Los Angeles Park Ranger's Manual
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Los Angeles Park Rangers Policy Manual PREFACE The Policies and Procedures Manual contains the operational orders established by the Chief Park Ranger to maintain the safety of City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, Park Ranger Division (hereinafter referred to as the Park Ranger Division) employees as we provide public safety and law enforcement services to employees, businesses, and the park patrons of the City of Los Angeles. These policies reflect our commitment to service, and affirm our organizational values of "Integrity, Service, and Excellence." Each of us has an obligation to become familiar with the Policy Manual, to abide by its policies, and to ensure that our individual comportment reflects the Park Ranger Division’s Core Values and Mission Statement, and the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics, all of which are incorporated into the manual. Written policies and procedures are necessary to clearly define our agency's positions, as well as to provide guidelines under which our personnel can make administrative, investigative, and operational judgments. However, no written guidance can anticipate the entire range of human behaviors that Park Rangers might encounter, nor can every contingency be predicted: the Policy Manual is not, therefore, a substitute for critical thinking and good judgment. We are all expected to follow policy, but occasionally, given the complex and nuanced nature of law enforcement work, we may need clarification from a supervisor as to how to interpret the manual in a specific situation. In any situation, we are expected to use our best professional judgment and our basic human decency to guide our actions. These policies shall remain in effect as issued; in the event of conflict with previously written directives, training bulletins, or standard operating procedures, the policies contained herein shall assume precedence. Recognition of errors or deficiencies in the intent or text of these policies and procedures shall be reported in writing to the office of the Chief Park Ranger, via the chain of command, for appropriate disposition. Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2019/10/05, All Rights Reserved. Preface - 1 Published with permission by Los Angeles Park Rangers Los Angeles Park Rangers Policy Manual AGENCY MOTTO “To Protect and Preserve” Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2019/10/05, All Rights Reserved. Agency Motto - 2 Published with permission by Los Angeles Park Rangers Los Angeles Park Rangers Policy Manual MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Park Ranger Division is to enrich the lives of the residents of Los Angeles by providing safe, welcoming parks and recreation facilities for people of all ages to play, learn, contemplate, build community, and be good stewards of our environment. Park Rangers, through careful efforts, protect those who are using the parks, and protect park resources so that future generations may enjoy them. Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2019/10/05, All Rights Reserved. Mission Statement - 3 Published with permission by Los Angeles Park Rangers Los Angeles Park Rangers Policy Manual CORE VALUES Integrity We will uphold the Peace Officer’s Code of Ethics and do what is right. • Respect • We treat everyone without bias, favoritism, or prejudice. • Honesty • We do not cheat, lie, or steal, nor tolerate it among us. • Courage • We have moral courage, and do what is right even if the personal cost is high. • Teamwork • We respect individual opinion while working toward a common goal. • Accountability • We take ownership in what we do, and do the job right. Service Park Ranger professional duties and responsibilities take precedence over personal desires: Park Rangers will make personal sacrifices in order to assist fellow employees, park patrons, and the community. Excellence Park Rangers will do the best possible job at all times. We have a passion for continuous knowledge, improvement, and innovation, and understand that we only achieve excellence when the members of the Park Ranger Division work together to reach common goals. Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2019/10/05, All Rights Reserved. Core Values - 4 Published with permission by Los Angeles Park Rangers Los Angeles Park Rangers Policy Manual VISION STATEMENT The City of Los Angeles Park Rangers will be an exemplary Park Ranger agency built on a foundation of integrity and public service, as well as the preservation, conservation, and stewardship of our public lands. We will work with the community to make our parks and open spaces safe and enjoyable for all. We will strive for excellence by providing Park Rangers with the best training, resources, and leadership, in furtherance of this goal. Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2019/10/05, All Rights Reserved. Vision Statement - 5 Published with permission by Los Angeles Park Rangers Los Angeles Park Rangers Policy Manual LAW ENFORCEMENT CODE OF ETHICS To ensure that all peace officers are fully aware of their individual responsibilities to maintain their own integrity and that of their agency, every peace officer, during basic training, or at the time of appointment, shall be administered the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics, as prescribed in Bureau 1013 of the California POST Regulations. Code of Ethics: As a Law Enforcement Officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the Constitutional rights of all men to liberty, equality and justice. I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all; maintain courageous calm in the face of danger, scorn, or ridicule; develop self-restraint; and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others. Honest in thought and deed in both my personal and official life, I will be exemplary in obeying the laws of the land and the regulations of my department. Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature or that is confided to me in my official capacity will be kept ever secret unless revelation is necessary in the performance of my duty. I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, animosities, or friendships to influence my decisions. With no compromise for crime and with relentless prosecution of criminals, I will enforce the law courteously and appropriately without fear or favor, malice or ill will, never employing unnecessary force or violence and never accepting gratuities. I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of the police service. I will constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself before God* to my chosen profession...law enforcement. Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2019/10/05, All Rights Reserved. Law Enforcement Code of Ethics - 6 Published with permission by Los Angeles Park Rangers Los Angeles Park Rangers Policy Manual Table of Contents Preface . 1 Agency Motto . 2 Mission Statement . 3 Core Values . 4 Vision Statement . 5 Law Enforcement Code of Ethics . 6 Chapter 1 - Law Enforcement Role and Authority . 12 100 - Law Enforcement Authority . 13 101 - Chief Executive Officer . 17 102 - Oath of Office . 18 103 - Policy Manual . 19 Chapter 2 - Organization and Administration . 22 200 - Organizational Structure and Responsibility . 23 201 - General Orders . 26 202 - Emergency Management Plan . 27 203 - Training Policy . 28 204 - Electronic Mail . 31 205 - Administrative Communications . 33 206 - Staffing Levels . 35 Chapter 3 - General Operations . 36 300 - Use of Force . 37 301 - Use of Force Review Boards . 48 302 - Handcuffing and Restraints . 51 303 - Control Devices and Techniques . 55 304 - Officer-Involved Shootings and Deaths . 57 306 - Park Ranger Response to Calls . 66 307 - Domestic Violence . 69 308 - Search and Seizure . 76 309 - Temporary Custody of Juveniles . 78 310 - Adult Abuse . 89 311 - Discriminatory Harassment . 99 312 - Child Abuse . 105 313 - Missing Persons . 113 314 - Public Alerts . 119 315 - Victim and Witness Assistance . 124 316 - Hate Crimes . 127 Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2019/10/05, All Rights Reserved. Table of Contents - 7 Published with permission by Los Angeles Park Rangers Los Angeles Park Rangers Policy Manual 317 - Standards of Conduct . 131 318 - Information Technology Use . 138 319 - Park Ranger Division Use of Social Media . 142 320 - Report Preparation . 145 321 - Media Relations . 150 322 - Subpoenas and Court Appearances . 153 323 - Outside Agency Assistance . 156 324 - Registered Offender Information . 158 325 - Major Incident Notification . 161 326 - Death Investigation . 163 327 - Identity Theft . 166 328 - Communications with Persons with Disabilities . 167 329 - Private Persons Arrests . 175 330 - Anti-Reproductive Rights Crimes Reporting . 177 331 - Limited English Proficiency Services . 178 332 - Mandatory Employer Notification . 186 333 - Biological Samples . 188 334 - Public Safety Video Surveillance System . 191 335 - Child and Dependent Adult Safety . 195 336 - Service Animals . 199 337 - Volunteer Program . 202 338 - Off-Duty Law Enforcement Actions . 208 339 - Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation . 210 Chapter 4 - Patrol Operations . 212 400 - Patrol Function . 213 401 - Bias-Based Policing . 215 402 - Roll Call Training . 219 403 - Crime and Disaster Scene Integrity . 220 404 - Ride-Along Policy . 222 405 - Hazardous Material Response . 225 406 - Hostage and Barricade Incidents . 227 407 - Response to Bomb Calls . 232 408 - Crisis Intervention