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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOMMAND 3.2C TEQUESTA POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDER TITLE: COMMAND AND CONTROL GENERAL ORDER: 3.2C EFFECTIVE: January 1, 2004 REVISES: G.O. 3.2 B PAGES: 4 CONTENTS: This order consists of the following numbered sections: I. COMMAND II. COMMAND SUCCESSION III. COMMAND PROTOCOL IV. CHAIN OF COMMAND V. OBEDIENCE TO ORDERS VI. STAFF MEETINGS VII. GLOSSARY PURPOSE: This order delineates the authority of the Chief of Police and provides agency command and supervisory guidelines. SCOPE: This order applies to all Police Department members. DISCUSSION: To accomplish agency goals and objectives established by the Chief, each member must be aware of the organizational structure and command authority within the Police Department, and their relative position in the organization. The Chief is designated as having the authority and responsibility for the management, direction, and control of the operations and administration of the agency. POLICY: The Chief has authority over all members and components of the agency consistent with the laws and constitution of the State of Florida and the ordinances of the Village of Tequesta. PROCEDURE: I. COMMAND: The Chief appoints staff as necessary to assist in the exercise of command. Subordinates may be appointed to supervise divisions within the agency. A. Supervisor Authority: All supervisors are granted sufficient authority to perform the tasks delegated to them effectively, and direct their subordinates. This authority is extended to acting supervisors during their assignment. B. Member Authority: Each member has the authority to make those decisions that are commensurate with their position and necessary for the execution of assigned duties and responsibilities. C. Accountability: The Chief may delegate authority but retains control of all tasks and duties. Each supervisor is accountable for the performance of members under his or her immediate supervision. Each 1 G.O. 3.2C member is accountable for the effective and efficient execution of assigned duties and the use or failure to use the Chief’s authority delegated to them. II. COMMAND SUCCESSION: During the planned absence of the Chief of Police, the chief will identify the individual who will assume all the duties and responsibilities of the Office with the exception of discipline involving suspension, demotion or dismissal. Emergency suspension is authorized when it is in the best interest of the Department. To ensure continuity of command and make certain there is timely leadership available in situations when the Chief is unavailable (unplanned absences), incapacitated, or otherwise unable to act, command automatically succeeds in the following order, unless otherwise directed by the Chief: A. Support Services Commander B. OperationsCommander C. Senior Road Patrol Supervisor D. Senior Corporal E. Detective F. Senior Patrolman III. COMMAND PROTOCOL: Police Department supervisors follow the principle of unity of command-- each member will be accountable to only one supervisor at a given time. A. Incident Command: Only one person will be in complete command of each situation. Individual members or units assisting will operate within the procedures established for their own division. B. Incidents Involving More Than One Division and/or Shift: Whenever the Department engages in an operation involving more than one Division and/or more than one shift, the overall command of the operation will be assigned to the supervisor of the Division initiating the event unless otherwise directed by the Commander of the Division involved or the Chief of Police. C. Assuming Command--Senior Rank: 1. To take full command of any situation, the member of senior rank must identify himself/herself to the member then in charge and announce the intention to assume command. 2. Assuming command will be undertaken only when a situation appears to be beyond the control of the member in charge, or if ordered to assume command by another member of senior rank. D. Assuming Command--Junior Rank: 1. Any member of junior rank may take command of a situation by identifying himself/ herself to the member then in charge and announce the intention to assume command. 2. A junior rank member shall assume command only when the member in command is unable to perform the duties due to some physical or mental condition. 3. The junior member shall document the incident in memorandum form and, as soon as possible, submit the memorandum to the Chief of Police. E. Command by Non-Supervisory Members: Whenever more than one member is present at an incident scene and a supervisor is not present; the member originally dispatched or assigned shall be in charge unless specifically relieved. 2 G.O. 3.2C IV. CHAIN OF COMMAND: The chain of command is a formal management structure where direction and communication is passed downward and upward. Its purpose is to assure formal communications are disseminated throughout all levels of the organization and therefore must be rigorously followed. A. Breaking the Chain of Command: Breaking the chain of command is permitted only in certain situations such as: 1. When a subordinate has probable cause to believe that a supervisor is involved in unlawful conduct or has violated agency general orders or division procedures. 2. When a subordinate reasonably believes that he or she has been given an unlawful order. B. Circumventing the Chain of Command: Under normal circumstances, the subordinate must request permission from his or her immediate supervisor to circumvent the chain of command. Upon receipt of a written or oral request of a subordinate, the immediate supervisor will accept the request and pass it along to the next level of command for disposition. C. Informal Communication: Informal communication is encouraged among all members to facilitate agency progress and growth. Members shall not use informal communications to undermine supervisory authority. V. OBEDIENCE TO ORDERS: Members shall promptly obey all lawful orders issued by a superior or other competent authority. This includes orders relayed from a superior by a member of the same or lesser rank. A. Unlawful Orders: No member shall obey an order that is contrary to law. 1. No member shall be disciplined for refusing to obey an unlawful order. 2. A member who receives such an unlawful order shall report the circumstances in writing, via chain of command, to the appropriate supervisor as soon as possible. B. Conflicting Orders: A subordinate given a lawful order, which conflicts with a previous order, shall advise the person issuing the second order of this fact. Responsibility for countermanding the original order then rests with the person issuing the second order. If then so directed, the subordinate shall obey the second order. The member shall not be held accountable for disobeying the original order. C. Unjust or Improper Orders: Members receiving lawful orders that they feel are unjust or contrary to agency directives, shall first obey the order to the best of their ability, then report the circumstances in writing, via chain of command, to the Chief. D. Unclear Orders: Members in doubt as to the nature, meaning, or details of a lawful order shall seek clarification from the person issuing the order. VI. STAFF MEETINGS: Properly facilitated participatory meetings of Police Department supervisors are to be held on a regular basis. A. Line supervisors shall ensure this information becomes a part of the daily operational briefing with their members. VII. GLOSSARY: ACTING - Temporarily serving in a position, to which a member is assigned by competent authority. All the authority, responsibilities, and duties of the position to which a member is assigned an acting capacity will then be acquired by the member for the duration of the assignment. AUTHORITY - The right to command and enforce obedience, the right to act officially. 3 G.O. 3.2C CHAIN OF COMMAND - The unbroken line of authority extending from the Chief through a single subordinate at each level of authority, to the level of execution and return. INFORMALCOMMUNICATION-communication that is casual in nature. (It shall not be used to circumvent or undermine supervisory authority). UNITY OF COMMAND - The concept that each individual in the organization has only one immediate supervisor. INDEXING: CHAIN OF COMMAND COMMAND AND CONTROL STAFF MEETINGS SUPERVISION DRAFTED: DJR/December 12, 2003/Filed: Commnd3.2C APPROVED: Pete Pitocchelli, Chief DATE: November 05, 2011 Tequesta, Florida 4