When any member of the Department becomes sick, injured or otherwise disabled while off duty or becomes sick, injured or otherwise disabled to the extent necessitating his/her removal from duty to his/her residence, physician's office or hospital, the Police Chief or, in his/her absence, the ranking officer on duty, may investigate or cause to be investigated the circumstances surrounding the mishap, disorder or accident resulting in the member's sickness, injury or disability in accordance with any and all appropriate guidelines of internal investigations. He/she may employ the assistance of a health care professional designated by the Township or of the member's attending physician in so doing.
In accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40A:14-137, leaves of absence with pay not exceeding one year shall be granted to members and officers of the Department and force who shall be injured, ill or disabled, from any cause, provided that the examining health care professional designated by the Township shall certify such injury, illness or disability.
A. 
A member of the Department on sick leave shall not be permitted to return to duty unless he/she presents a written medical certificate authorizing him/her to return to duty.
B. 
If the sick leave has been for less than three months, a written certificate from a health care professional designated by the Township or from the member's attending physician shall be considered as sufficient medical authorization for the return of the member to duty.
C. 
If such leave was for three months or longer, a written certificate from the member's attending physician shall be presented, together with a corroborating written certificate from a health care professional designated by the Township. When the health care professional designated by the Township is also the member's attending physician, his/her certificate shall suffice.
A. 
Maternity leave. Except as otherwise prescribed by the collective bargaining agreement, maternity leave shall be granted for a period of three months, exclusive of accumulated sick and vacation time, provided that the employee has worked for the Township for one year prior to commencement of such leave. Such requests shall be made, in writing, to the department head, who shall forward the same to the Township Manager for approval. Such leave shall be without pay unless accumulated sick and vacation time is applied thereto. Leave granted under this provision shall run concurrently with any family and medical leave to which the employee is entitled and will be counted against an employee's twelve-week family-medical leave entitlement under the New Jersey Family Leave Act[1] and the Federal Family and Medical Leave Act.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 34:11B-1 et seq.