In accordance with the provisions of P.L. 1986, c. 2, of the
New Jersey Statutes, N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.8 et seq., there is hereby
created the position of special law enforcement officers for the Township
of Verona, Essex County, New Jersey. Each special officer appointed
shall be subject to the requirements of this article and the additional
requirements set forth in P.L. 1986, c. 2.
The classifications of the special law enforcement officers
shall be based upon the duties to be performed by said officers and
are established as follows:
A.
Class One. Officers of this class are authorized to perform routine
traffic detail, spectator control and similar duties as may be assigned
by the Police Chief or, in the absence of the Chief, another law enforcement
officer in a supervisory capacity designated by the Chief to act in
his/her stead. Said Class One officers are also authorized to issue
summonses for disorderly persons and petty disorderly persons offenses,
violations of municipal ordinances and violations of Title 39 of the
New Jersey Statutes Annotated. The use of firearms by said Class One
officers is strictly prohibited, and no Class One officer shall be
assigned any duties which may require the carrying or use of a firearm.
B.
Class Two. Officers of this class are herewith authorized to exercise
full powers and duties similar to those of a permanent, regularly
appointed full-time police officer. They shall be assigned such powers
and duties by the Police Chief or, in the absence the Chief, another
law enforcement officer in a supervisory capacity designated by the
Chief to act in his/her stead. The use of a firearm by an officer
of this class may be authorized only after the officer has been fully
certified as successfully completing training as prescribed by the
Police Training Commission, established within the Department of Law
and Public Safety of the State of New Jersey.
A.
Special law enforcement officers shall be appointed by the Township
Manager for a term not to exceed one year. Special law enforcement
officers so appointed shall not be members of the police force of
the Township of Verona. Their powers and duties, as determined pursuant
to the Special Law Enforcement Officers' Act, shall cease at
the expiration of the term of which appointed. No person shall be
appointed to serve as a special law enforcement officer in the Township
of Verona during which time he/she is presently a special law enforcement
officer in another local unit within the State of New Jersey, nor
shall a regularly appointed full-time police officer of any local
unit within the State of New Jersey be appointed as a special law
enforcement officer in the Township of Verona. No public official
with responsibility for setting law enforcement policy or exercising
authority over the budget of the Township of Verona or supervision
of the Verona Police Department shall be appointed as a special law
enforcement officer.
B.
Any person who at any time prior to his/her appointment had served
as a duly qualified, fully trained, full-time officer in any municipality
of this state and who was separated from that prior service in good
standing shall be eligible to serve as a special law enforcement officer
consistent with guidelines promulgated by the Commission. Training
requirements set forth in this subsection may be waived by the Commission
with regard to any person eligible to be appointed as a special law
enforcement officer pursuant to the provisions of this subsection.
No person may commence his/her duties as a special law enforcement
officer unless he/she has successfully completed a training course
approved by the Commission, and no special law enforcement officer
may be issued a firearm unless he/she has successfully completed the
basic firearms course approved by the Commission for permanent, regularly
appointed police and semiannual requalification examinations.
Said special law enforcement officers Class One shall not be
compensated for the performance of their duties. Special law enforcement
officers Class Two shall be compensated as indicated in the Township
salary ranges ordinance for special law enforcement officers. The
Township of Verona shall not be required to compensate a special law
enforcement officer for time spent in training.
The number of special law enforcement officers employed by the
Township of Verona shall be limited as follows:
Appointments to the position of special law enforcement officer
with the Township of Verona shall be made with preference given to
applicants as follows:
A.
No person may be appointed a special officer unless the person:
(1)
Is a resident of the State of New Jersey during the term of appointment.
(2)
Is able to read, write and speak the English language well and intelligently
and has a high school diploma or equivalent.
(3)
Is sound in body and of good health.
(4)
Is of good moral character.
(5)
Has not been convicted of any offense involving dishonesty or which
would make him/her unfit to perform the duties of special officers.
(6)
Has not been convicted of any crime of the first, second, third or
fourth degree, as designated by the Criminal Code of New Jersey, that
constituted an indictable offense or that involved moral turpitude
or at the time of application is undergoing or awaiting court action
of any kind in regard to such a crime.
(7)
Has undergone the same psychological screening that is required of
all full-time police officers of the Police Department.
(8)
Is at least 21 at the time of appointment in the Department as evidenced
by a certificate of birth.
B.
The Police Chief shall have the applicant fingerprinted as required
by statute, conducted a background investigation of the applicant
to determine the eligibility and qualifications of the applicant and
reported these determinations, in writing, to the Township Manager.
A.
No special law enforcement officer may carry a firearm except while
engaged in the actual performance of the officer's official duties
and when specifically authorized by the Police Chief or, in the absence
of the Police Chief, other chief law enforcement officer of the Township
of Verona to carry a firearm, and provided that the officer has satisfactorily
completed the basic firearms course required by the Police Training
Commission for regular police officers and annual requalification
examination as required for permanent, regularly appointed full-time
officers of the Township of Verona.
(1)
A special law enforcement officer shall be deemed to be on duty only
while he is performing the public functions on behalf of the Township
of Verona and assigned by the Police Chief or in his/her absence,
other chief law enforcement officer and when he is receiving compensation,
if any, from the Township of Verona at the rates established by the
Police Chief.
(2)
Private security duties.
(a)
A special law enforcement officer shall not be deemed to be
on duty for purposes of the Special Law Enforcement Act while performing
private security duties for private employers which duties are not
assigned by the Police Chief or, in his/her absence, other chief law
enforcement officer of the Township of Verona or while receiving compensation
for those duties from a private employer.
(b)
A special law enforcement officer may, however, be assigned
by the Police Chief or, in his/her absence, other chief law enforcement
officer to perform public safety functions for a private entity if
the Police Chief or other chief law enforcement officer supervised
the performance of the public safety functions. If the Police Chief
or other chief law enforcement officer assigns the public safety duties
and supervises the performance of those duties, then, notwithstanding
that the Township of Verona is reimbursed for the cost of assigning
a special law enforcement officer at a private entity, the special
law enforcement officer shall be deemed to be on duty.
B.
Ownership and supply of firearms.
C.
No special law enforcement officer shall carry a firearm when off
duty.
The uniform of special officers shall be determined by the Police
Chief in accordance with any policy established by the Township Manager
and shall be in compliance with N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.12. Every special
law enforcement officer's uniform shall include an insignia issued by the Police Training Commission
which clearly indicates the officer's status as a special law
enforcement officer and the type of certification issued pursuant
to the Special Law Enforcement Act.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.8 et seq.
A.
A special officer shall be under the supervision and direction of the Police Chief or, in the absence of the Police Chief, another superior officer designated by the Police Chief and shall perform his/her duties only in the Township of Verona, unless in fresh pursuit of any person pursuant to Chapter 156 of Title 2A of the New Jersey Statutes.
B.
The special officer shall comply with the rules and regulations applicable
to the conduct and decorum of the permanent, regularly appointed police
officers of the Police Department, as well as any rules and regulations
applicable to the conduct and decorum of special officers.
A.
The Police Chief may assign special officers of Class One and Class
Two to perform authorized duties not to exceed 20 hours per week.
B.
Special police officers may be assigned without limit during periods
of emergency.
C.
The Police Chief or, in his/her absence, other chief law enforcement
officer may designate one special law enforcement officer to whom
the limitations of hours set forth in this section shall not be applicable.
Special law enforcement officers shall not accept any police-related
employment without the prior approval of the Police Chief. The Police
Chief shall have the sole discretion to approve the police-related
employment of any special law enforcement officer.
Any organization or contractor that desires to hire special
law enforcement officers shall submit the request in writing to the
Police Chief on a form prescribed by the Police Chief. The organization
or contractor shall hold the Township harmless from any and all claims
that may arise as a result of the assignment of the special law enforcement
officer to the organization or contractor. In addition, the organization
or contractor shall submit with its application a certificate of insurance
that shows evidence of not less than $1,000,000 in both personal liability
and comprehensive general liability insurance and $300,000 in property
damage coverage. A nonprofit, religious or charitable organization
may submit a certificate of insurance in coverage amounts less than
those set forth herein upon the organization's representation
contained in its request that obtaining the required coverage would
impose an undue hardship on the organization.
A.
The person, organization or contractor that hires a special law enforcement officer shall pay a fee to the Township as established in Chapter A565, Fees.
