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SECTION: 201 GENERAL CONDUCT

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SECTION:       201

TITLE: GENERAL CONDUCT

EFFECTIVE DATE:  February 15, 2017

 

 

PURPOSE:

 

This policy establishes general conduct expected of each employee. Rules of conduct will govern the official and unofficial actions of all employees. A violation of the Rules of Conduct may be sufficient cause for disciplinary actions.

 

  1. Employees will obey all laws of the United States of America, the State

of Louisiana and of any state and local jurisdiction in which the employee is present. A conviction of violation of any law will also be a violation of this section.

 

Employees who know of or observe violations of laws, ordinances, rules of

conduct, or official orders on the part of other Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office

employees will report such incidents at once to the section head. Employees who            believe they possess information of such gravity that it must be brought to the

immediate personal attention of the Sheriff may do so. An employee will not

make a knowingly false complaint against any other employee.

 

  1. IMMORAL CONDUCT:

 

Employees will maintain a high level of moral conduct in

their personal and business affairs which equates with the high ethical standards

expected by the public of law enforcement agencies, and which will not impair their ability to perform as a law enforcement officer.

 

  1. ABUSE OF POSITION:

           

Employees will not use their official position, official identification cards, or badges for:

 

  • Personal or financial gain.
  • Obtaining privileges not otherwise available to them except in the performance of duty.
  • Avoiding consequences of illegal acts.

 

Employees will not lend to another person their identification cards, badges, or permit them to photographed or reproduced without the approval of the Sheriff. Employees will not authorize the use of their names, photographs, or official titles, which identify them as employees in connection with testimonials, or advertisements of any commodity or commercial enterprise without the consent of the Sheriff.

 

Employees will take no part, either directly or indirectly, in sales promotions, solicitations, fund raising campaigns, or similar activities while representing themselves as employees of the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office, without the prior approval of the Sheriff. The Sheriff may approve certain non-political community service activities when there is no profit to the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office, or to the employee.

 

  1. UNSATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE:

 

Employees will maintain sufficient competency to properly perform their duties and assume the responsibilities of their positions. Examples of unsatisfactory performance may be demonstrated by (but not limited to):

 

  • A lack of knowledge of the application of laws required to be enforced.
  • An unwillingness or inability to perform assigned tasks.
  • Failure to take appropriate action on the occasion of a crime, disorder, or other condition deserving police attention.

 

  1. OBEDIENCE TO ORDERS:

 

Employees will promptly obey any lawful order of a supervisory employee, including any order relayed from a supervisor by an employee of the same or lesser rank.

 

Employees who are given an otherwise proper order, but which conflicts with a previous directive, will inform the supervisor issuing the order of the conflict. If the supervisor issuing the order does not alter or retract the conflicting order, the order will stand. Under these circumstances, the supervisor will hold responsibility for the conflict. The employee will obey the conflicting order and will not be held responsible for disobedience of the previously issued lawful directive.

 

Employees will not obey any order which they know or should know would require them to commit any illegal act. If in doubt about the legality of an order, employees will request the issuing supervisor to clarify the order or to confer with higher authority via Chain of Command.

 

  1. INSUBORDIANTION AND DISTRESPECT:

 

Employees will willingly submit to reasonable and legal authority and will not disregard the expressed or implied lawful directions of a supervisor.

 

Employees will not, through gestures of defamatory statements, show disrespect to a supervisor or to any other employee.

 

 

 

 

  1. TREATMENT OF PERSONS IN THE PERFORMANCE OF DUTY:

 

Employee will be courteous to the public and to other employees. Employees will be tactful in the performance of their duties, must control their tempers, will exercise the utmost patience and discretion, and will not engage in argumentative discussions even in the face of extreme provocation. In the performance of their duties, employees will not use unnecessary abusive language or gestures and will not express any prejudice concerning race, sex, religion, or national origin.

 

  1. NEGLECT OF DUTY:

 

Employee will not engage in any activity or personal business that would cause them to neglect or be inattentive to duty including sleeping. Employees who are unable to stay awake will report to their supervisor who will determine the proper course of action.

 

  1. FAILURE TO SECURE/MAINTAIN EVANGELINE PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE PROPERTY:

 

Employees will not alter or repair Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office equipment including vehicles, uniforms, and weapons unless specifically authorized or in accordance with Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office Procedure. Employee will use Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office equipment only for its intended purpose in accordance with established Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office procedures, and will not abuse, damage, or lose Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office equipment. All equipment issued to employees will be maintained in proper condition. Employees will report damage to or loss of any Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office equipment according the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office policy.

 

  1. REPORTS:

 

Employees will submit all necessary reports on time and in accordance with established Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office procedures. Reports submitted by employees will be truthful and complete. No employee will knowingly enter or cause to be entered any inaccurate, false, or improper information.

 

  1. USE OR POSSESSION OF IMPAIRING SUBSTANCES:

 

Employees in uniform or on duty will have no blood alcohol nor be impaired by any substance introduced into their body, except in the performance of duty under proper and specific orders from a supervisor. Employees are prohibited from consuming and intoxicating substance within eight hours of report for duty.

 

Employees taking physician-prescribed or other medication that may impair job performance will notify their lead supervisor. Employees will not store or posses alcoholic beverages, controlled substances or hallucinogens in any police facility or vehicle, except those held as evidence, legally prescribed, or use performance of duty under proper and specific orders from a supervisor.

 

  1. NON-PROFESSIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTACTS:

 

Employees will report any non-professional contact with another law enforcement agency, including any criminal or traffic violations and dispositions, through the Chain of Command to the Sheriff as soon as possible.

 

Employees who are under investigation, or who are aware of another employee being under investigation, by any law enforcement agency other than the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office will submit to the Sheriff a written report within 24 hours of obtaining such knowledge.

 

  1. ACCESSIBILITY, AVAILABILITY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY:

 

Full-time permanent employees will have a telephone in their residence or primary cellular telephone and will immediately report any change of telephone number or address to their supervisor and other appropriate persons.

 

Employees will not be absent from duty without proper authorization. Employees will promptly notify and coordinate their appropriate supervisor any anticipated absences.

 

Employees will report for all duty assignments, including court and grand jury appearances, at the time and place required by the assignment, orders, or subpoena, and will be physically and mentally prepared and properly equipped  to perform their duties.

 

Deputies will not leave their assigned duty posts while on duty except when authorized by higher authority or properly relieved.

 

  1. FIT FOR DUTY RELEASE:

 

        Any deputy, who has been out for extended medical leave, shall have the attending doctor for their medical condition; complete the departmental "Fit for Duty" release prior to returning to work. No deputy on extended medical leave shall return to duty without said release.

 

  1. CONFIDENTIALITY AND RELEASE OF INFORMATION:

 

            Employees will treat the official business of the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office

            as strictly confidential. Information regarding official business will be released

   only to those for whom it is intended and in accordance with established    Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office procedure. Employees may remove or copy official records or reports only in accordance with established Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office procedures. Employees will not divulge the identity of persons giving confidential information to the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office except as authorized by the Sheriff.

 

 

  1. GIFTS, GRATUITIES, BRIBES, AND REWARDS:

 

   Employees will not use their position, badge, or uniform to solicit or accept gifts or gratuities that could be interpreted as capable of influencing their judgment in the discharge of duties or would reflect favoritism by the employee of the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office towards any particular person, group, or business. These could include money, tangible, or intangible personal property, food, beverages, loans, promises, services, or entertainment.

 

  1. ENDORSEMENT, REFERRALS, AND OPINIONS:

 

Employees will not recommend or suggest to the public in any manner, except in the transaction of personal business, the employment or procurement of a particular product, professional service or commercial service. When towing service is necessary and the person needing the service is unable or unwilling to procure it or requests assistance, employees will proceed in accordance with established Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office procedures.

 

  1. MEALS ON-DUTY

 

Deputies will be permitted to suspend patrol or other assigned activity, subject to immediate recall at any time, for the purpose of having meals during their hours of duty, but only for such periods of time and at such authorized places, as established.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In regards to: All Rules, Regulations, Policy & Procedures and Special Orders are at the discretion of the Sheriff based on departmental need and the severity of the infraction.