ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RECEIPT OF, AND COMPLIANCE WITH, STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES MANUAL I, the undersigned, acknowledge that I have received a copy of the Socorro Independent School District Police Department’s Standard Operating Procedures Manual. I understand that, as a condition of my employment, I am responsible for understanding and complying with the contents of this manual as well as with all other policies and procedures, laws, rules, and regulations issued by the Socorro Independent School District, the Police Department, and the State of Texas. (EMPLOYEE) (DATE) This signed form shall be retained in the employee’s Department personnel file. Copies will be maintained in the District’s personnel file and this manual. 1 Police Department Policy Manual Socorro ISD County-District No. 071-909 Development Date: August 2008 Effective the 2014-15 School year in compliance with Policy CKE(LOCAL), the Chief of Police and the Superintendent shall review the manual annually and make any appropriate revisions. The Board shall be notified of any revisions to the manual. Compliance Superintendent/Chief of Police Review: 03/16/2015 Board Notified of Revisions: 03/24/2015 2 MISSION STATEMENT It is the mission of the Socorro ISD Police Department to provide services with integrity and dedication, to preserve life, to enforce the law, and to work in partnership with the Socorro Independent School District, the City of El Paso, and other law enforcement agencies in order to enhance the quality of education and life in our community. 3 CORE VALUES We respect life: We hold the preservation of life as our sacred duty, our value of human life set our priorities. We revere the truth: We accept nothing less than truth, honesty, and integrity in our profession. We enforce the law: We recognize that our basic responsibility is to enforce the law. Our role is to resolve problems through the law, not to judge or punish. We seek community partnership: We view the people of our school district as partners who deserve our concern, care, and attention. We are committed to reducing the fear of crime in our schools and community. We endeavor to do this by creating partnerships in our schools and neighborhoods. We honor our police powers: We understand that our police powers are derived from the people we serve. We do not tolerate the abuse of our police authority. We conduct ourselves with dignity: We recognize that our personal conduct, both on and off duty, is inseparable from the professional reputation of the officer, the police department, and the school district. 4 DEFINITIONS CHAIN OF COMMAND The unbroken line of communication and authority from the Superintendent to the lowest ranking employee. CIVILIAN Any person other than a sworn officer in the Department. COMMISSIONED OFFICER Person who performs law enforcement duties in the field and possesses approved State of Texas commissions. DEPARTMENT The Socorro Independent School District Police Department. DIRECTIVES Written rules, regulations, orders or procedures. EMPLOYEE All personnel of the Department unless otherwise indicated. FIELD SUPERVISOR Person in a command capacity whom is responsible for the proper work performance of subordinates. GENDER Use of masculine gender also includes, where applicable, the female gender. INCOMPETENT Incapable of satisfactorily performing assigned duties. I.D. Identification INSPECTION Examination to ensure that appearance, uniforms, buildings, offices, equipment, duties, and operations conform to established standards. INSUBORDINATION Willful disobedience of any order lawfully issued. JUVENILE A person under 17 years of age. LINE OF DUTY Only those actions taken while in the lawful and proper discharge of duty. LINE OFFICER Person who performs enforcement/security duties in the field at the execution level. May be commissioned or non-commissioned. MALFEASANCE An act or instance of wrongdoing that is legally unjustified or contrary to law. MAY When used, the word may is permissive. MISFEASANCE The performance of a lawful action in an illegal or improper manner. NEGLECT OF DUTY A knowledgeable failure to perform assigned duties or to respond to a situation requiring appropriate action. NONFEASANCE Omission to do what should be done. OFF DUTY That period of time when not scheduled for duty. OFFICER Includes line, supervisory, and command personnel unless otherwise indicated. 5 ON DUTY That period of time when scheduled to perform official duties or when required to act in an official capacity while off duty. ORDER Instruction or directive, written or oral, issued by a supervisor to a subordinate or group of subordinates in the course of duty. PERSONNEL All employees of the Department unless otherwise indicated. POLICY A general oral or written statement which guides the Department and its employees in the direction of Department goals and objectives. PROBATIONARY EMPLOYEE A full-time employee who has not yet completed the trial phase of employment with this department. PROCEDURE Officially approved method of handling, responding to, or dealing with any given situation. May be enacted verbally, in writing, or by approved custom. RELIEVED OF DUTY Not permitted to perform any official duty. SHALL When used, shall is mandatory SHIFT SUPERVISOR Person in a command capacity that is responsible for the proper work performance of subordinates. SHOULD Highly recommended course of action. SUSPENSION An action placing an employee in a non-duty status for a period of time. TERMINATION The resignation, retirement, dismissal, or death of an employee 6 CHAPTER ONE GENERAL PROVISIONS 1.00 ESTABLISHMENT OF STANDARD GENERAL MANUAL The General Manual for the Socorro Independent School District (SISD) Police Department is hereby established and is hereafter referred to as “The General Manual” or the “Manual.” This manual is adopted pursuant to and subject to SISD Board Policies CKE (Legal) and (Local). It is also subject to applicable state and federal laws, and applicable Board policies of the Socorro Independent School District. 1.01 CONTENT OF GENERAL MANUAL The General Manual describes the organizational structure of the Department, projects the police purpose and sets forth policies and procedures in keeping with that purpose. 1.02 AUTHORITY OF MANUAL The General Manual is an official instrument of the SISD Police Department. All commissioned and non- commissioned employees are required to comply with the provisions of the General Manual unless by their nature, the provisions are inapplicable to the person’s position or assigned duties. All existing orders and regulations that are in conflict with the General Manual are hereby revoked. All, or portions of, existing orders and regulations which have not been included herein, and which do not conflict with the provisions of the General Manual, remain in effect. 1.03 VARIATION OF TERMS AND GENDER The definition of any term used in this manual applies to each grammatical variation and gender of that term. 1.04 NUMBERING SYSTEM A modified numerical decimal system is used to number each chapter, section, and subsection of the manual to provide quick reference to all or selected materials. 1.04.001 PROCEDURE Chapter and sub-topic or section, followed by procedure, designates the numbering system, for example: 5.08.003 would be Chapter 5, Section 8, etc., followed by numbers 1,2,3, in the accepted outline form. Exceptions are noted as such. 1.05 DISTRIBUTION OF MANUAL The SISD Police Department distributes the General Manual to all commissioned and non-commissioned officers and personnel and a record receipt by signature is maintained. 1.05.001 CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF THE MANUAL Each employee is responsible for the care and updating of the Manual. The Office of the Chief of Police will furnish revisions and additions and will maintain distribution records. Supervisors will periodically inspect the manual of each subordinate to ensure completeness. 7 1.05.002 CONTENTS OF MANUAL CONFIDENTIAL All employees are reminded that copies of the General Manual are solely concerned with policies and procedures of the SISD Police Department. The General Manual is not for distribution or use by any non- department employee without the express, written authority of the Chief of Police. 1.05.003 DISPOSITION OF MANUAL WHEN EMPLOYEE LEAVES DEPARTMENT Upon transfer, termination, resignation, or retirement, etc., from the Department, it is the employee’s responsibility to return the Manual to the Office of the Chief of Police. 1.05.004 LOST OR STOLEN MANUAL In cases of lost or stolen Manuals, appropriate documentation in the form of an Incident Report must be prepared. If the loss of the Manual is found to be due to employee negligence, the employee will purchase a Manual from the school district. The cost of the Manual will be $25.00 and the Office of the Chief of Police will retain records. 1.06 OPERATIONS MANUALS “Operations Manuals” may be developed for the implementation of the policies and procedures as set forth by the General Manual. Operations Manuals may be developed at the direction of Chief of Police for each division or section in the department. These manuals are to be extensions of the General Manual and do not conflict with the General Manual. 1.06.001 COORDINATION AND CONTROL OF OPERATIONS MANUALS Operations Manuals may be developed at the direction of the Chief of Police. Prior to approval by the Chief of Police, the manuals will be checked for conflict with the General Manual. The Office of the Chief of Police will handle printing and distribution of the Operations Manuals. 1.07 SUGGESTIONS FOR CHANGES AND CHANGES IN THE GENERAL MANUAL Department employees may submit suggestions for improvement to the provisions of the General Manual in the form of an inter-office memorandum, via the chain of command. These communications are forwarded to the Chief of Police for consideration. If approved, a notification of change will be issued by the Office of the Chief of Police to incorporate the change or revision into the field Manuals.