Source: https://ecode360.com/11305526
Timestamp: 2018-11-13 00:36:38
Document Index: 122302333

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 63', '§ 63', '§ 63', '§ 63', '§ 63', '§ 63', '§ 63', '§ 63', '§ 63', '§ 63', '§ 63', '§ 63', '§ 63', '§ 63', '§ 63', '§ 63', '§ 63']

Township of Pennsauken, NJ Police Department
Ch 63 Art I Department Established
§ 63-1 General.
§ 63-2 Line of authority.
§ 63-3 Appropriate authority.
§ 63-4 Office of Police Chief.
§ 63-5 Special committee or commission; examination of police force operations.
Ch 63 Art II Special Law Enforcement Officers
§ 63-6 Definitions.
§ 63-7 Creation of position.
§ 63-8 Qualifications.
§ 63-9 Classification.
§ 63-10 Training course.
§ 63-11 Persons ineligible for appointment.
§ 63-12 Fingerprints.
§ 63-13 Powers and authority.
§ 63-14 Appointment; term; revocation.
§ 63-15 Duty times.
§ 63-16 Hours of employment.
§ 63-17 Supervision; conduct.
Chapter 63: Police Department
Police records — See Ch. 236.
Chapter 63 : Police Department
Article I Department Established
[Adopted 3-23-2011 by Ord. No. 2011:03[1]]
Editor's Note: This ordinance amended in its entirety former Ch. 63, Police Department, which comprised Art. I, Establishment, adopted 3-13-1978 by Ord. No. 78-3 as Art. I of Ch. 63 of the 1977 Code, as amended; Art. II, Rules and Regulations, adopted 3-13-1978 by Ord. No. 78-3 as Art. II of Ch. 63 of the 1977 Code; Art. III, Compensation for Court Appearances, adopted 3-13-1978 by Ord. No. 78-3 as Art. III of Ch. 63 of the 1977 Code; and Art. IV, Disciplinary Hearings, adopted 2-10-1988 by Ord. No. 88-1.
There shall be in the Township of Pennsauken, in the County of Camden and State of New Jersey, a Police Department (hereinafter referred to as "Police Department" or "police force") which shall consist of an appropriate authority as defined by N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118, one Police Chief, and such Captains, Lieutenants, Sergeants, police officers and civilian employees as deemed necessary and appropriate by the appropriate authority in his/her discretion and judgment with the approval of Township Committee. The appropriate authority and/or Township Committee may, from time to time, in their sole discretion, leave one or more of the above positions vacant, as they deem fit. The appropriate authority shall be subject to and answerable to Township Committee only. The express purpose for naming these offices within the Police Department is to establish a statutory line of authority from all police employees to a higher authority.
No personnel may be appointed to the Police Department until they have satisfied all statutory requirements and have complied with the selection process and standards established by the rules and regulations adopted by the appropriate authority to govern said Police Department. Said appointments are to be made by resolution of the Township Committee after reviewing the recommendations of the appropriate authority.
The Police Department shall preserve the peace; protect life and property; detect, arrest and prosecute offenders of the laws of New Jersey and the ordinances of the Township of Pennsauken; direct and control traffic; provide attendance at and protection during emergencies; provide appearances in court; cooperate with all other law enforcement agencies; and provide training for the efficiency of its members and officers as well as perform all other duties and fulfill all other responsibilities normally associated with the operation of a police department.
Appropriate authority. The Police Department shall come under the jurisdiction of the appropriate authority, which is created pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118. Said appropriate authority is the Director of Public Safety as defined under Chapter 52, Article II, of the Code of the Township of Pennsauken. The appropriate authority shall be directly responsible to the Township Committee. The appropriate authority, in addition to those powers and duties enumerated in this Chapter 63 and Chapter 52, Article II, of the Code of the Township of Pennsauken, shall be responsible for the operation of the Police Department pursuant to policies established by said authority and shall be responsible for the promulgation, updating and/or ratification of the rules, regulations, policies and/or procedures for police personnel.
In the event of any disciplinary proceeding against any member of the Police Department, the appropriate authority or his/her designee shall be the hearing officer and person in charge of all such proceedings.
Nothing herein shall prevent an attorney at law in the State of New Jersey to be appointed by resolution of Township Committee or designated by the appropriate authority as a hearing officer for the purpose of conducting the disciplinary hearing, receiving evidence, preparing a record and submitting findings and a proposed recommendation of penalty to the appropriate authority.
Charging authority. Only the Chief of Police or his designee may initiate disciplinary charges against any member of the Police Department pursuant to the powers vested in said office by N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118.
The appropriate authority (as defined in Chapter 52, Article II, of the Code of the Township of Pennsauken), pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118, is hereby authorized to update, adopt and promulgate rules, regulations, policies and/or procedures for the government of the Police Department and for the discipline of its members.
Said rules, regulations, policies and/or procedures shall govern the conduct of and be binding upon the entire membership, sworn officers and civilian employees of the Police Department.
Said rules, regulations, policies and procedures are attached hereto and made a part hereof and described as Exhibit A. Said Exhibit A shall be adopted in full as the body and substance of this article. A copy of Exhibit A shall be maintained on file in the Township Clerk's ofice.
[Amended 3-28-2012 by Ord. No. 2012:03]
Each sworn officer and each civilian employee is duty bound to be thoroughly familiar with the provisions of the police manual(s) governing the rules, regulations, policies and/or procedures of the Police Department.
The appropriate authority may examine at any time the operations of the police force or the performance of any officer or member thereof.
The appropriate authority shall act to provide for the health, safety or welfare of the municipality in an emergency situation through special emergency directives.
The office of Police Chief is hereby established. The Police Chief shall be the head of the Police Department and shall be directly responsible to the appropriate authority for the efficiency and routine day-to-day responsibilities of the Police Department pursuant to policies established by the appropriate authority.
The Police Chief shall be appointed by Township Committee. The Police Chief may be removed from office in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey and by rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
The salary of the Police Chief shall be in accordance with the Township Salary Ordinance. The salary of the Police Chief shall be subject to the requirements of N.J.S.A. 40A:14-179.
The Police Chief shall have and exercise the following authority and perform the following duties:
Administer and enforce rules, regulations, policies and procedures as well as any special emergency directives for the disposition and discipline of the police force and its officers and personnel.
Delegate such of his authority as he may deem necessary for the efficient operation of the force to be exercised under his discretion and supervision.
Report at least monthly to the appropriate authority in such form as shall be prescribed by the such authority on the operation of the force during the preceding month, and make such other reports as may be requested by such authority.
The Township Committee, at any time, may appoint a committee or commission to conduct hearings or investigations of the operation of the Police Department, and may delegate to such committee or commission such powers of inquiry as the Township Committee deems necessary or appropriate in order to conduct such hearing or investigation.
Nothing contained herein shall prevent any executive or administrative officer charged with the general administrative responsibilities within the municipality from examining at any time the operations of the Police Department or the performance of any officer or member thereof.
[Adopted 5-18-2016 by Ord. No. 2016:01]
SPECIAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER (SLEO)
Upon the recommendation of the Director of Public Safety, with the advice of the Chief of Police, the Township Committee of the Township of Pennsauken (hereinafter referred to as "Township Committee") may appoint special law enforcement officers as it deems necessary for the preservation of peace and good order in the Township of Pennsauken (hereinafter referred to as "Township"). A SLEO shall be under the supervision and direction of the Chief of Police or, in the absence of the Chief of Police, the Superior Officer in charge as designated by the Chief of Police.
Before any SLEO is appointed pursuant to this act, the Chief of Police, or, in the absence of the Chief, other chief law enforcement officer of the local unit shall ascertain the eligibility and qualifications of the applicant and report these determinations in writing to the Public Safety Director.
No person may be appointed as a SLEO unless he or she:
Is a resident of the State of New Jersey during the term of the appointment. Residents of the Township of Pennsauken shall be given preference for appointments as SLEO. Nonresidents certified as special officers by the New Jersey Police Training Commission may be considered for appointment at the discretion of the Township Committee.
Has not been convicted of any offense involving dishonesty which would make him/her unfit to perform the duties of the office of special law enforcement officer.
Has successfully undergone similar psychological testing that is required of all full-time police officers in the Township.
Complies with all other requirements set forth in N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.8 et seq., the administrative rules and regulations of the Township Police Department and the general ordinances of the Township of Pennsauken.
SLEOs shall be classified as belonging to either Class One or Class Two, based upon the duties to be performed by each class, as follows:
Class One. Officers of this class are authorized to perform routine traffic detail, spectator control and similar duties as may be assigned by the Chief of Police or, in the absence of the Chief of Police, the law enforcement officer designated by the Chief of Police. They shall have the power to issue summonses for disorderly persons and petty disorderly persons offenses and violations of municipal ordinances and violations of Title 39 of the revised statutes. The use of a firearm by an officer of this category shall be strictly prohibited, and no Class One officer shall be assigned any duties which may require the carrying or use of a firearm. There may be appointed such number of Class One special law enforcement officers as may be required.
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 a Class Two SLEO may be authorized only after the officer shall have been fully certified as successfully completing training, as prescribed by the Police Training Commission established in the Police Department. The number of Class Two special law enforcement officers shall not exceed 25% of the total number of regular police officers.
No person shall commence duties as a SLEO until having successfully completed a training course approved by the Police Training Commission. In addition, no Class Two SLEO shall be issued a firearm prior to having successfully completed the basic firearms course required by the Police Training Commission for permanent, regularly appointed police and annual requalification examinations.
No person shall be eligible to serve as a SLEO in the Township of Pennsauken if that person intends to serve as a special law enforcement officer in another municipality, nor shall any permanent, regularly appointed full-time police officer be permitted to simultaneously serve as a SLEO in the Township. 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 SLEO.
Every applicant appointed to the position of SLEO shall have fingerprints taken, which fingerprints shall be filed with the Division of State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Chief of Police or, in the absence of the Chief of Police, such other law enforcement officer designated by the Chief of Police may authorize a SLEO, when on duty, to exercise the same powers and authority as permanent, regularly appointed police officers, including, but not limited to, the carrying of firearms and the power of arrest, subject to rules and regulations not consistent with the certification requirements of N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.8 et seq., as may be established by the Code of the Township of Pennsauken.
A SLEO may be appointed for a term not to exceed one year. The powers and duties of a SLEO shall cease at the expiration of the term to which the SLEO shall have been appointed. At the expiration of such term, the Township Committee of the Township of Pennsauken shall have absolute discretion in determining whether to reappoint. The appointment of a SLEO may be revoked by the Township Committee for cause and after an 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 the reappointment upon the expiration of the terms. Such SLEOs shall not be classified as regular members of the Police Department entitled to tenure and other benefits of the Police Department. They shall receive such compensation for their services as recommended by the Township Public Safety Director and set forth in the Township of Pennsauken Salary Ordinance.[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 77, Salaries and Compensation.
A SLEO shall be deemed to be on duty only while performing the public safety functions on behalf of the Township of Pennsauken pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.8 et seq., and when receiving compensation, if any, from the Township of Pennsauken at the rates or stipends as established by ordinance. A SLEO shall not be deemed to be on duty while performing private security duties for private employers, which duties are not assigned by the Chief of Police or his/her designee, or while receiving compensation for those duties from a private employer.
A SLEO may not be assigned by the Chief of Police, or his/her designee, to perform public safety functions for a private entity.
Except in periods of emergency, in which event there shall be no limitation as to hours per week, no SLEO may be employed for more than 20 hours per week. An "emergency" shall be defined as any sudden, unexpected or unforeseeable event requiring the immediate use or deployment of law enforcement personnel, as shall be determined by the Mayor and/or the Chief of Police or his/her designee. Vacations, shortages in police personnel caused by vacancies unfilled for more than 60 days or any other condition which could reasonably have been anticipated or foreseen shall not constitute an emergency.
Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary, a SLEO may be utilized only to assist local law enforcement, but may not be employed to replace or substitute for full-time, regular police officers or in any way diminish the number of full-time officers employed by the Township.
A SLEO shall be under the supervision and direction of the Chief of Police or his/her designee and shall perform all duties solely with the Township of Pennsauken, except when in fresh pursuit of any person, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:156-1 et seq. A SLEO shall comply with the rules and regulations applicable to the conduct and decorum of the permanent, regularly appointed Township police officers, as well as all rules and regulations applicable to the conduct and decorum of special law enforcement officers.