SECTION: 200 PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND RESPONSIBILITIES

SECTION:       200

TITLE: PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND                          RESPONSIBILITIES

EFFECTIVE DATE:  February 15, 2017

 

PURPOSE:

 

This policy establishes professional conduct and general responsibilities expected of each employee.

 

POLICY:

 

The employees of the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Department acknowledge the need for authority and commensurate responsibility. Authority permits the imposition of sanctions in enforcing rules and procedures imposed upon the employees of the department. It shall be the command staff's responsibility to ensure the fair, impartial, and judicious enforcement of departmental policies.

 

PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT:

 

1. Employees shall practice professionalism, loyalty, cooperation, assistance and courtesy toward other employees.

 

1. Employees shall not, under any circumstance, solicit any gift, gratuity, loan or fee where there is any direct or indirect connection between the solicitation and their departmental membership or employment, except as authorized by the Sheriff. Under no circumstances shall any employee accept anything go of value when the offer of said item is made in an attempt to influence directly or indirectly any departmental decision or official action of the employee.

 

1. If an employee receives a bribe offer, he shall immediately make a written report to his division commander.

 

1. Employees shall not use their official position or identification to solicit special privileges for themselves or others, such as free admission to places or discounts on purchases.

 

1. Employees shall not give testimonials or permit their names or photographs to be used for commercial advertising purposes.

 

1. Employees shall not criticize or ridicule the department or its policies, government officials or other employees by speech, writing or other expression. This includes, but not limited to, expressions which are defamatory, obscene, and unlawful, undermine the effectiveness of the department, interfere with the maintenance of the discipline or made with reckless disregard for truth.

 

1. Employees shall not perform any actions which disrupt the performance of official duties or which tend to interfere with reasonable supervision and discipline.

 

1. Employees who have become the subject of a citation, an arrest action, or who are suspected of having committed an offense in any agencies jurisdiction, shall immediately notify, through the chain of command, the Sheriff.

 

1. Orders from supervisory or command officer shall be clear, concise and understandable. Orders shall be given in a civil tone and in the pursuit of departmental business. No supervisor or command officer shall knowingly or willfully issue an order that violates a Federal, State, or Local Law or a departmental policy.

 

1. Employees shall obey lawful order(s) of a superior.

 

1. Upon receipt of a conflicting order, the employee receiving the order shall notify his immediate supervisor of the conflicting order and shall await direction by his immediate supervisor.

 

1. Upon receipt of a perceived unjust or improper order, the receiving employee shall obey the order to the best of his ability within the limits of the law and then report the order through the proper chain of command. No employee shall obey an order that is contrary to Federal, State, or City law.

 

1. Employees shall not publicly criticize or ridicule any instruction or order they receive, nor shall they criticize or ridicule the supervisor issuing the order or instruction.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

 

All deputies shall, at all items while on duty, take appropriate law enforcement action to:

 

1. Protect life and property

 

2. Preserve peace

 

3. Prevent Crime

 

4. Detect and arrest law violators

 

5. Enforce all laws within their jurisdiction

 

 

Deputies assigned to specialized duties shall not be relieved from taking proper action even if outside the scope of their specialized assignment.

 

Employees not obeying lawful orders by supervisors shall be deemed insubordinate and shall be handled through disciplinary action.

 

ATTENTION TO DUTY

 

1. Employees shall be attentive to their duties at all times and shall perform all duties assigned.

 

2. All employees shall abide by the Policy & Procedure Manual of this

Department. Employees shall report any violations to their immediate supervisor without delay. When possible, they will actively prevent such violations or interrupt them as necessary to ensure efficient, orderly operations.

 

3. Employees whether on or off duty shall follow the ordinary and reasonable

Rules of good conduct and behavior.

 

4. Employees shall respect the rights of individuals and shall not engage in

Discrimination, oppression, or favoritism. Employees shall maintain a strictly impartial attitude towards complainants and violators. Employees shall at all times be courteous to the general public.  Courteous is defined herein as marked with respect for and consideration of others.

 

5. Employees shall not knowingly make false or untrue statements.

 

6. While on duty, employees shall not conceal themselves except in the course of undercover investigations. Employees shall keep themselves immediately and readily available.

 

7. While on duty, deputies shall respond without delay to all calls for police service. Calls shall be answered in compliance with normal safety precautions and traffic laws.

 

8. Employees shall promptly report and shall not attempt to distort the facts of any crimes, violations, emergencies, incidents, hazardous situations and police information that come to their attention.

 

9. Employees shall not communicate in any manner, directly or indirectly, any information that may delay an arrest or enable persons who committed criminal acts to escape arrest or punishment, dispose of property or goods obtained illegally or destroys evidence of unlawful activity.

 

10. Employees shall report the following to their supervisor immediately.

 

1. All accidents involving department vehicles in which they are assigned.
2. All personal injuries received in the line of duty.
3. All personal injuries not received in the line of duty, but may interfere with the performance of a deputy's duties.
4. All property damage or injuries to other persons that resulted from the performance of their duties.

 

IDENTIFICATION AND RECOGNITION

 

Deputies, upon request from any person, shall supply said person with his name, employee number (RCN) and the name of his immediate supervisor. If the duty assignment is that of an undercover operation, and the information requested will jeopardize the operation, the deputy shall be excused from supplying the information.

 

Deputies shall carry their official information on their person at all times.

                          

COOPERATION WITH FELLOW EMPLOYEES AND AGENCIES

 

1. Employees shall treat other employees of the department with respect. They

shall not use threatening or insulting language.

 

2. Deputies shall cooperate, support and assist each other, as well as other law

enforcement agencies, whenever possible.

 

3. Employees shall not intentionally interfere with cases assigned to others.

 

4. Employees shall not intentionally or adversely interfere with the operations of

     any other agency or the work or operations of other governmental agencies.

 

5. Employees shall cooperate with all governmental agencies by providing

     whatever aid or information such agencies are entitled to receive.

 

REPORT TO SUPERVISORS

 

1. Every employee shall seek to protect the integrity of the department.

 

1. Employees shall immediately report to their supervisor knowledge of any

unusual activity, situations or problems which involve the duty of the department to uphold the law, keep the peace or protect lives and property.

 

1. Employees shall immediately notify their supervisor of any violation of any

Federal, State, or Local Law to have been committed by another employee.

 

CONVICTION OF CRIMINAL OFFENSE

 

Any deputy convicted of a criminal offense, shall be reviewed for his employment status with the department. Convictions of criminal offenses may result in dismissal of the employee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.