EFFECTIVE DATE:
NJSACOP LEAP MODEL POLICIES
GENERAL ORDER # 062
SUBJECT: SPECIAL OFFICER PROGRAM
ISSUED BY:
# OF PAGES: 3
DISTRIBUTION:
REVIEW DATE:
LAST REVISED:
16.3.3.
16.3.5
16.3.6
ACCREDITATION STANDARDS: 16.3.1 16.3.2
The written directives developed by the Police Department are for internal use only, and do not
enlarge an officer’s civil or criminal liability in any way. They should not be construed as the
creation of a higher standard of safety or care in an evidentiary sense, with respect to third
party claims. Violations of written directives can only be the basis of a complaint by this
department, and then only in an administrative disciplinary setting.
PURPOSE:
To create guidelines for the special police officer program established in the police department.
POLICY:
The police department has established a special police officer program in order to augment the
resources of the full-time police officers of the agency. The training, equipment and utilization of
special officers shall conform to all applicable state statutes, municipal ordinances and department
directives.
Standard
16.3.1
PROCEDURE:
I.
Special Police Officers
A.
No person shall be appointed as a special police officer unless the appointee :
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 of sound body and good health;
4.
Is of good moral character;
5.
Has not been convicted of any offense involving dishonesty or which would make
him unfit to perform the duties of his office; and
6.
Has successfully undergone the same psychological testing that is required of all
full-time officers of this department.
B.
Every special officer applicant shall have their fingerprints taken and forwarded to the New
Jersey State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation, where such fingerprints shall be
kept on file.
C.
No person is eligible for appointment as a special officer if such person:
1.
Serves as a special officer in another jurisdiction;
2.
Serves as a full-time, permanently appointed officer in another jurisdiction;
3.
Serves as a public official with responsibility for setting law enforcement policy in
this township;
4.
Serves as a public official exercising authority over the budget in this township; or
5.
Serves as a public official exercising authority over the supervision of police
personnel in any jurisdiction.
D.
All candidates for position as special officers with this agency will be required to submit to
a background investigation which shall be substantially similar in scope to that conducted
for full-time officers. Complete background investigations shall be forwarded to the
township manager prior to appointment.
General Order # 062 – Special Officer Program - Page 1 of 3
NJSACOP LEAP MODEL POLICIES
II.
Training Requirements
A.
There are two classifications for special officers that will be determined by the general
duties to be performed by the officers.
1.
Class One Special Police Officers are authorized to perform routine traffic details,
spectator control and other similar duties. If authorized by township ordinance,
class one officers are empowered to issues summons for disorderly persons and
petty disorderly persons offenses, violations of municipal ordinances and violations
of Title 39. Class one officers are not authorized to carry a firearm and shall not
be assigned to any duty which may require the carrying of a firearm.
2.
Class Two Special Police Officers are authorized to exercise full police powers and
duties similar to those of a permanent, regularly appointed full-time police officer.
B.
Prior to assuming the duties of a special police officer, all persons so appointed must
successfully complete a training course (class one special police officer or class two special
police officer) approved by the New Jersey Police Training Commission.
1.
Class two officers may receive authorization from the chief of police to carry a
firearm while engaged in the actual performance of duty if the officer has
successfully completed firearms training as prescribed by the Police Training
Commission.
2.
The firearms training course will be the same course approved by the Police
Training Commission for permanent, regularly appointed full-time police officers
and shall include the annual requalification requirements.
3.
Special officers are considered to be engaged in the actual performance of duty
when actually performing public safety functions on behalf of this department and
receiving compensation for such service at the rate established by ordinance.
4.
Special officers are not authorized to carry a firearm while off duty. Firearms
issued to specials officers for use in the performance of duty must be returned to
the watch commander at the end of the special officer’s assigned hours of duty.
C.
Special officers are required to attend and successfully complete all of the mandatory inservice training programs required for permanent, regularly appointed full-time police
officers.
1.
An exception exists for class one special officers with respect to the firearms
training component and other training that is applicable only to duties and
responsibilities that class one officers are statutorily precluded from performing.
2.
The training for class two special officers shall be identical to that of a permanent,
regularly appointed full-time police officer.
D.
Special officers must attend use of force and weapons training at the same level and with
the same frequency of full-time police officers.
1.
All qualifying standards and scores applicable to regular police officers will also
apply to special officers.
2.
Class one special officers are only required to demonstrate proficiency on the
weapons that will be issued and authorized for use.
Standard
16.3.3
Standard
16.3.5
Standard
16.3.6
III.
Standard
16.3.2
IV.
Selection Criteria
A.
The selection criteria for special officer shall be the same as that set forth in agency
directives governing the selection criteria for permanent, full-time police officers.
Terms of Appointment
A.
Special officers may be appointed for a terms not to exceed one year. Special officers are
not considered members of the township police force and their powers and duties shall
immediately cease at the expiration of the term for which he or she was appointed.
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NJSACOP LEAP MODEL POLICIES
V.
B.
The appointment of a special officer may be revoked for cause after an adequate hearing,
except in the case of special officers appointed for terms of four months or less, in which
case the appointment may be revoked without cause or hearing.
C.
At the expiration of a term of appointment, the chief of police shall make a
recommendation to the township manager with respect to prudence of extending a
succeeding offer for continued service in the capacity of special officer. The chief’s
recommendation shall be based upon any and all relevant issues, including, but not limited
to:
1.
The demonstrated need for special officers in the classification of service;
2.
The work performance history of the special officer being considered;
Powers and Authority
A.
Special officers are sworn law enforcement officers that are authorized to exercise their
authority consistent with the limits imposed by statute and department directives.
B.
Class one special officers are unarmed and have limitation placed upon their statutory
authority to arrest and enforcement specific provisions of statutory law. Class one special
officers will only be used for assignments that falls within the limits of their authority.
Class one special officers will typically be used for traffic control, crossing guards
assignments, building security, spectator control, and other similar assignments that do
not require armed officers with full police powers.
C.
Class two special officers enjoy the same powers and authority of permanent, regularly
appointed full-time police officer when they are actively engaged in the performance of
duty at the direction of the chief of police. Accordingly, class two special officers can
perform all of the duties of full-time police officers when on duty and acting at the
direction of the chief of police. Class two special officers may, at the direction of the chief
of police or his designee, be used to conduct any of the tasks that are typically assigned to
regular, full-time law enforcement officers.
D.
Special officers shall have no law enforcement powers while off duty and are not
authorized to act in the capacity of a law enforcement officer while off duty.
Standard
16.3.1
VI.
Uniforms
A.
All special law enforcement officers will be issued uniforms that are identical to those of
the full-time police officers, with the following exceptions:
1.
The uniform breast badge shall indicate the officers’ status as a special officer and
shall further distinguish between Class I and Class II Special Officers.
2.
The uniform shirts and jackets/coats shall have a patch affixed to the right sleeve
indicating the officers’ status as a Class I or Class II Special Officer.
General Order # 062 – Special Officer Program - Page 3 of 3