30:4-14. Police officers for Department of Human Services; powers; appointment

30:4-14. a. The Commissioner of Human Services may, in writing, appoint persons to the position of police officer to serve as law enforcement officers for the Department of Human Services in accordance with applicable statutory law, rules and regulations.

b. A Human Services police officer appointed pursuant to this section shall be empowered to act as an officer for the detection, apprehension, arrest and conviction of offenders against the law, except that police officers shall be permitted to carry firearms or other weapons only when authorized to do so by the Commissioner of Human Services.

c. No person may be appointed as a Human Services police officer unless the person:

(1) Is able to read, write and speak the English language well and intelligently and has a high school diploma or its equivalent;

(2) Is sound in body and of good health;

(3) Is of good moral character;

(4) Has not been convicted of any offense involving dishonesty or which would make the person unfit to perform the duties of this office; and

(5) Has successfully undergone a program of psychological testing.

d. Every applicant for the position of Human Services police officer appointed pursuant to this section shall have fingerprints taken, which fingerprints shall be filed with the Division of State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

e. The Commissioner of Human Services, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Director of the Division of Criminal Justice in the Department of Law and Public Safety, shall promulgate rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of this section.

Amended 1957,c.60; 1995,c.273,s.1.