In accordance with the provisions of P.L. 1985, c. 439, of the
New Jersey Statutes, N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.8 et seq., there is hereby
created the position of special law enforcement officers for the Township
of Bloomfield, Essex County, New Jersey. Each special officer appointed
shall be subject to the requirements of this article and the additional
requirements set forth in P.L. 1986, c. 2, adopted March 24, 1986.
The classifications of the special law enforcement officers
shall be based upon the duties to be performed by said officers and
are established as follows:
A.
Class I. Officers of this class are authorized to perform routine
traffic detail, spectator control and similar duties as may be assigned
by the Chief of Police or, in the absence of the Chief, another law
enforcement officer in a supervisory capacity designated by the Chief
to act in the Chief's stead. Said Class I officers are also authorized
to issue summonses for disorderly persons and petty disorderly persons
offenses, violations of municipal ordinances and violations of Title
39 of the New Jersey Statutes Annotated. The use of firearms by said
Class One officers is strictly prohibited, and no Class One officer
shall be assigned any duties which may require the carrying or use
of a firearm.
B.
Class II. Officers of this class are herewith authorized to exercise
full powers and duties similar to those of a permanent, regularly
appointed full-time police officer. They shall be assigned such powers
and duties by the Chief of Police or, in the absence the Chief, another
law enforcement officer in a supervisory capacity designated by the
Chief to act in the Chief's stead. The use of a firearm by an
officer of this class may be authorized only after the officer has
been fully certified as successfully completing training as prescribed
by the Police Training Commission, established within the Department
of Law and Public Safety of the State of New Jersey.
C.
Auxiliary Police Force.
(1)
Purpose: The purpose of the Auxiliary Police Force is to assist the
Township Police Department in such emergencies and other situations
as the Police Chief may determine.
(2)
Appointments: Auxiliary police shall be appointed by the Mayor and
Council, upon the recommendation of the Police Chief, for a one-year
term.
(3)
Rules and regulations: All appointed auxiliary police officers will
be governed by the same Code of Conduct that has been adopted by the
Township of Bloomfield.
(4)
Responsibility: It shall be the responsibility of the auxiliary police
to assist the Township Police Department, upon the request of the
Police Chief, in areas such as buildings and grounds security, enforcement
of parking regulations, traffic and crowd control, document and record
maintenance, and other areas of responsibility as determined by the
Police Chief.
(5)
Training course: No person shall be appointed as an auxiliary police
officer unless they have successfully completed a training course
as approved by the Police Chief.
All duly appointed special law enforcement officers shall be
subject to the rules and regulations governing the Police Department
of the Township of Bloomfield as adopted by previous ordinances, including,
by description but not limitation, the Standard Operating Procedures
Police Manual of the Township of Bloomfield.
Special law enforcement officers shall be appointed by the Township
Council for a term not to exceed one year, which appointments shall
be made at the annual reorganization meeting or at such other times
as the Township Council deems it necessary to make such appointments.
Said special law enforcement officers Class I shall not be compensated
for the performance of their duties. Special law enforcement officers
Class II shall be compensated as indicated in the Township salary
ranges ordinance[1] for special law enforcement officers.
[1]
Editor's Note: Said ordinance is on file in the Township
offices.
The number of special law enforcement officers employed by the
Township of Bloomfield shall be limited as follows:
A.
Appointments to the position of special law enforcement officer with
the Township of Bloomfield shall be made with preference given to
applicants as follows:
B.
The Police Chief may request a waiver from following the listed preference
from the Mayor and Council, taking into account the specific level
of experience and the unique competencies needed to fulfill the obligations
of the job descriptions.
A.
No person may be appointed a special officer unless the person:
(1)
Is a resident of the State of New Jersey during the term of appointment.
(2)
Is able to read, write and speak the English language well and intelligently
and has a high school diploma or equivalent.
(3)
Is sound in body and of good health.
(4)
Is of good moral character.
(5)
Has not been convicted of any offense involving dishonesty or which
would make them unfit to perform the duties of special officers.
(6)
Has undergone the same psychological screening that is required of
all full-time police officers of the Police Department.
B.
The Chief of Police shall have had the applicant fingerprinted as
required by statute, conducted a background investigation of the applicant
to determine the eligibility and qualifications of the applicant and
reported these determinations, in writing, to the Council.
No special officer shall commence their duties until they have
completed the training as required under N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.11, as
amended from time to time.
The uniform of special officers shall be determined by the Chief
of Police and shall be in compliance with N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.12.
A.
A special officer shall be under the supervision and direction of
the Chief of Police or, in the absence of the Chief, another superior
officer designated by the Chief of Police and shall perform their
duties only in the Township of Bloomfield, unless in fresh pursuit
of any person pursuant to Chapter 156 of Title 2A of the New Jersey
Revised Statutes.
B.
The special officer shall comply with the rules and regulations applicable
to the conduct and decorum of the permanent, regularly appointed police
officers of the Police Department, as well as any rules and regulations
applicable to the conduct and decorum of special officers.
