There is hereby established and organized in and for the Borough
of Merchantville a Police Department, which shall consist of a Chief
of Police and such members and officers as shall be deemed necessary
by the Borough Council of the Borough of Merchantville, which shall,
from time to time, determine the number of persons, including temporary
officers and members in an emergency, to be appointed to these positions,
their terms of office, the fixing of their compensation and the prescription
of their powers, functions and duties.
A.
There is hereby established in the Borough of Merchantville the office
of Chief of Police.
B.
Said Chief of Police shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to
confirmation by the Borough Council of the Borough of Merchantville.
C.
Said Chief of Police and all policemen of the Borough of Merchantville
shall be under the direction and control of the Director of Public
Safety.
E.
The Chief of Police shall be the head of the Police Department and
shall be directly responsible to the Borough Council for its efficiency
and day-to-day operations. Pursuant to policies established by the
Borough Council, the Chief of Police shall:
(1)
Administer and enforce the rules and regulations of the Police Department
and any social emergency directive for the disposition and discipline
of the Department and its members and officers.
(2)
Have, exercise and discharge the functions, powers and duties of
the Police Department.
(3)
Prescribe the duties and assignments of all members and officers.
(4)
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.
(5)
Report at least monthly to the Borough Council 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 Borough Council.
All the officers of the Police Department shall perform all
the duties provided by law and such other and further duties as may
be established by the Director of Public Safety, including but not
limited to preserving the public peace; protecting life and property;
detecting, arresting and prosecuting offenders of the laws of New
Jersey and the ordinances of the Borough of Merchantville; directing
and controlling traffic; providing attendance and protection during
emergencies; providing appearances in court; cooperating with all
other law enforcement agencies; and providing training for the efficiency
of its members and officers.
The Borough Council of the Borough of Merchantville shall be
designated as the appropriate authority as provided in the New Jersey
Statutes. The appropriate authority shall be responsible for the overall
performance of the Police Department. The appropriate authority shall
adopt and promulgate rules and regulations for the government of the
Police Department and for the discipline of its members.
A.
The Police Department shall consist of the following uniform police
force members in the identified line of authority:
(1)
Chief of Police. The police force shall consist of one Chief of Police
whose duties, responsibilities, and authority are defined in N.J.S.A.
40A:14-118. The Chief of Police shall be head of the police force
and shall be directly responsible to the member of Borough Council
designated as the Director of Public Safety.
(2)
Captains. The police force shall consist of one or more Captains
to be determined by the governing body. The governing body, in its
discretion, may, upon vacancy, determine to appoint no Captains. The
Captain or Captains so appointed shall be next in the line of authority
subordinate only to the Chief of Police.
(3)
Lieutenants. The police force shall consist of one or more Lieutenants
to be determined by the governing body. The governing body, in its
discretion, may, upon vacancy, determine to appoint no Lieutenants.
The Lieutenant or Lieutenants so appointed shall be next in the line
of authority to the Chief of Police and Captains so appointed.
(4)
Sergeants. The police force shall consist of one or more Sergeants
to be determined by the governing body. The governing body, in its
discretion, may, upon vacancy, determine to appoint no Sergeants.
The Sergeant or Sergeants so appointed shall be next in the line of
authority and subordinate to the Chief of Police, Captains and Lieutenants
so appointed.
(5)
Corporals. The police force shall consist of one or more corporals
to be determined by the governing body. The governing body, in its
discretion, may, upon vacancy, determine to appoint no corporals.
The corporal or corporals so appointed shall be next in the line of
authority following the Sergeants and subordinate to the Chief of
Police, Captains, Lieutenants and Sergeants so appointed.
(6)
Patrolmen. The police force shall consist of one or more patrolmen
to be determined by the governing body. The patrolman or patrolmen
so appointed shall be next in the line of authority following the
Sergeants and subordinate to the Chief of Police, Captains, Lieutenants,
Sergeants and corporals so appointed.
(7)
Special officers — Class One. The Borough Council may appoint,
from time to time, special law enforcement officers known as "special
officers — Class One" in accordance with New Jersey statutes
for terms not exceeding one year. Such special officers — Class
One shall possess and exercise all the powers and duties provided
by said statutes during their term in office but shall not be continued
as regular members of the Police Department and shall not be entitled
to tenure. The Chief of Police may authorize the aforementioned special
law enforcement officers known as "special officers — Class
One" when on duty to exercise the powers and authority as provided
in state statutes. The special officers — Class One are subordinate
to the Chief of Police, Captains, Lieutenants, Sergeants, corporals
and patrolmen so appointed.
(8)
Special officers — Class Two. The Borough Council may appoint,
from time to time, special law enforcement officers known as "special
officers — Class Two" in accordance with New Jersey statutes
for terms not exceeding one year. Such special officers — Class
Two shall possess and exercise all the powers and duties provided
by said statutes during their term in office but shall not be continued
as regular members of the Police Department and shall not be entitled
to tenure. The Chief of Police may authorize the aforementioned special
law enforcement officers known as "special officers — Class
Two" when on duty to exercise the powers and authority as provided
in state statutes. The Special Officers — Class Two are subordinate
to the Chief of Police, Captains, Lieutenants, Sergeants, corporals,
patrolmen and special officers — Class One so appointed.
B.
The Borough Council of the Borough of Merchantville may employ such
other nonuniform staff such as clerks, secretaries, dispatchers and
the like, as it deems necessary for the operation of the Police Department.
The duties, responsibilities, superiors and other employment-related
matters of such nonuniform employees shall be identified in such employees'
title job descriptions which may be included within the Police Department's
Rules and Regulations.
