Petition forms shall be readily available at the courts, and at State, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies.
Prior to filing a petition with the court, a family or household member may request assistance from a State, county, or municipal law enforcement agency which shall advise the petitioner of the procedure for completing and signing a petition for a temporary extreme risk protective order. A law enforcement officer from the agency may assist the family or household member in preparing or filing the petition. This assistance may include, but not be limited to, providing information related to the factors set forth in subsection f. of this section, joining in the petition, referring the matter to another law enforcement agency for additional assistance, or filing the officer's own petition with the court.
Filing a petition pursuant to this section shall not prevent a petitioner from filing a criminal complaint or applying for a restraining order pursuant to the "Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991," P.L.1991, c.261 (C.2C:25-17 et seq.) or prevent any person from taking any action authorized pursuant to P.L.1987, c.116 (C.30:4-27.1 et seq.) based on the circumstances forming the basis of the petition.
A petitioner may apply for relief under this section in accordance with the Rules of Court.
If personal service cannot be effected upon the respondent, the court may order other appropriate substituted service. At no time shall a petitioner who is a family or household member be asked or required to serve any order on the respondent. The law enforcement agency serving the order shall not charge a fee or seek reimbursement from the petitioner for service of the order.
The law enforcement officer shall not be terminated during the pendency of the internal affairs investigation.
N.J.S. § 2C:58-23