NJ Police Captain cheat sheet

POSDCORB covers planning, organizing, staffing, directing, coordinating, reporting, and budgeting.

Unity of command means each employee has one immediate supervisor; span of control commonly runs 3–7 subordinates.

Scalar principle: authority flows down the chain of command, while accountability flows upward.

MBO cycle: set measurable objectives, assign responsibility, monitor progress, evaluate results, and revise.

CompStat model: timely intelligence, rapid deployment, effective tactics, and relentless follow-up.

Risk management sequence: identify, analyze, control, finance or transfer, and monitor.

NJ Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (NJLEAP) uses standards, self-assessment, on-site review, and reaccreditation.

Policy cycle: issue, train, audit, and revise; a written directive is enforceable after distribution and training.

Situational leadership matches telling, selling, participating, or delegating to follower readiness and task demands.

Transformational leadership: idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration.

Transactional leadership relies on contingent reward and management by exception.

Delegation requires assigned responsibility, granted authority, and retained accountability.

Performance counseling sequence: describe specific behavior, state impact, set expectation, and document follow-up.

Progressive discipline commonly runs oral warning, written warning, suspension, demotion or termination, subject to just cause.

Just culture consoles human error, coaches at-risk behavior, and punishes reckless conduct.

Critical incident stress management includes demobilization, defusing, debriefing, and follow-up, not disciplinary interrogation.

Terry stop requires reasonable suspicion of a crime; frisk requires reasonable suspicion the person is armed and dangerous.

Warrant exceptions include consent, exigent circumstances, search incident to arrest, automobile, plain view, inventory, and special needs.

Miranda applies to custodial interrogation; custody is judged by whether a reasonable person would feel free to leave.

NJ eyewitness identification guidelines require a blind or blinded administrator, sequential presentation, and a recorded confidence statement.

Consent search: voluntariness is judged by the totality; scope is what a reasonable person would understand; consent may be withdrawn.

Search incident to arrest covers the person and immediate grabbing area; vehicle search requires an unsecured arrestee within reach or reason to believe evidence of the offense is present.

N.J.S.A. 2C:3-7 authorizes force reasonably necessary to effect arrest, prevent escape, or defend self or others.

Brady requires disclosure of exculpatory evidence; Giglio requires disclosure of impeachment material.

Priority dispatch: Priority 1 life-threatening or in-progress violence; Priority 2 urgent; Priority 3 routine; Priority 4 administrative.

Patrol workload formula: workload hours = calls × average handling time; officers needed = workload hours ÷ available patrol hours per officer.

Directed patrol targets specific times, places, and problems identified by analysis; random patrol has limited targeted deterrent effect.

NJ AG pursuit policy: pursue only when the need to apprehend outweighs the risk; terminate when risk exceeds need or conditions deteriorate.

Active-shooter first responders move to the threat, neutralize if necessary, then secure and stabilize; they do not wait for SWAT.

Traffic-stop tactics: use offset positioning, passenger-side approach when practical, request backup for high-risk stops, and control the scene before approaching.

Inner perimeter controls the immediate scene; outer perimeter controls access, traffic, media, and staging.

Plain-language radio: identify unit, location, nature, and needs; avoid unnecessary codes.

NJ Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) administers public-sector labor relations under N.J.S.A. 34:13A.

Mandatory bargaining subjects include wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment; managerial prerogatives are not mandatory.

Weingarten: a union-represented employee may request representation in an investigatory interview that may lead to discipline.

Garrity: a compelled administrative statement and its fruits cannot be used in a criminal prosecution; the employer must clearly compel the statement.

FMLA: eligible employees receive 12 workweeks of unpaid leave per 12-month period for qualifying family or medical reasons.

FLSA overtime: 1.5 times the regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek for non-exempt employees; the regular rate includes nondiscretionary pay.

NJ Civil Service discipline: major discipline is appealable to the Civil Service Commission; minor discipline follows agency or contract procedures.

NJ Law Against Discrimination, N.J.S.A. 10:5-1, prohibits employment discrimination and retaliation.

OPRA request: a public agency must grant or deny within 7 business days; extensions are possible and exemptions apply.

SARA community policing: scanning, analysis, response, and assessment.

Procedural justice: give voice, neutralize decision-making, treat people with respect, and convey trustworthy motives.

PIO role: serve as the single agency voice, release confirmed facts, avoid speculation, and protect victim privacy and investigations.

Crisis communication: issue a holding statement, provide regular updates, correct misinformation, and document messages.

Juvenile records and victim identifying information are restricted; release only as authorized by law and policy.

Social media: use official accounts only, do not post case evidence, and preserve records under retention rules.

Community engagement: use advisory boards, faith-based groups, business associations, and schools; measure participation and outcomes.

Line-item budget controls inputs by object code; program budget groups costs by service; performance budget links funding to outputs.

Operating budget covers recurring personnel and services; capital budget covers long-lived assets and debt.

Budget cycle: preparation, adoption, execution, and audit or evaluation.

Variance = actual − budget; a positive or negative variance is interpreted against the favorable direction for that line.

FLSA regular rate = total non-excludable remuneration ÷ hours worked; overtime premium is 0.5 times the regular rate for hours over 40.

Relief factor = total annual hours a post must be staffed ÷ annual hours one officer is available.

Fleet lifecycle: acquisition, operation, preventive maintenance, repair, replacement, and disposal.

Federal grants require allowable costs, matching, period-of-performance compliance, and reporting under 2 C.F.R. Part 200.

ICS uses unity of command, chain of command, span of control of 3–7, an incident action plan, and unified command for multi-agency incidents.

NIMS components: preparedness, communications and information management, resource management, command and coordination, and ongoing management.

Emergency declaration sequence: local state of emergency, county, governor, and presidential; each level unlocks specific authorities.

START triage uses respirations, perfusion, and mental status to assign immediate, delayed, minor, or deceased categories.

Active threat: a contact team locates and neutralizes the threat; rescue task forces enter the warm zone only after the threat is contained.

Hazmat: isolate, deny entry, identify, notify, use the ERG guide, and evacuate or shelter-in-place.

Hostage or barricade: contain, control access, negotiate, and plan tactical resolution; entry requires command approval.

COOP identifies essential functions, orders of succession, delegations, alternate facilities, communications, and testing.

NJ Internal Affairs Policy and Procedures requires accepting all complaints, documenting them, classifying them, investigating, and notifying disposition.

Garrity use immunity: a compelled statement and its fruits cannot be used in a criminal case; administrative discipline may still follow.

Brady and Giglio require disclosure of exculpatory and impeachment information; sustained dishonesty findings can impair officer testimony.

Use of force: officers have a duty to intervene when feasible and a duty to render aid; supervisory notification and reports are required.

Early intervention systems flag patterns in complaints, force, pursuits, or attendance and prompt supervisory review before discipline.

Internal affairs confidentiality protects complainants, witnesses, and the investigation; release occurs only as law and policy allow.

Major discipline in New Jersey includes termination, demotion, suspension over five days, and salary reduction; public disclosure is required.

Complaint intake: anonymous complaints are accepted; serious allegations require immediate notification and consideration of administrative leave.