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.
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:
A. Class One: not more than 20 Class One Officers.
B. Class Two: not more than 25% of the number of regular officers employed
by the Township of Verona.
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. Retired Verona police officer;
B. Veterans residing in the Township of Verona;
C. Non-veterans residing in the Township of Verona;
D. Residents of the County of Essex;
E. Other residents of counties contiguous to the County of Essex; and
F. Other residents of the state.
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.
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.