Pursuant to the authority granted to the Township
of Byram by N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118 and 40A:14-146.10, the Mayor and Council,
as the governing body of the Township of Byram, deems necessary the
appointment of Class One and Class Two special law enforcement officers
in sufficient numbers to perform the duties of special law enforcement
officers as permitted by statute, as shall be assigned by the Chief
of Police or other chief law enforcement officer of the Township from
time to time. Special law enforcement officers hereinafter are referred
to as "special officers." The Township Council recognizes and declares
that Byram Township is a "resort municipality" as defined by N.J.S.A.
40A:14-146.9f.
A.
Special officers of Class One and Class Two shall
be appointed by the Township Manager annually, for a term not to exceed
one year. Said appointment may be revoked by the Township Manager
for cause, after adequate hearing.
B.
Special officers appointed for a term of four months
or less may have their appointment revoked without cause or hearing
by the Township Manager.
C.
Exceptions. No person shall be allowed to serve as
a special officer in more than one local unit at the same time, nor
shall any permanent, regularly appointed, full-time police officer
of any local unit be appointed as a special officer in Byram Township.
No public official with responsibility for setting law enforcement
policy or for exercising authority over the budget or Byram Township
or for supervision of the Police Department of Byram Township shall
be appointed as a special officer. "Local unit," as the term is used
herein, shall mean any municipality having established a regular,
local police force pursuant to law.
No person may be appointed a special officer
unless the person:
A.
Is a resident of the State of New Jersey during the
term of appointment;
B.
Is able to read, write and speak the English language
well and intelligently and has a high school diploma or equivalent;
C.
Is sound in body and of good health;
D.
Is of good moral character;
E.
Has not been convicted of any offense involving dishonesty
or which would make him/her unfit to perform the duties of the office
of special officer;
F.
Has successfully undergone the same psychological
screening that is required of all full-time police officers of the
Byram Township Police Department or, with regard to a special officer
hired for a seasonal period, has successfully undergone a program
of psychological testing approved by the Police Training Commission;
and
G.
Has been fingerprinted as required by statute and
has passed a background investigation designed to determine the eligibility
and qualifications of the applicant to serve as a special officer.
The Chief of Police, or, in the absence of the Chief of Police, another
chief law enforcement officer of Byram Township, shall be responsible
for conducting the aforesaid background investigation and issuing
a written report on the same to the Township Manager.
No special officer shall commence his duties
until he has completed training as currently required under N.J.S.A.
40A:14-146.11 or as the same may be amended from time to time, provided
that special officers appointed prior to October 1, 1986, may continue
their duties and shall have until October 1, 1988, to complete all
training required hereunder. Former New Jersey police officers who
meet the requirements of N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.10f shall not have to
meet the training requirements referred to hereunder, provided that
such officers shall receive a waiver from the Police Training Commission
and file said waiver with the Township Manager.
The uniform of special officers shall be of
a design approved by the Township Council after consideration of any
recommendations offered in that regard by the Chief of Police or other
chief law enforcement officer of the Township of Byram. The uniform
of special officers shall be in compliance with N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.12
and shall resemble the uniform of full-time Byram Township police
officers as nearly as possible.
A.
Special officers of Byram Township shall be under
the supervision and direction of the Chief of Police or in the absence
of the Chief of Police, another chief law enforcement officer of Byram
Township.
B.
All special officers shall comply with the rules and
regulations applicable to the conduct and decorum of the permanent,
regularly appointed police officers of the Byram Township Police Department,
as well as with any rules and regulations applicable to the conduct
and decorum of special officers.
A.
Class One special officers shall be authorized to
perform routine traffic detail, spectator control and similar duties.
In addition, Class One special officers shall have the power to issue
summonses for disorderly persons and petty disorderly-persons offenses,
violations of municipal ordinances and violations of Title 39 of the
New Jersey Revised Statutes. The use of a firearm by a Class One special
officer shall be strictly prohibited, and no Class One officer shall
be assigned any duties which may require the carrying or use of a
firearm.
B.
Class Two special officers shall be authorized to
exercise full powers and duties similar to those of a permanent, regularly
appointed full-time Byram Township police officer. The use of a firearm
by a Class Two special officer shall be authorized by the Chief of
Police or other chief law enforcement officer of the Township of Byram
only after the officer has been fully certified as having successfully
completed training as prescribed by the Police Training Commission.
A.
Except as provided in Subsection B of this section, no special officer may be employed for more than 20 hours per week, except that special officers may be employed for those hours as the Township Council may determine necessary in accordance with the limits prescribed below:
(1)
For a period not to exceed 48 hours per week during
the period beginning each year on May 15 and ending on September 15
of the same year.
(2)
For an unlimited number of hours during periods of
emergency.
(3)
For a period of not more than 20 hours per week to
provide public safety and law enforcement services to a public entity.
Said period shall be in addition to employment for not more than 20
hours per week including duties assigned pursuant to the provisions
of N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.14.
