Ordinance 2448 adds Section 10 to borough code 2-24 which relates to the police department. The new section is entitled “Roselle Park Auxiliary Police Force” and is a re-establishment of the volunteer group that assists the Roselle Park Police Department (RPPD) in a limited capacity. In November and December of last year, men and women interested in volunteering as an auxiliary officer were able to submit their application to the RPPD.
Auxiliary Police Officers will be uniformed and wear a badge but will not be issued any firearms. The uniform will be different than that of a regular Roselle Park police officer. Auxiliary Officers will be required to volunteer a minimum of eight (8) hours a month as well as attend one (1) monthly training meeting.
The Roselle Park Auxiliary Police Force (RPAPF) will be limited to 10 members – one (1) Auxiliary Sergeant and nine (9) Auxiliary Police Officers – that will be appointed by the mayor with consent from council. Members of the RPAPF will be required to be a high school graduate (or GED equivalent) and at least 18-years-old. Each applicant will be submitted to a background check and preference will be given to Roselle Park residents but the program is open to anyone from Union County.
There is a one-year probationary period after academy training before any member is designated a full Auxiliary Police Officer. A promotion to Auxiliary Sergeant is possible after two years as a full Auxiliary officer. That means that there will be no Auxiliary Sergeant on the RPAPF until, at least, 2019.
Auxiliary police will have the power to issue parking tickets, be on foot/bike patrol, and take part in directing traffic. They will also be able to respond during a declared local or state emergency.
Although members of the RPAPF will not be paid for their service, they will be responsible for and have use of borough-owned equipment including vehicles and bicycles. How this will impact the municipality’s insurance, how will training be paid for, or if auxiliary police will be eligible for LOSAP has not be addressed yet. LOSAP, the Length Of Service Award Program, is a pension program for volunteers of the fire department and first aid.
Ordinance 2448 is set to be voted on during the February 4th Mayor & Council meeting. The entire ordinance is available below:
ORDINANCE NO. 2448
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER II, ARTICLE ill (“POLICE DEPARTMENT”) OF THE CODE OF THE BOROUGH OF ROSELLE PARK TO CODIFY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BOROUGH OF ROSELLE P ARK AUXILIARY POLICE FORCE
WHEREAS, in accordance with N.J.S.A. App. A:9:30 et seq., the Borough of Roselle Park is authorized to establish an agency or instrumentality that may be needed in order to meet the problems associated by a State or local declared emergency; and
WHEREAS, the Governing Body of the Borough of Roselle Park, wishes to establish the Roselle Park Auxiliary Police Force for the reasons consistent herein; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council wish to codify by Ordinance the establishment of the Roselle Park Auxiliary Police Force.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Roselle Park as follows:
SECTION I. Amendments to Chapter II, Article III of the Code of the Borough of Roselle Park.
Chapter II, Article III of the Code of the Borough of Roselle Park is hereby amended and revised to read as follows:
2-14 to 2-24.9 [No Changes]
2-24.10 ROSELLE PARK AUXILIARY POLICE FORCE
2-24.10.1 Establishment. There is hereby established within the Borough of Roselle Park an auxiliary police force to be known as the Roselle Park Auxiliary Police Force. This is a volunteer organization whose members shall be unarmed.
2-24.10.2 Number; Appointment. The number of members of the Roselle Park Auxiliary Police Force is not to exceed ten (10) members, which members are to be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Borough Council. Said members serve at the pleasure of the governing body. Before assuming the duties of his/her office, each member shall take and subscribe to the oaths set forth in N.J.S .A. 41: 1-1 et seq., which oaths shall be filed with the Clerk o f the Borough o f Roselle Park.
2-24.10.3 Requirements and Qualifications. In order to qualify for consideration as a member of the Roselle Park Auxiliary Police Force, each applicant shall:
- Be a resident of Union County, with preference to residents of the Borough of Roselle Park and, alternatively, to residents of municipalities in the vicinity of the Borough of Roselle Park that do not maintain a police auxiliary force.;
- Be at least eighteen (18) years of age;
- Have obtained a high school diploma or equivalency diploma (GED);
- Submit to a thorough background investigation;
- Not be a member of the regular police force of the Borough of Roselle Park and/or a member of the regular police force any other municipality in Union County.
2-24.10.4 Chain of Command. The chain of command of the Roselle Park Auxiliary Police Force shall be as follows: the Roselle Park Emergency Management Coordinator and/or the Roselle Park Chief of Police shall supervise and be responsible for all such operations. Under the Emergency Management Coordinator and/or the Roselle Park Chief of Police, there shall be the following positions within the Roselle Park Auxiliary Police Force (listed in descending order), each of which shall report to the next highest position: one (1) Auxiliary Sergeant and up to nine (9) Auxiliary Police Officers. Training officers may be designated from the membership at the discretion of the Roselle Park Emergency Management Coordinator and/or the Roselle Park Chief of Police.
2-24.10.5 Probationary Period; Promotions. All recruits/members will begin at the position of Probationary Auxiliary Police Officer. Following the completion of Police Auxiliary academy training and completion of a one (1) year probationary period, all recruits/new members will attain the position of Auxiliary Police Officer. All auxiliary members must serve at least two (2) years of active duty, exclusive of the aforesaid probationary period, before becoming eligible for promotion. Promotions will be made from existing members in good standing. Once promoted, said member must serve at least two (2) years in the promotional position before being considered for any other promotion. Any member who has been suspended will not be eligible for promotion for two (2) years from the date of the suspension.
2-24.10.6 Rules and Regulations. The Roselle Park Emergency Management Coordinator and/or the Roselle Park Chief of Police shall be empowered to promulgate rules, regulations, and policies necessary to effectuate the purpose hereof, including, but not limited to, all aspects of recruitment, designation of uniforms and equipment, and operations of the Roselle Park Auxiliary Police Force within the budgetary constraints of their respective office or department.
2-24.10.7 Training. Any duly appointed member of the Roselle Park Auxiliary Police Force may be attached to the Roselle Park Police Department for the purpose of training. As required by the Roselle Park Chief of Police, members shall participate in periods of training over the course of their membership in the Roselle Park Auxiliary Police Force to acquire and maintain skills and current techniques. During such periods of training, auxiliary members shall:
- Be under the direction of the Roselle Park Chief of Police, and shall be subject to the rules, regulations, and disciplinary requirements of the Roselle Park Police Department; and
- Have the following powers:
- to sign complaints for any violation of the Roselle Park Municipal Ordinances or any New Jersey State statute regulating the parking of motor vehicles;
- to perform scheduled quality of life patrols as may be deemed necessary by the Roselle Park Chief of Police on foot or bicycle patrol; and
- to participate in traffic and/or parking control activities as may be deemed necessary by the Roselle Park Chief of police.
2-24.10.8 Duties in the Event of a Declared Emergency. The Roselle Park Auxiliary Police Force, under the direction and supervision of the Roselle Park Emergency Management Coordinator and/or the Roselle Park Chief of Police, shall respond to:
- Any local disaster emergency, as declared by the Emergency Management Coordinator in accordance with N.J.S.A. App.A:9:30 et seq.
- Any emergency, as declared by the Governor of the State of New Jersey in accordance with N.J.S.A. App.A:9:30 et seq.
2-24.10.9 Uniform. Equipment and Identification.
- The Borough will provide the uniforms and other equipment to all members of the Roselle Park Auxiliary Police Force. No firearms of any kind shall be issued or carried by members of the Roselle Park Auxiliary Police Force.
- While on duty, all members shall, at all times:
- Be uniformed in a manner which is clearly distinctive from that of a regular police officer within the Borough o f Roselle Park; and
- Wear a badge or display identification indicating membership in the Roselle Park Auxiliary police Force, in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.6.
- Each member shall maintain all Borough-owned vehicles, bicycles, or equipment assigned to the member.
2-24.10.10 Manual. The Roselle Park Chief of Police shall prepare a manual setting forth,in detail, the requirements and procedures of the Roselle Park Police Force in compliance with any directives of the State of New Jersey Office of Emergency Management and/or the State of New Jersey Department of Law and Safety. Said manual must be presented to and approved by the governing body before any member of the Roselle Park Police Auxiliary Force may begin active duty.
SECTION 2: Severability.
If any section or portion of a section of this Code shall be invalid for any reason, such invalidity shall not affect the validity o f the remaining sections or portions o f this Ordinance.
SECTION 3: Inconsistent Ordinances.
All ordinances or parts of ordinances, to the extent that they are inconsistent herewith, are hereby repealed.
SECTION 4: Effective Date.
This Ordinance to the Code of the Borough of Roselle Park shall become effective upon adoption and publication in accordance with law.