[Adopted 9-17-2001 by Ord. No. 1406-2001[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance repealed former Ch. 70, Police Department, which consisted of Art. I, General Provisions, adopted 7-7-1969 by Ord. No. 369, as amended, Art. II, Chief of Police, adopted 5-19-1980 by Ord. No. 774-80, Art. III, Special Law Enforcement Officers, adopted 10-6-1986 by Ord. No. 929-86, as amended, Art. IV, Administrative Secretary, adopted 12-20-1993 by Ord. No. 1162-93, and Art. V, Manual and Policies, adopted 9-6-1995 by Ord. No. 1218-95.
There is hereby created in and for the Township
of Hamilton a Police Department which shall consist of a Chief of
Police and such members and officers as shall be deemed necessary
by the Township Committee 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 together with their
compensation.
The Police Department shall:
A.
Preserve the public peace;
B.
Protect life and property;
C.
Detect, arrest and prosecute offenders of the laws
of New Jersey and the ordinances of the Township of Hamilton;
D.
Direct and control traffic;
E.
Provide attendance and protection during emergencies;
F.
Provide appearances in Court;
G.
Cooperate with all other law enforcement agencies;
and
H.
Provide training for the efficiency of its members
and officers.
The Township Administrator shall be designated
as the appropriate authority as provided in the New Jersey Statutes
and shall be responsible for the overall performance of the Police
Department. The appropriate authority, with the advice and consent
of the Township Committee, shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations
for the government of the Police Department and for the discipline
of its members.
[Amended 10-19-2020 by Ord. No. 1934-2020]
A.
The Chief of Police shall be the head of the Police Department and
shall be directly responsible for its efficiency and day-to-day operations.
Pursuant to policies established by the appropriate authority, the
Chief of Police shall:
(1)
Administer and enforce the rules and regulations of the Police Department
and any special 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; and
(5)
Report at least monthly to the appropriate authority 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 appropriate authority.
B.
Notwithstanding the above, the Chief of Police shall have general
oversight authority of all public safety and emergency services and
shall serve as the liaison for appropriate authority with the Police
Department, Emergency Management Coordinator, Fire Departments, and
Rescue Squad. Pursuant to policies established by the appropriate
authority, the Chief of Police shall:
(1)
Conduct regular meetings with all department heads of Emergency Management,
Fire Departments, and Rescue Squad to discuss, plan and prepare comprehensive
and coordinated plans to provide public safety and emergency services
for the taxpayers of Hamilton Township.
(2)
Under a directive from the appropriate authority, the Chief of Police
shall research and study any matters of interest or concern concerning
public safety and emergency services in Hamilton Township and provide
the appropriate authority the analysis and evaluation of this endeavor.
(3)
The Chief of Police shall regularly or as directed, meet with the
appropriate authority to discuss issues and/or recommendations as
it may pertain to public safety and emergency services in Hamilton
Township.
(4)
The Police Chief's operational authority, established in Subsection A above, does not extend to the other public safety and emergency services.
(5)
Only the appropriate authority is authorized to develop, establish
and promulgate, rules, regulations, or policies provided they do not
interfere with the routine day-to-day operations of the Police Department,
Officer of Emergency Management, Fire Departments, and Rescue Squad,
except as permitted by law.
C.
The general oversight authority of the Chief of Police over public
safety and emergency services in Hamilton Township, except for the
police department, may, by resolution, be revoked at any time by the
Hamilton Township Committee if the Township Committee determines it
is in the best interest of the taxpayers of Hamilton Township.
Except as provided in N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118, the
Township Committee and individuals thereof shall act in all matters
relating to the police function as a body, or through the appropriate
authority if the appropriate authority is other than the governing
body.
No person shall be appointed to the Police Department
who is not qualified as provided in the New Jersey Statutes. The Township
Committee may also require that an applicant for appointment to the
Police Department shall successfully complete a physical, mental and
psychological examination.
No member or officer of the Police Department
shall be suspended, removed, fined or reduced in rank for any cause
other than for incapacity, misconduct or disobedience as provided
in the New Jersey Statutes and the Police Department's rules and regulations.
A.
The Township Committee may appoint from time to time
special law enforcement officers in accordance with New Jersey Statutes
for terms not exceeding one year. They 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 special law enforcement officers when on duty to exercise
the same power and authority as regular members of the Police Department
including the carrying of firearms and the power of arrest.
B.
Eligibility of applicants for special law enforcement
office positions and employment shall be limited to residents of the
Township of Hamilton except as otherwise provided herein. If the Township
of Hamilton cannot obtain qualified residents for appointment, such
other applicants may be considered in the following order:
