[Added 2-15-1992 by Ord. No. 12-1992[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Art. X, Department of Finance; and former Art. XI, Department of Regional Planning and Development, as amended.
[Amended 6-7-2022 by Ord. No. 5-2022]
There shall be a Department of Public Safety, the head of which shall be a member of the unclassified service and who shall be qualified by education, training or experience for the duties of the office. The Department of Public Safety shall be responsible for the operation of the County of Atlantic's adult detention facility and for the supervision of other divisions and offices exercising functions related to law enforcement and emergency preparedness.
[Amended 8-6-1996 by Ord. No. 12-1996; 9-5-2000 by Ord. No. 9-2000; 4-1-2003 by Ord. No. 6-2003; 6-7-2022 by Ord. No. 5-2022]
The work of the Department shall be organized around and within the Divisions and Offices designated as follows:
A. 
The Division of Adult Detention.
B. 
The Office of Emergency Management.
C. 
The Office of Fire Safety.
D. 
The Office of Highway Traffic Safety.
E. 
The Office of Law Enforcement Training.
F. 
The Office of County Park Rangers.
A. 
There shall be a Division of Adult Detention, the head of which shall be a member of the unclassified service who shall be qualified by education, training or experience for the duties of the office.
B. 
Powers and duties. The Division shall:
(1) 
Be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the adult detention facility known as the "Atlantic County Justice Facility."
(2) 
In accordance with applicable state statutes and regulations, provide secure housing and related services for inmates held in custody.
(3) 
Receive and review for pretrial release those arrested who qualify for bail.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 4-57, Harborfields Youth Detention Facility, added 9-5-2000 by Ord. No. 9-2000, was repealed 6-7-2022 by Ord. No. 5-2022.
[Amended 8-6-1996 by Ord. No. 12-1996]
A. 
There shall be an Office of Emergency Management headed by an unclassified employee who shall be qualified by training, education or experience for the duties of the office.
[Amended 6-7-2022 by Ord. No. 5-2022]
B. 
The Office shall perform the following emergency management functions:
(1) 
Be responsible for the preparation of a County-wide emergency management plan.
(2) 
Coordinate emergency management efforts of local municipalities in the state.
(3) 
Provide training resources to local emergency management units.
(4) 
Provide an emergency operations center and staff it at all times of emergency.
(5) 
Coordinate all Homeland Security activities within the County.
[Added 10-5-2004 by Ord. No. 9-2004]
(6) 
Organize and coordinate activities of the regional Hazmat Team.
[Added 10-5-2004 by Ord. No. 9-2004]
(7) 
Organize and coordinate activities of the County Fire and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Coordinator and Deputy Coordinators.
[Added 6-7-2022 by Ord. No. 5-2022]
(8) 
Manage and administer the County 800 MHz Radio Network.
[Added 6-7-2022 by Ord. No. 5-2022]
(9) 
The Office shall administer the Anthony J. Canale Training Center.
[Added 6-7-2022 by Ord. No. 5-2022]
C. 
The Office shall supervise the Office of Fire Safety, the head of which will be the Atlantic County Fire Marshal, who will be a member of the unclassified service pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-1 and who will be qualified by education, training and experience for the duties of the office.
(1) 
The Atlantic County Fire Marshal is hereby appointed and authorized to serve as the County enforcing agency under the New Jersey Uniform Fire Safety Act, N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et seq., and the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code, N.J.A.C. 5:18A-2.4. As the County enforcing agency, the Fire Marshal shall have the duty and the responsibility to:
(a) 
Inspect all County-owned, County-leased and semiautonomous County facilities.
(b) 
Inspect life hazard uses in any municipality within Atlantic County upon designation by the appropriate local governing body and enforce the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code fully on behalf of said municipality.
(c) 
Collect all fees established by the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code for life hazard uses and account for said fees to the Department of Community Affairs.
(2) 
The Office of Fire Safety will also:
(a) 
Promote and assist in fire-prevention programs, demonstrations and drills throughout the County.
(b) 
Advise County and municipal departments of code enforcement requirements. The Fire Marshal shall serve as the liaison officer between the various Fire Departments and governmental agencies.
(c) 
Assist in the development of fire-fighting standards for the Atlantic County Fire Fighters' Association.
(d) 
Coordinate the scheduling of fire training services to volunteer and paid fire departments at the Atlantic County Training Center.
D. 
[1]Conduct a Highway Safety Program. The Office of Highway Traffic Safety shall:
[Added 8-6-1996 by Ord. No. 12-1996; amended 6-7-2022 by Ord. No. 5-2022]
(1) 
Provide public education on ways to reduce highway accidents, training for emergency personnel responding to accident scenes and law enforcement training programs.
(2) 
Administer the Highway Traffic Safety Grants and coordinate funding of eligible law enforcement agencies and police departments.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection D, regarding property and casualty insurance program, was deleted 9-5-2000 by Ord. No. 9-2000 and the functions transferred to § 4-45. This current Subsection D was formerly included as § 4-42.1I and was redesignated as § 4-58D 9-5-2000 by Ord. No. 9-2000.
E. 
The Office shall administer the Anthony J. Canale Training Center.
F. 
Office of Law Enforcement Training.
[Amended 6-7-2022 by Ord. No. 5-2022]
(1) 
The Office shall administer the law enforcement academies.
(2) 
The Office shall administer an in-service Police Training Program in cooperation with the Atlantic County Police Chief's Association and the County Prosecutor's Office.
(3) 
The Office shall administer academies for basic courses for police officers, special law enforcement officers and basic courses for County corrections officers.
(4) 
The Office shall administer a Canine (K-9) Training Facility.
(5) 
The Office shall administer the Atlantic County Firearms Training Facility.
G. 
The Office shall administer the Atlantic County Pistol Range.
[Added 5-27-1997 by Ord. No. 7-1997]
[Amended 8-6-1996 by Ord. No. 12-1996; 6-7-2022 by Ord. No. 5-2022]
A. 
There shall be the position of Public Safety Nurse Pronouncer who, in coordination with the State Medical Examiner's Office and pursuant to statute, shall respond to accidents and homicide scenes, and at institutions and/or locations in order to provide a determination or declaration of death.
B. 
The Department of Public Safety, through the Department Head or his/her designee, shall manage the County's contract with the State of New Jersey Medical Examiner's Office.
[Added 6-7-2022 by Ord. No. 5-2022[1]]
There shall be an Office of County Park Rangers which shall perform the following functions:
A. 
Exercise all duties established by statute for County Park Rangers, including but not limited to enforcement of all applicable state statutes and regulations and all County ordinances within the County parks.
B. 
Provide for safety and welfare of all visitors and individuals within the County parks and affiliated property.
C. 
The Office shall administer the County Security Contract to include the assignment of both unarmed and armed security guards within County facilities and property.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also redesignated former § 4-63, Animal Shelter, as § 4-35.1.