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A4154
ASSEMBLY, No. 4154
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman� CAROL A. MURPHY
District 7 (Burlington)
SYNOPSIS
���� Permits certain fire police units to appoint fire
police officers.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
An Act
concerning fire police officers and amending
R.S.15:8-4.
����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.��� R.S.15:8-4 is amended to
read as follows:
���� 15:8-4.�
a.
� Any duly
organized volunteer fire company may provide for the appointment of
[
certain of
]
its members
to perform certain police duties at fires and fire drills, for a term of office
not exceeding five years from the date of the appointment.�
����
b.��� A fire police unit,
established by appointment of members from volunteer fire companies pursuant to
subsection a. of this section, may appoint volunteers who are not members of a
volunteer fire company to perform certain police duties at fires and fire drills
for a term of office not exceeding five years from the date of appointment, if
the unit:
����
(1)�� is incorporated;
����
(2)�� has filed appropriate
tax forms;
����
(3)�� insures all members
of the unit; and
����
(4)�� has a designated
station number.
����
No person shall be
appointed as a fire police officer pursuant to this subsection unless the
person:
����
(1)�� is sound in body and
of good health;
����
(2)�� is of good moral
character; and
����
(3)�� has not been
convicted of any criminal offense involving moral turpitude.
����
c.
���� The
[
appointed
]
members
appointed
pursuant to subsection a. or b. of this section
shall, before entering upon
their duties, qualify by:
���� (1)�� Successfully completing
a basic fire police training course formulated or approved by the Division of
Fire Safety.
���� (2)�� Taking and subscribing
an oath that they will justly, impartially and faithfully discharge their
duties according to the best of their ability and understanding.� The oath
shall be administered by the municipal clerk
or a notary public
and
subscribed to in duplicate.� The original copy of the oath shall be filed with
the municipal clerk
or notary public administering the oath
and the copy
thereof filed with the secretary of the fire company
or fire police unit
making the appointment.
���� After appointment, a qualified
member shall be eligible as a fire police officer and shall have full power and
authority to act as a fire police officer anywhere in the county in which he is
appointed or in any other county in which he is called upon to act.
���� It shall be the duty of a
member of the fire police to perform his duties under the supervision of the
fire officer in charge of the fire or fire drill, until the arrival of a duly
authorized police officer, who shall assume responsibility for the supervision
of the performance of traffic duties, preservation of evidence and all other
law enforcement duties.� Nothing in this paragraph shall diminish the powers of
the chief or other superior officer of any volunteer fire company in the
exercise of his duties pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1981, c.435
(C.40A:14-54.1).
���� The duties of
[
said
]
the
fire police subject to the supervision aforesaid shall be to:
���� (1)�� Protect property and
contents.
���� (2)�� Establish and maintain
fire lines.
���� (3)�� Perform such traffic
duties as necessary, from the fire station to and at the vicinity of the fire,
fire drill or other emergency call, until the arrival of a duly authorized
police officer or at any public event where fire police services may be requested
to protect the public, subject to the approval of and supervision by the chief�
law enforcement officer of the municipality in which the public event takes
place, or the Superintendent of State Police if the municipality does not have
a police department.
���� (4)�� In the absence of
investigating authorities, fire police shall investigate all causes of fires
and preserve all evidence pertaining to questionable fires and turn evidence
over to proper investigating authorities.
���� (5)�� Wear the authorized fire
police badge on the left breast of the outermost garment while on duty.
���� Provided, however, nothing
herein contained shall give the fire police or any of them the right to
supersede a duly authorized police officer.
���� If any person shall
unreasonably refuse to obey the orders of the fire police, a fire police
officer may arrest him and keep him under arrest until the fire is extinguished
or the drill completed. If the offender is found guilty by a municipal court or
Superior Court, he shall be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding $200 and
costs.
(cf: P.L.1998, c.61, s.1)
���� 2.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.
STATEMENT
���� This bill authorizes certain
fire police units to appoint fire police officers, and permits a notary public
to administer an oath to a fire police officer.�
���� Currently, a volunteer fire
company may appoint a member of the company as a fire police officer.� Under
the provisions of this bill, a fire police unit that is incorporated, has filed
appropriate tax forms, insures all members, and has a designated station number
may appoint a person who is not a member of the company as a fire police
officer if the person is of good health and good moral character, and has not
been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude.
���� An officer appointed by a unit
will comply with the same requirements and will have the same duties as
officers appointed by a volunteer fire company.�
���� Current law requires the
municipal clerk to administer the oath to volunteer firefighters who perform
police duties.� Under provisions of this bill, a notary public also may
administer an officer�s oath.����