[1997 Code § 69-1; Ord. No. 19-00; Ord. No. 11-01]
There shall be in the City of Absecon City, New Jersey, a Police
Department which shall consist of a Chief of Police, three Lieutenants,
six Sergeant(s), Patrolmen, Special Officers, Police Crossing Guards,
Police Matrons, and other employees as shall be deemed advisable and
appointed by the Mayor and for which City Council has approved by
budget appropriation.
[1997 Code § 69-2; Ord. No. 19-00]
No person who is not a citizen of the United States or who has
ever been convicted of a crime shall be appointed to membership in
the Police Department, and every appointed shall be of good moral
character, sound in body and in good health and able to read and write
the English language intelligently. No person shall be appointed who
is less than 18 years of age. No person shall be appointed without
a high school diploma or GED.
[1997 Code § 69-3; Ord. No. 19-00; Ord. No. 08-2008]
A.
Requirements.
(1)
The Chief of Police shall be appointed from the rank of Sergeant
or above to said position by the Mayor with the approval of City Council.
(2)
The Mayor, at his sole discretion, may choose to request that a promotional examination be conducted for the promotion of an office of the rank of Sergeant or above to the position of Chief of Police. The Mayor does not have an obligation to request such a test and has the discretion to make an appointment to the position of Chief of Police from the rank of Sergeant or above provided the individual is qualified based upon the criteria established in Section 69-14 below. In the event the Mayor requests that officers of the rank of Sergeant or above participate in an examination for the position of Chief of Police, the Mayor may choose to appoint the Chief of Police from the top three individuals that have achieved the highest scores on the examination.
(3)
The respective duties shall be as prescribed in the Rules and Regulations
adopted by the Police Department of the City of Absecon City.
[1997 Code § 69-4; Ord. No. 19-00]
Members of the Police Department, in addition to the power conferred
upon them in criminal matters by the laws of the United States or
the State of New Jersey, shall have the power and it shall be their
duty to make complaint before the Municipal Court of the City of Absecon
of every person known to him or her to have violated any of the laws
of the United States or the State of New Jersey or the City Ordinances,
so that the Municipal Court may order the issuance of either a warrant
or summons for the appearance of the person charged with the violation.
It shall be their duty to report violations of the law and ordinances
coming to their knowledge in any way pursuant to the regulations governing
their department.
[1997 Code § 69-5; Ord. No. 19-00]
The Chief of Police shall be the head of the Police Force and
shall be directly responsible to the Mayor and Council of the City
for the efficiency and routine day-to-day operations thereof. He shall
see that all policies and rules and regulations of the department
are enforced and carried out. He shall have all powers and responsibilities
as established within N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118 et seq.
[1997 Code § 69-6; Ord. No. 19-00]
If a charge be made of any member of the Police Department in
accordance with pertinent State Statutes, specifically N.J.S.A. 40A:14-147,
of incapacity, misconduct or disobedience of just rules and regulations,
such member shall not be removed from office or employment until written
charge or charges of the cause or causes of the complaint shall have
been preferred, signed by the person making it or them, filed with
the Mayor and a copy of such charge or charges served upon the officer
complained against or by leaving the same at his usual place of residence
with a person over 14 years of age, and after said charge or charges
have been publicly examined by the Mayor, upon reasonable notice to
the person charged.
[Ord. No. 13-09 § 69-7]
A.
The City of Absecon may appoint from time to time Special Law Enforcement
Officers in accordance with the New Jersey Statutes for terms not
exceeding one year. They shall possess and exercise all powers and
duties provided by said statutes during their term of 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 powers
and authority as regular Police Officers of the Police Department,
including the carrying of firearms and the power of arrest. (N.J.S.A.
14-146.8 et seq.)
B.
All Special Officers appointed by the City of Absecon shall perform
their duties, in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A: 14-146.11 as follows:
Special Law Enforcement Officer Class II.
Officers of this class are authorized to exercise full powers
and duties similar to those of a permanent, regularly appointed full-time
Police Officer. The use of a firearm by a Class II Officer is authorized
after any such officer has been fully certified as successfully completing
training as prescribed by the Police Training Commission established
in the Department of Law and Public Safety pursuant to N.J.S.A. 52:17B-70.
No Class II Special Officer shall utilize any firearm except a firearm
issued to such special officer by the Chief of Police after the said
Special Officer has completed requisite training program. The firearm
issued by the Chief of Police shall be carried by the special officer
only while on duty performing public safety functions on behalf of
the City of Absecon. A Special Officer shall return the firearm, which
he or she has been assigned at the end of his or her workday assignment.
No Class II special officer shall carry a weapon when off duty and
a Class II Special Officer shall not be deemed to be on duty while
performing private security duties for private employers.
C.
As required by the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40A: 14-146.17 the number
of Class II Officers shall not exceed 25% of the total number of regular
Police Officers appointed by the City of Absecon to serve at one time.
Preference for eligibility of applicants for Special Law Enforcement
Officer Class II positions and employment shall be given to residents
of the City of Absecon. If the City of Absecon cannot obtain qualified
residents for appointment, such other applicants may be considered
in the following order:
