[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township
of Westampton 10-28-2008 by Ord. No. 18-2008.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Emergency Services Department — See Ch. 32A.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Ch. 54, Public Safety, Department
of, was repealed 10-28-2008 by Ord. No. 17-2008 and again by Ord.
No. 18-2008.
A Police Department shall be and the same is hereby created
and established in the Township of Westampton, County of Burlington
and State of New Jersey.
The official name of said Police Department shall be "Westampton
Township Police Department."
The words "he" and "his" shall be taken to also mean and include
the words "she" and "hers," and said words shall, for the purposes
of this chapter, be interchangeable with each other, and the words
"special policeman" shall also be taken to mean and include the words
"special policewoman," and said words shall, for the purposes of this
chapter, be interchangeable with each other.
[Amended 5-16-2016 by Ord. No. 13-2016]
The Westampton Township Police Department shall consist of a
Chief of Police, who shall be the head of the Department; up to one
Captain; up to three Lieutenants of Police; up to five Sergeants of
Police; a Detective Sergeant; up to four Detectives; and a number
of patrol officers not to exceed 20, to be appointed by the Township
Committee. In addition, up to four special officers (Class II) may
be appointed on an annual basis in accordance with the provisions
of state statute.
The Police Department shall preserve the public peace; protect
life and property; detect, arrest and prosecute offenders of the laws
of the State of New Jersey and the ordinances of the Township of Westampton;
direct and control traffic; provide appearances in court; cooperate
with all other law enforcement agencies; and provide training for
the efficiency of its members and offices pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-152.
A.
The Township Committee hereby designates the entire Township Committee
as the appropriate authority for the purposes of adopting rules and
regulations for the governing of the Westampton Township Police Department
and the discipline of its members pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118,
and for all other purposes assigned therein to the appropriate authority.
All rules and regulations for the governing of the Westampton Township
Police Department and the discipline of its members in effect as of
the date of adoption of this chapter are hereby ratified and adopted,
pending their readoption, revision, modification and/or repeal by
the appropriate authority.
B.
The appropriate authority shall promulgate and from time to time
revise and enforce rules and regulations for the control, disposition
and discipline of the officers and other employees of the Westampton
Township Police Department. The appropriate authority will provide
for the Department's training and efficiency and for use and
care of Department equipment and apparatus.
The Chief of Police shall be the head of the Police Department
and shall be directly responsible to the appropriate authority for
its efficiency and day-to-day operations. Pursuant to policies established
by the appropriate authority, the Chief of Police shall:
A.
Administer
and enforce the rules and regulations of the Police Department and
special emergency directives for the disposition and discipline of
the Department and its members and officers;
B.
Exercise
and discharge the functions, powers and duties of the Police Department;
C.
Prescribe
the duties and assignments of all members and officers;
D.
Delegate
such authority as may be deemed necessary for the efficient operation
of the Police Department to be exercised under the Chief's direction
and control; and
E.
Report
at least monthly to the appropriate authority in such form as shall
be prescribed on the operation of the Police Department during the
preceding month and make such other reports as may be requested by
the appropriate authority.
No member or officer of the Police Department shall be suspended,
removed, fined or reduced in rank for any cause other than for incapacity,
misconduct or disobedience as provided in the New Jersey statutes
and the Police Department's rules and regulations.
No person shall be appointed to the Police Department who is
not qualified as provided in the New Jersey statutes. The appropriate
authority may also require that an applicant for appointment to the
Police Department successfully complete a physical, mental and psychological
examination.
The Township Committee of the Township of Westampton may appoint
from time to time special law enforcement officers in accordance with
New Jersey statutes for terms not exceeding one year. They shall possess
and exercise all the powers and duties provided by said statutes during
their term in office. The Chief of Police may authorize special law
enforcement officers when on duty to exercise the same powers and
authority as regular members of the Police Department, including the
carrying of firearms and the power of arrest.
[Added 12-18-2018 by Ord.
No. 10-2018]
A.
Sworn police
officers.
(1)
Each
police officer shall be required to serve a probationary period prior
to permanent appointment to the Department. The probationary period
is one year from the date of completion of the police training course,
or if already holding a valid New Jersey Police Training Commission
Certification, one year from date of appointment, in accordance with
N.J.S.A. 52:17B-66 et seq.
(2)
During
such probationary period such officers shall be known as "probationary
officers," and they may be discharged prior to or at the termination
of said probationary period at the pleasure of the Chief of Police
with the concurrence of the appropriate authority.
(3)
Until
such officer is permanently appointed to the Department or rejected,
the Township may continue to employ him for a further probationary
period not to exceed six months.
(4)
Upon
the permanent appointment to the Department, all time served by any
member during such probationary period shall be considered as service
within the Department and shall be applied toward any required tenure
and promotion period.
