§ 75-18. Special law enforcement officers.

A. 

Provision; number authorized; term.

(1) 

Pursuant to New Jersey statutory authority, the Borough of Totowa does hereby provide for the appointment of special law enforcement officers (special officers) of the First and Second Class, sufficient to perform the duties and responsibilities permitted by statute and as shall be assigned by the Chief of Police from time to time.

(2) 

The Department shall be authorized special officers of the First Class not to exceed five and special officers of the Second Class not to exceed eight.

(3) 

Special officers shall be appointed annually by the Mayor and Council, on the recommendation of the Chief of Police, for terms of one year, and said appointments may be revoked by the Mayor and Council for cause after adequate hearing. Special officers so appointed shall not be members of the Police Department.

B. 

Qualifications.

(1) 

No person shall be appointed a special officer unless he:

(a) 

Is a resident of the Borough of Totowa and has been for at least six months preceding the 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 special officer.

(f) 

Has successfully undergone the same psychological testing that is required of all full-time police officers.

(2) 

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 Mayor and Borough Council.

C. 

Training course; firearms. No special officer shall commence his duties until he has completed the training as required under N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.11, or as amended from time to time.

D. 

Uniform. 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.

E. 

Supervision and direction.

(1) 

A special officer shall be under the supervision and direction of the Chief of Police or, in the absence of the Chief, other superior officer designated by the Chief of Police and shall perform his duties only in the Borough of Totowa unless in fresh pursuit of any person pursuant to Chapter 156 of Title 2A of the New Jersey statutes.

(2) 

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 Borough of Totowa, as well as any rules and regulations applicable to the conduct and decorum of special officers.

F. 

Power and authority of special officers.

(1) 

The Chief of Police may authorize special officers of the Second Class, when on duty, to exercise the same powers and authority as permanent, regularly appointed police officers of the Bureau of Police, including but not limited to the carrying of firearms and the power of arrest, subject to rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the certification and requirements of N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.11 and 40A:14-146.14.

(2) 

Special officers of the First Class shall be authorized and have the power to issue summons for disorderly persons and petty disorderly persons offenses and violations of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes but shall not be assigned duties which may require the carrying or use of a firearm.

G. 

Hours of employment.

(1) 

The Chief of Police may assign special officers of the First and Second Class to perform authorized duties not to exceed 20 hours per week per officer.

(2) 

Special police officers may be assigned without limit during periods of emergency.

(3) 

The Chief of Police may designate one special officer to whom the limitation of hours set forth in Subsection G(1) of this section shall not apply as provided by N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.16c.

Amended 5-22-1990 by Ord. No. 4-90