New Jersey § 52:17b-66

§ 52:17b-66.

The Legislature of New Jersey hereby finds and declares that a serious need for improvement

in the administration of local and county law enforcement exists in order to better

protect the health, safety and welfare of its citizens; that police work, a basic

adjunct of law enforcement administration, is professional in nature, and requires

proper educational and clinical training in a State whose population is increasing

in relation to its physical area, and in a society where greater reliance on better

law enforcement through higher standards of efficiency is of paramount need; that

the present need for improvement can be substantially met by the creation of a compulsory

educational and training program for persons who seek to become permanent law enforcement

officers wherein such persons will be required, while serving in a probationary capacity

prior to permanent appointment, to receive efficient training in this profession provided

at facilities selected, approved and inspected by a commission created for such purpose;

and that by qualifying and becoming proficient in the field of law enforcement such

persons shall individually and collectively better insure the health, safety and welfare

of the citizens of this State in their respective communities. The Legislature further finds and declares that, in addition to providing proper educational

and clinical training to law enforcement officers in this State, it is also important,

in order to help protect the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens, that appropriately

situated State authorities are accorded the ability and responsibility to monitor

and take appropriate action against any law enforcement officer who acts outside the

bounds of professionalism or engages in illegal or improper conduct. Professional licensure provides the means to help ensure that those individuals

who serve as law enforcement officers in this State uphold the public trust by meeting

and maintaining appropriately high standards of training and professionalism, in qualifying

for the positions, and in performing the duties. Therefore, it is necessary and appropriate to establish a Statewide licensure system,

through which the Police Training Commission will promulgate and apply uniform standards

of professional conduct by law enforcement officers, establish minimum standards for

licensure, review and take action on initial and renewal applications of applicants

and law enforcement officers and applicants who meet those standards, and deny, revoke,

or suspend licenses due to failure to meet or maintain those standards. Nothing in this act is intended to limit in any manner the powers and authority granted

to the Attorney General as the chief law enforcement officer of the State pursuant

to the Criminal Justice Act of 1970, P.L.1970, c. 74 ( C.52:17B-97 et seq. ).