New Jersey to allow police to use recruits, retired officers to fill manpower gaps
As the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise, the impact is being felt in many aspects of day-to-day life, including by first responders.
On Monday, state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal announced a series of measures to help law enforcement agencies address the manpower issues that they may face because of officers being sick or quarantined.
Grewal announced that there will be guidance offered through the Police Training Commission (PTC) for police departments to use recruits in more supporting roles, that departments will be able to hire retired officers as special law enforcement officers and that training will be established through the Division of Criminal Justice for military police and security personnel in the National Guard in case they are activated for law enforcement duties.
“Law enforcement officers are facing a perfect storm when it comes to manpower, because they are being called on to tackle new challenges and take on more responsibilities in the battle against this pandemic — at the very time that hundreds of officers are battling COVID-19 or are quarantined,” Grewal said in a statement. “Our officers are working courageously and tirelessly to protect us during this crisis, and I am grateful for their partnership. I am committed to doing everything in my power to assist law enforcement, because they deserve nothing less.”
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The policy for hiring retired officers as special law enforcement officers stipulates that the retirees must have “previously served in good standing in New Jersey” as well as meet the training requirements for the post, but that “any officer who retired less than three years ago will be presumed compliant, and the PTC will process waivers for most training requirements expeditiously, consistent with established procedures.” While on duty, these officers can exercise the full powers and duties of a regular police officer.
Retired officers can also be hired into administrative roles, which helps to “free officers assigned to administrative units for roles in the field.” Since the police academies are closed, recruits who have not finished basic training can be placed in administrative roles as well.
Grewal also said training for security personnel and military police officers within the National Guard has been established so that they will be ready to conduct limited law enforcement actions if called upon in the emergency.
The training is a proactive measure to ensure that National Guard members — limited to those with prior law enforcement training and experience — are prepared if needed. The National Guard has not been activated to conduct law enforcement actions, and the training is not an indicator of any plan to activate it.
Katie Sobko is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: sobko@northjersey.com Twitter: @katesobko