Sponsored by:
Assemblyman GORDON M. JOHNSON
District 37 (Bergen)
Assemblywoman CHARLOTTE VANDERVALK
District 39 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Transfers authority over Palisades Interstate Park Commission patrolmen to State Police.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the Palisades Interstate Park Commission and amending R.S.32:14-21.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. R.S.32:14-21 is amended to read as follows:
32:14-21. Palisades Interstate Park Commission may appoint such patrolmen as it may deem necessary for the purpose of keeping order and enforcing the laws and the provisions of this chapter provided that the Superintendent of State Police approves the appointment of each patrolman. The patrolmen so appointed shall be provided with uniforms by the commission and shall have, within such portions of Palisades interstate park as lie within the boundaries of this State, and such parts of any State, county or other public highways as lie within the limits of such portions of the park and all the lands, parks and parkways in this State under the jurisdiction of the commission, all the powers, duties and liabilities of police officers in cities in the making of arrests and the execution of criminal process and the enforcement of all the laws of the State and the provisions of this chapter and such patrolmen shall report to the Superintendent of State Police, who shall have authority to train and supervise the patrolmen in the performance of their duties. The commission may appoint such patrolmen, subject to the approval of the Superintendent of State Police, to hold office at the pleasure of the [commission] superintendent or for such term as the [commission] superintendent may determine [and may] . The Superintendent of State Police shall determine the duties of such patrolmen and make all reasonable rules and regulations respecting the same. Such patrolmen shall receive such compensation as from time to time may be fixed and determined by the commission. Each of such patrolmen shall be a resident of either this State or the State of New York, and if a resident of the State of New York he shall not be disqualified to act as a patrolman in this State by reason of non-residence in this State, anything in the statutes of this State to the contrary notwithstanding.
(cf: P.L.1939, c.91, s.22)
2. This act shall take effect the first day of the seventh month after enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill would provide for the Superintendent of State Police to exercise authority over the patrolmen who are appointed by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission. Current law, R.S.32:14-21, authorizes the Palisades Interstate Park Commission to appoint patrolmen who have police duties within the portion of the Palisades Interstate Park located in New Jersey. This bill provides that the Superintendent of State Police would have the authority to approve the commission's appointments of patrolmen and that the Superintendent of State Police would also determine the patrolmen's duties.
The bill in effect transfers supervisory authority over the Palisades Interstate Parkway Police department from the Palisades Interstate Park Commission and confers the transferred supervisory authority on the Superintendent of State Police.