the Chief of Police
and applicable to the conduct and decorum of special law enforcement
officers.
O.
The Township Committee may, by resolution, designate
one special police officer who shall be permitted to work an unlimited
number of hours. No other special law enforcement officers may be
employed for more than 20 hours a week except during periods of emergency.
P.
Not more than 20 special law enforcement officers
may be employed by the township. At no time shall the number of Class
Two special law enforcement officers exceed 25% of the total number
of regular township police officers.
[Amended 10-4-1999 by Ord. No. 20-99]
Any member of the Police Department shall be
subject to reprimand, loss of pay, suspension from duty, reduction
in rank, dismissal or removal from office, according to the nature
and aggravation of the offense, upon conviction on charges in disciplinary
proceedings before the Township Committee in the manner now or hereafter
provided by law, upon any of the following grounds: incapacity, misconduct
or disobedience of rules and regulations now or hereafter established
by ordinance.
[Added 10-4-1999 by Ord. No. 20-99]
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118, the Township
Committee may, from time to time, adopt, promulgate, alter, amend
or repeal, in whole or in part, rules and regulations for the government
of the Police Department and for the discipline of its members.[1]
