The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1892-07-06
CHAPTER XIV.

An Act providing for the creation of police
department in cities of the second class in
this state whose population now exceeds or
may hereafter exceed fifty thousand and
vesting in such police department certain
powers of management and appointment
now vested In other departments or officers
in said cities
1. Be it enacted by the Senate and General
Assembly of the State of New Jersey, That
there shall be in every city of the second class
In this state whose population now exceeds
or may hereafter exceed by the United States
or state census fifty thousand, a Police de-
part nent, which department shall be gov
erned and managed by board of four com
mlSsioners, to be known as commissioners OF
police, not more than two of whom stall be
of the same political party, and who snail pc
appointed by the mayor and police justice or
such cities for the term OF two years, at an
annual salary of five hundred dollars to be
paid monthly, in the same manner as now
provided for by law for other city officers;
the first appointment of commissioners snail
be two for one year and two for two years,
and thereafter two shall be appointed every
year in place of the two whose term expires
In that year, so that the terms of SAID COM
missioners after the first appointment shall
be for two years; any appointment to NIL
vacancy shall be made by the said mayor and
police justice. and shall be for the unexpired
term only and should the mayor fail or re-
fuse to agree to appoint said commissioners
for the space OF thirty days after the passage
OF this act or after the expiration of any
term or the occurring of any vacancy, then
the said police Justice shall appoint the said
police justice should fail or refuse to agree
to appoint said commissioners for the space
of thirty days after the passage of tins act or
after the expiration OF any term or Eth the occur
shall appoint the said commissioners or COM
missioner
2. And be it enacted, That the commission
ers of police appointed under this act shall
be and they are hereby invested with and
shall possess all the powers heretofore given
to- and perform all the duties now required
nf Ar INN NM hn Qrd n a la I'm
or common council, or other governing body,
by whatever name called, in any such city of
the second class in this state, concerning and
appertaining to the appointment, powers.
government and other matters relating to
the police of such cities; they shall also adopt
such rules and regulations as to the appoint
ment control, duties and dismissals of the
members of the police force as to them shall
seem expedient, and may alter the same at
pleasure; provided, however, that no mem
Der of said police force shall be removed ex-
cept for cause, and after trial therefor before
SAID commissioners of police; the police force
of such city shall not exceed one for each one
thousand of population of such city, unless
said commissioners by a unanimous vote
shall determine that a greater number is
required
3. And be 1t enacted, That the commission
ers of police appointed under this act shall
proceed forthwith to organize said commits
sion and shall elect by ballot, by majority
ident of said board of commissioners of police,
and should they tail elect one to act as presi-
dent on the first day of such session, they
shall adjourn till the following day at ten
O'Clock A. NJ, and then proceed again to bal
lot for a president of said commission. and
should the first ballot result in no election,
then the police Justice shall have power. and
1T shall be his duty to designate one of those
voted for by such commissioners who shall
act as such president of such commissioners
of police for the ensuing year, and said COM
mission shall meet mt least once a week
4. And be 1t enacted. That the police justice
of any such city of the second class where
commissioners of police are appointed under
this act shall be a member ex-officio of said
board and shall have the power, and 1t shall
be his duty to act rs a member of said board
and vote In all cases where the said board
fails to reach decision on any question be-
fore them whether such vote be upon mat
ter of appointment or other matter brought
before them for action.
B. And be it enacted, That the clerk of the
police Justice shall act and perform the duties
of secretary of the said commissioners of
police, and shall receive no extra compensa-
ton therefor In addition to his salary as
clerk of such police justice ; he shall also
keep a correct and accurate account of all
the proceedings of the said commissioners of
police IN a book or books provided by said
commissioners, and shall at all times have
the minutes of said commissioners open for
the inspection of the mayor or any member
of the board of aldermen or common council
of such cities and shaI. at all times give such
information to the commissioners as they
shall desire.
6. And be it enacted, That the said commits
sioners of police appointed under this act be
and they are hereby invested with full power
and authority to control and manage the de-
partment of charities and correction In any
such city of the second class. and they shall
possess all the powers and perform ali the
duties now performed by board OF aldermen
or common council or other governing body
by whatever name called in any such CITY
concerning and appertaining to the manage
ment and control of the said department. Of
charities and correction; they shall also have
power to buy, sell, construct or repair such
things as In their judgment they shall deem
expedient and necessary for the proper man
ugement of said department OF charities and
correction; they shall also hav the exclusive
power to relieve and pay for the relief of the
poor In any workhouse or building. and the
expense OF any such institution; they shall
also have the exclusive power TO relieve and
pay for the relief of the poor not In any such
workhouse or other building; they shall also
have the exclusive power TO appoint the
poor-master, the overseer OF the poor and all
other officers and employees In any way con-
nected with the relief of the poor in any such
city; they shall at two specific times deslg-
mated by them in each year, solicit proposals
for the furnishing of supplies 20 the depart
ment of in and outdoor relief of the Door
and shall in every instance award the con-
tract to the lowest bidder; provided. how
ever. that they shall have the right at all
times to reject any or all bids If deemed to be
for the interest of such cities.
Z. And be IL enacted. That the commission
ers of police appointed under this act shall
after their organization, elect superinten-
dent of indoor relief aud superintendent of
outdoor relief by whatever name they may
be called, in such city, who, after their elec.
ton by said commissioners OF police shall
have and possesses the same powers now
vested in such superintendent of indoor and
outdoor relief in such cities, but at all times
the said superintendent of indoor and out
door relief. appointed by the commissioners
of police under this act shall be subject to
the rules and regulations prescribed by said
of police for the more efficient
government of the department of indoor and
outdoor relief the term of Office of such
superintendent shall be for three years and
they shall be removed for cause only and
after trial thereon by said commissioners
and such superintendent shall receive the
same compensation for their services as
officers now existing for like purposes now
receive in such cities, and all officers and en-
ployees of said commissioners shall be paid
in the same manner rs now provided by law
for the payment of city officers and employees
performing like or similar services
8. And be it enacted. That the police COM
missioners appointed under this act shall. on
or before the first day of April next after the
passage of this act, elect a city physician and
as assistant city physician. who shall hold
their respective offices for the, period of
that are now required of city physicians In
such cities. and at all times during their
terms of office they shall be governed by said
police commissioners and be subject to the
rules and regulations prescribed by said com
missioners. and they shall receive the same
compensation for their services as like Of
ticers are now receiving In such cities.
o. And be IL enacted. That before entering
upon the duties of such office each of said
police commissioners shall take or subscribe
an oath or affirmation before the police
Justice of such city faithfully and impair
TALLY to perform the duties of such Office
and each of said commissioners shall enter
into bond to such city in the sum of 1--WE
thousand dollars with such sureties as may
be approved of by the mayor and finance
committee of the board of aldermen or COM
mon council or otherEoverning body of such
city, or by said police justice. conditioned for
the. faithful performance of his duties as
such commissioner.
TO- And be 1t enacted, That the moneys re-
ceived by any such city for licenses for the
sale of liquor or any other purpose whatever
shall be and hereby is appropriated exclusive
ly to the support and maintenance of the
police department and the department Of
charities and correction and for the payment
for the other purposes or officials provided
for by this act or necessary to carry out its
provisions and II there should be an unex-
pended balance from said source the same
shall be placed to the credit of the depart
ment of streets and sewers for the permanent
of streets only.
II. Aud be It enacted. That the said com
missioners of police shall annually, in the