Sponsored by:
Senator JOHN A. GIRGENTI
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
Senator ANTHONY R. BUCCO
District 25 (Morris)
SYNOPSIS
Specifies special law enforcement officers wear same uniform as regular police in municipality but with specially designed shoulder insignia.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning special law enforcement officers and amending P.L.1985, c.439.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 5 of P.L.1985, c.439 (C.40A:14-146.12) is amended to read as follows:
5. Every special law enforcement officer [prior to the commencement of his duties shall be furnished with a uniform which shall identify the officer’s function] appointed under this act shall wear the same uniform that the permanent, regularly appointed full-time police officers of the appointing municipality wear, except that the special law enforcement officer shall wear a shoulder patch bearing an insignia, designed by the New Jersey Law Enforcement Officers Association and approved by the Attorney General, which clearly indicates the officer’s status as a special law enforcement officer and the type of certification issued pursuant to section 4 of this act. The uniform shall include, but not be limited to, a hat and appropriate badges which shall bear an identification number or name tag and the name of the local unit in which the officer is employed. [The uniform shall also include an insignia issued by the commission which clearly indicates the officer's status as a special law enforcement officer and the type of certification issued pursuant to section 4 of this act. Within six months following the effective date of this act the commission shall issue the insignia.] All special law enforcement officers prior to the commencement of duties shall be in uniform properly displaying the appropriate insignia. Nothing in this section shall preclude the designation on an insignia to read either "special police" or "special law enforcement officer."
(cf: P.L.1985, c.439, s.5)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill specifies that special law enforcement officers are to wear the same uniform that the permanent, regularly appointed full-time law enforcement officers of their employing municipality wear. In addition, special law enforcement officers are to wear a special patch on their uniforms clearly indicating that they are special law enforcement officers. These patches are to be designed by the New Jersey Law Enforcement Officers Association. The design of the patch is to be approved by the Attorney General.