Caronia v. Caldwell

18 A.2d 624, 126 N.J.L. 134, 1941 N.J. Sup. Ct. LEXIS 210

• Court: Supreme Court of New Jersey
• Decided: March 12, 1941
• Status: Published

Opinion

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Heher, J.

The rule directs the respondent director of public safety to show cause why he should not be commanded by mandamus “to employ” relator “in the sanie capacity and in the same manner he was employed as chanceman prior to his illegal ouster on October 1st, 1938.”

On September 16th, 1938, respondent “dispensed with * * * the services” of relator and others as “members of the Chance Force, or Chancemen,” in the local police department. This order, so-called, was set aside on certiorari by Mr. Justice Parker; and the judgment was affirmed by our court of last resort. Albert v. Caldwell, 123 N. J. L. 266. The rationale of the holding is “that the position of chance-man * * * is a regular position in the department to the same extent as the other positions;” and that “chaneemen are not temporary employes, but are regular members of the department appointed for part time service,” who “serve such days as they are required, and get paid only when they work, but * * * are regular members of the department entitled to tenure and to keep their positions unless discharged after hearing on charges, to the same extent as the chief or any other member.”

Since the entry of that judgment, none of the chaneemen has been called to service; and it is the insistence of relator that, in “refusing to reinstate and put” him “back to work as a chanceman,” respondent has been guilty of an “arbitrary abuse of discretion,” and the writ should go to avoid a “defect of justice” — citing State, ex rel. Nicolson Paving Co. v. Mayor of Newark, 35 N. J. L. 396, and State v. Freeholders of Essex, 23 Id. 214. The point is not well made. Relator has not sustained the onus of proof in this regard.

It is shown that the chaneemen were originally “dismissed” from service for reasons of economy. It was found that the existing force of patrolmen was adequate for every public requirement, and there was no occasion for retaining the chaneemen. This is still the situation; and the result has been an annual saving of approximately $5,000. Thus it is that the failure of the respondent director to invoke the services of the chaneemen has been due to the lack of need therefor, and not to a refusal to comply with the judgment adverted to.

“Special officers” have been designated by the mayor for private service as watchmen, and so on; and it is said that this is indicative of a “grave public emergency,” and that, in such situation, the “refusal to re-employ relator and other chaneemen” constitutes an abuse of discretion. The offered conclusion has nothing to sustain it. These appointees were merely given police authority for the more effective rendition of service essentially private. The fact that residents of the community have deemed it advisable to have such additional police protection does not, without more, warrant the inference that the local police authority has been remiss in the performance of public duty. We have no reason to doubt respondent’s assurances, as revelatory of good faith, that, should there be occasion therefor, the chancemen will be assigned to duty.

It suffices to add that, while under the local ordinance the duties of chancemen are “continuous,” they serve only “as necessity requires, to supply temporary vacancies in the regular force.”

The prerogative writ of mandamus is issuable only where there is a clear right to the performance of a ministerial duty, in essence mandatory and final and wholly free of the element of discretion, or to the exercise of a discretionary authority. Librizzi v. Plunkett, 126 N. J. L. 17. The instant case is not in either category.

The rule to show cause is accordingly discharged, but without costs.