April 25, 2023 Under a law that will go into effect next year, New Jersey police officers will face new requirements in order to become and remain licensed in the state.
By S.P. Sullivan Source nj.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
New Jersey will no longer be among a handful of states that doesn’t license its police officers under new rules set to take effect next year, authorities said Monday.
Prospective officers will have to provide access to their social media profiles going back three years and disclose, with some exceptions, the names of organizations to which they belong as part of an effort to weed out officers harboring bigoted views or belonging to organizations that seek to overthrow the government, according to proposed rules published in the state register.
Gov. Phil Murphy last year signed the new system into law, making New Jersey the47th in the country to allow for the licensing of police officers and the decertification of those who abuse the badge.
Under the new law, officers are required to pass a psychological examination and continue to take training courses throughout their career to remain licensed.
They are also prohibited from joining groups that advocate for “the violent overthrow of the government or for discrimination” against protected classes under the state’s anti-discrimination laws. The Police Training Commission, which will oversee the new system, must also be notified if it’s proven an officer mishandled or destroyed evidence.
Longtime police officers in good standing will automatically receive temporary licenses under the new system, according to proposed rules published in the state register.
In a statement Monday, state Attorney General Matthew Platkin said the new rules give the state Police Training Commission the power “to deny, refuse to renew, or take other actions against an officer’s license if the officer has been found guilty of committing criminal or fraudulent acts, or behavior that would otherwise undermine public confidence in law enforcement.”
The new rules, set to take effect Jan. 1, were part of a broader police reform effort stemming from protests in New Jersey and across the U.S. over police shootings and deaths in custody. It brings policing in line with hair dressers, lawyers and contractors, who can have their licenses revoked for bad behavior.
Currently, a police officer in one jurisdiction could be fired over a racist or sexist social media post or an accusation of misconduct while a similar officer in a different department could get a slap on the wrist.
The attorney general said the new system would improve relationships between police and the public.
“This represents a critical step forward, ensuring that those who are unfit or unable to serve as police officers can’t move from one agency to the next to evade a problematic disciplinary history,” Platkin said.