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City of Somers Point, NJ
Atlantic County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Except as otherwise provided by law, no person shall be appointed as a member of the Police Department and force unless he is:
A. 
A citizen of the United States and a resident of New Jersey.
B. 
Sound in body and of good health sufficient to satisfy the Board of Trustees of the Police and Firemen's Retirement System of New Jersey as to his eligibility for membership in the retirement system.
C. 
Able to read, write and speak the English language well and intelligently.
D. 
Of good moral character and has not been convicted of any criminal offense involving moral turpitude.
All new police officers and civilian employees, before their assignment to duty and prior to their promotion to higher ranks, shall be required to take an oath of office as follows: "I (name of police officer or employee) do solemnly swear I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of (state rank or position) of the City of Somers Point according to the best of my ability. So help me God."
Appointment of a patrolman to the Police Department is for a probationary period of 90 days after he has completed training. Continuation in the service is dependent upon the conduct of the appointee and his fitness to perform his duties. At the termination of the probationary period, if the conduct or capacity of the probationer has not been satisfactory, he shall be notified, in writing, that he will not receive absolute appointment and his services shall be terminated by the Police Chief without a trial (reference: N.J.S.A. 11:22.6). The probationary period may be extended up to one year in order to comply with the mandatory training required under N.J.S.A. 52:17B-69.
Members and employees operating Department motor vehicles shall possess a valid New Jersey driver's license. Whenever a driver's license is revoked, suspended or lost, he shall immediately notify his commanding officer, giving full particulars.
A. 
Prior to engaging in any outside business or employment involving any security or police-related duties, the member shall request permission to do so to the Chief of Police through channels in the approved form.
B. 
The decision of the Chief of Police to approve or deny permission to work outside of the Department is final, and appeal to higher or other levels will not be considered. Department general orders will govern the approval or denial.
A. 
Upon separation from the Department. Members and employees are required to surrender all Department property in their possession upon separation from the service. For failure to return a nonexpendable item, the person concerned will be required to reimburse the Department for the fair market value of the article.
B. 
Under suspension. Any member under suspension for more than three days shall immediately surrender his badge and official service weapon to his commanding officer pending disposition of the case.
Members and employees who have sustained injury while off duty and who have received salary from the city while injured shall notify the Chief of Police, in writing, of any intent to seek, sue, solicit or accept compensation as damages for such injury. This notice shall be filed before any action is taken. It shall include the facts of the claim and the name of the respondent.
A. 
Hours of duty.
(1) 
Members of the Department shall have regular hours assigned to them for active duty, and, when not so employed, they shall be considered off duty. They shall, however, be subject to duty as needed.
(2) 
The fact that they may technically be off duty shall not be held as relieving members from the responsibility of taking proper police action on any matter coming to their attention at any time.
B. 
Days off. Members and employees are entitled to days off which are to be taken according to a schedule arranged by the respective commanding officers.
C. 
Suspension of vacation, day off, or leave of absence. Any vacation, day off or leave of absence may be suspended when a sudden and serious emergency arises and when, in the judgment of the Chief of Police, such action should be taken.
D. 
Absence from duty for five days continuously. Except as otherwise provided by law, any permanent member or officer of such Police Department and force who shall be absent from duty without just cause or leave of absence, for a continuous period of five days, shall cease to be a member of such Police Department and force. (source: N.J.S.A. 40A:14-122).
A. 
Selection of vacation. Annual vacation periods shall be selected according to seniority within the individual ranks. In the ranks above patrolman, when the accrued seniority in rank is equal, the determining factor shall be length of service in the next preceding rank.
B. 
Vacation scheduling. Vacation schedules shall be arranged by commanding officers with regard to the requirements in the branches of service under their commands.
C. 
Vacation address. A report of a vacation address is not required from a member or employee whose vacation application has been approved. Permission is thereby granted to him to leave the municipality during the approved period of vacation.
D. 
Split vacation. Split vacation periods may be granted to any member or employee of the Department, provided that permission has been obtained from his commanding officer. However, once vacation periods have been selected, they shall be completed without interruption unless it becomes necessary, be reason of emergency, to suspend them.
E. 
Exchange of vacation or of days off. When mutually agreeable, any two members or any two employees may exchange their vacation periods or days off but may do so only with the approval of their commanding officer.
A. 
Sickness or injury leave.
(1) 
Reporting sick or injured. Members and employees unable to report for duty because of sickness or injury shall make an immediate report to their commanding officer or desk officer in person or by telephone. If unable to report, a relative or other responsible person shall notify the commanding officer or desk officer of all pertinent facts either in person or by telephone.
(2) 
Address of confinement. Members and employees, when sick or injured, shall be responsible for notifying their supervisors as to their places of confinement or of any subsequent change in their place of confinement.
(3) 
Sick or injured on duty. Members taken sick or injured on duty shall report the facts to their commanding officer and shall remain on duty until relieved, unless excused by a superior officer. The only exception to this rule would be where the sickness or injury is disabling to the point of preventing compliance.
(4) 
Unauthorized absence. Members or employees who absent themselves in an improper manner shall be subject to disciplinary action being preferred against them. Unauthorized absence occurs when members or employees:
(a) 
Are not at home or who are not at their place of confinement while on sick leave when visited by the Department Surgeon or a superior officer.
(b) 
Feign illness or injury.
(c) 
Deceive the Department Surgeon in any way as to their true condition.
(d) 
Are injured or become sick as the result of improper conduct or of intemperate, immoral or vicious habits or practices.
(e) 
Violate any provisions concerning the reporting of sickness or injury.
B. 
Leave of absence for death in family.
(1) 
Special leave of absence, with pay up to a maximum of four days, shall be granted to any employee in case of death within the immediate family.
(2) 
Immediate family. The term shall be defined as specified in the collective bargaining agreement or personal service contract.
[Amended 2-25-1999 by Ord. No. 2-1999]
(3) 
The special leave period shall commence immediately following the death of such persons and is for the sole purpose of arranging and attending funeral services; such special leave may be extended with pay at the discretion of the Chief of Police. The above shall not constitute sick leave and shall not be deducted from annual sick leave.
C. 
Military leave.
(1) 
Extended leave; surrender of Department property. Before reporting for extended military service, police officers of the Department shall surrender all Department property held by them to their commanding officers.
(2) 
Draft Board determination. When a member or employee has been classified 1-A by Selective Service or has been ordered to report for examination, he shall immediately notify his commanding officer.
(3) 
Field training leave. Members or employees going on military leave for field training must notify the commanding officer at least 30 days before the date their training period is scheduled to begin. They must also submit copies of their official military orders at least five days prior to the date they are to report for duty.
A. 
Death or serious injury. When a member is killed or seriously injured on or off duty, his immediate supervisor will, as soon as possible, verbally notify the Chief of Police or the officer acting in the Chief's absence. This will be followed by a written report no later than the following workday. Information shall include the date, location, cause and extent of injuries and property damage. "Serious injury" in this instance means an injury which could result in death or disability.
B. 
Death of member or employee. Any member or employee receiving notice of the death of any member or employee during regular business hours shall notify the Chief of Police and the commander of the deceased. At other times, the officer in charge shall be notified, and he shall relay such information to the Chief of Police.
C. 
Nonserious injury. In cases where the injuries are other than of a serious nature, a written report will be submitted on the first workday following the incident, including all information required above. These reports are in addition to those accident and sick reports otherwise required.
D. 
Notification of family. The family of a member or employee killed or seriously injured on duty shall be notified immediately by the highest ranking member available.
[Amended 2-25-1999 by Ord. No. 2-1999]
The Police Chief shall recognize and deal with the members and employees of the Police Department for the adjustment of any grievances which may arise in accordance with the following procedure: Referral to the grievance procedure set forth in the police collective bargaining agreement or personal service contract.
A. 
Resignations to be in writing. All resignations of members or employees must be in writing and must bear the signature of persons resigning. Members or employees shall provide the Chief of Police not less than five days' written notice.
B. 
Resignation prohibited while charges pending. Members or employees are prohibited from resigning while charges are pending against them.