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.