“Law Enforcement Preparation and Response to COVID-19 – Coronavirus” This directive amends and supercedes Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Directives 2020-2, 2020-3, and 2020-5 which addressed Bergen County Law Enforcement’s preparation and response to COVID-19.
“Law Enforcement Agency Advice to Self Report COVID-19 Positive/ Quarantined Status and/or TO Post Notice of COVID-19 Positive/Quarantined Status” No Bergen County law enforcement agency shall advise members of the public to identify as COVID-19 positive or quarantined when seeking police assistance, nor to provide any public notice of COVID-19 positive/quarantined status.
“Employment of Bergen County Law Enforcement Officers While On Duty for Private Entities and Reducing Personal Interaction Among Law Enforcement Officers” Effective 3/27/20 at 5pm, all law enforcement employment for private entities must generally cease during the present state of emergency. Also, every Bergen County Law enforcement executive must implement a written plan to allocate law enforcement and civilian personnel so as to ensure minimal contact among personnel.
“Law Enforcement Preparation and Response to COVID-19 – Coronavirus” Exhibit A This Directive provides additional direction for procedures that Law enforcement agencies may take to minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus to staff and public. Attached to this Directive as Exhibit A is pertinent guidance from the New Jersey Department of Health on COVID-19 risk and risk management.
“Law Enforcement Preparation and Response to COVID-19 – Coronavirus” Law enforcement agencies must take all reasonable precautions to prevent the contracting and spread of COVID-19 virus.
Attorney General’s Directive 2019-6 “Establishing County Policies to Comply with Brady v. Maryland and Giglio v. United States” The AG Directive, which becomes effective March 1, 2020, mandates that all county prosecutors implement a policy to investigate the existence of evidence which might exculpate criminal defendants from the crimes of which they are accused or undermine the credibility of the State’s witnesses. Under Brady and Giglio and the AG Directive, prosecutors must review Brady/Giglio information to decide whether the information should be disclosed to the court and defense counsel.
“Establishing a Protocol for Handling Citizen Complaints” Effective January 1, 2020, local police departments are responsible for submitting citizen complaints for indictable offenses as well as citizen complaints against candidates or nominees for public office or against public officials for disorderly persons offenses to the County Prosecutor for review and approval. This Directive provides the protocol for submitting these complaints.
2019-11 Regarding Internal Affairs Self-Audits In an effort to identify and rectify any Internal Affairs issues in Bergen County, this directive mandates that each Bergen County law enforcement agency perform a self-audit of its IA unit.
“Regarding Statewide Mandatory Early Warning Systems” The purpose of this written directive of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office is to establish a law enforcement personnel early warning system. This policy is in addition to, but in no way, supersedes the Attorney General Directive No. 2018-3 regarding the early warning system.
“Regarding Extreme Risk Protective Orders” This Directive provides documents approved by the Attorney General with respect to petitions requested under the Extreme Risk Protective Order Act (“ERPO”).
