[Adopted by Ord. No. 1117 (§ 2-12 of the 1987 Code);
as amended by Ord. No. 1279; Ord. No. 1375; Ord. No. 1603; 8-15-2006 by Ord. No. 1694; amended in its entirety 6-6-2007 by Ord. No.
07-1712]
A Police Department be and the same is hereby
established in the Borough of Highland Park.
[Amended 6-6-2007 by Ord. No. 07-1725; 9-21-2010 by Ord. No.
10-1792]
There is hereby created in and for the Borough
of Highland Park, a Police Department ("The Department") which shall
consist of no more than 35 officers consisting of the positions of
Chief of Police, Captain, no more than four Lieutenants, no more than
eight Sergeants and no more than 21 patrol officers to be appointed
to these positions utilizing the outlined procedures specific to each
rank (N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118).
[Amended 2-21-2017 by Ord. No. 17-1932]
A.
The Department shall report through the Mayor to the Borough Council,
and its activities shall be reviewed by the Public Safety Committee
of said Borough Council.
B.
The Mayor is designated as the appropriate authority for all matters
relating to police functions. Upon recommendation of the Chief of
Police, the Mayor shall, from time to time, adopt orders, rules and
regulations for the government of the Department and fix and enforce
penalties for the violation of such rules and regulations.
C.
The Mayor shall sit as hearing officer for the Borough on any complaint
charging violation of the internal rules and regulations of the Police
Department, and his/her decision shall be reviewable only as provided
by N.J.S.A. 40A:14-150, as amended from time to time. In the event
the Mayor is disqualified as hearing officer in any matter, an alternate
hearing officer shall be appointed by the Borough Council.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 64-4, Appointments and promotions,
as amended, was repealed 12-6-2011 by Ord. No. 11-1826.
The Chief of Police shall be the Chief Executive
of the Department; the Chief, the Public Safety Director and the Captain
of Police, the Lieutenants of Police, the Police Sergeants and all
other officers shall severally perform the duties imposed upon them
by statute, by this article and by such orders, rules and regulations,
as, from time to time, may be adopted by the Borough Administrator
of the Borough of Highland Park for the government and control of
the Department.
In the absence of the Chief of Police, it shall
be the duty of the next-highest-ranking officer, designated by the
Chief of Police, to perform the daily operational duties of Chief
of Police; in the case of the incapacity or inability of the Chief
of Police to designate an officer to act in his stead, then it shall
be the duty of the Borough Administrator to make such designation
until such time as the Chief of Police is able to return to duty.
The Acting Chief of Police shall be empowered to perform all of the
duties of Chief of Police as delineated by statute, by this article, and by such rules and regulations
as, from time to time, may be adopted by the Borough Administrator
of the Borough of Highland Park for the government and control of
the Police Department.
Unless an exception is authorized in advance
in writing by the Chief of Police, each member of the Department shall
devote his or her time and attention to his or her duties as a member
of the Department. Any exceptions for the Chief of Police or the Captain
require the prior written approval of the Borough Administrator.
The Police Department shall be organized and
shall function according to an official Table of Organization, which
Table shall be adopted and amended by resolution of the Borough Council.
A.
All records of the Department shall be in the charge
of and under the supervision of an officer designated by the Chief
of Police and the personnel having access to these records shall be
the Chief of Police, Captain of Police and any other personnel as
designated by the Chief of Police.
B.
Criminal history records shall be maintained by the
Detective Bureau of the Department; only Detective Bureau personnel
shall have access to Criminal History Records and only in connection
with official police business and the performance of their duties.
The rates of compensation of the members of
the Department shall be those fixed and determined by the salary ordinances
of the Borough of Highland Park in effect from time to time.[1]
This article, being intended for the welfare
of the Borough and its inhabitants, shall be literally interpreted
in accordance with is purposes.
This article shall be known as, and may be cited
as, "The Police Department Ordinance."
[Amended 3-17-2009 by Ord. No. 09-1757]
In the absence of the Squad Sergeant, the Chief
of Police or his/her designee shall assign the officer who, in his/her
sole opinion, is the most qualified officer to serve as Officer in
Charge of the squad. All qualifications being equal, then, in that
situation, the Senior Officer shall be designated as the Officer in
Charge of the squad. The Officer in Charge shall perform the duties
of the Squad Sergeant as the day-to-day operations of the squad require.
