Sheriff’s Department Manual

1 Sheriff s Department Manual San Bernardino county Sheriff s Department | ii Sheriff s Department ManualTable of Contents Volume 1 Philosophy and Organization 1 Volume 2 Administration and Management 173 Volume 3 Field Operations and Activities 408 Volume 4 Property and Evidence 745 Volume 5 Uniforms 802 Volume 6 Volunteer Units and Members 919 Note: Please see the Comprehensive Table of Contents for a detailed listing of all Department Manual sections. Sheriff s Department Manual San Bernardino county Sheriff s Department | 1 Volume 1 Philosophy and Organization Department Philosophy The motto, "Dedicated to Your Safety," states the essential purpose of the San Bernardino county Sheriff's Department . Dedicated means being devoted to a cause, to an ideal, or to a purpose, committed to a goal, or to a way of life.

2 The Department is dedicated to protect the right of all persons within its jurisdiction to be free from criminal attack, to be secure in their possessions, and to live in peace. We, the members of the Department , stand ready to serve the people of San Bernardino county by performing the law enforcement function in a professional manner, as it is to these people that the Department is ultimately responsible. Department Vision Statement We believe in being a high performance, inclusive Department with high professional standards of integrity, ethics, and behavior guided by the letter and the spirit of the law, and the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics. We will relentlessly investigate Sheriff s Department Manual San Bernardino county Sheriff s Department | 2 criminal acts and arrest those guilty of violating the law, while building positive relationships with those we serve.

3 This requires each of us to: o Treat all people with respect, fairness and compassion; Value each employee s and citizen s contribution to the Department and the community regardless of position, assignment or role; o Create a work environment that encourages innovation, input and participation, and values each member s diversity; o Work in a partnership with each other and the community to reach an environment where we are all accountable and responsible to one another. Department Value Statement We believe in strong, effective law enforcement services. We believe in high professional standards of integrity, ethics and behavior guided by the letter and spirit of the law, and the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics. o We believe in a balance between personal and professional life.

4 O We believe in attaining and maintaining excellent physical conditioning, current intellectual competence, and optimum mental health. o We have a personal and professional commitment to improve our communities and Sheriff s Department Manual San Bernardino county Sheriff s Department | 3 earn their trust, respect and support through active partnerships, involvement and service. o We believe we should treat all people with respect, fairness, and compassion. o We believe in loyalty and support for each other and the community without compromise of the high ethical standards of law enforcement. o We believe in recognition for, and valuing each individual s contribution to the Department and the community regardless of position, assignment or role. o We believe in open and honest communications, both internal and external.

5 O We believe in an empowering work environment that encourages innovation, input and participation, and values each member s diversity. o We believe in all members working together to achieve Departmental goals through partnership with each other and the community. o We believe in initiative and autonomy at all levels with responsibility for our own actions and the actions of those we lead and influence. o We believe in an equitable system that evaluates each person on their merits and provides for appropriate recognition and just sanctions. We have pride in the law enforcement profession with a productive work ethic and a high level of commitment to the Department and the community. Equal Employment Opportunity It is the policy of the Department and the San Bernardino county Board of Supervisors to be fair and impartial in all its relations with its employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, sex, age, Sheriff s Department Manual San Bernardino county Sheriff s Department | 4 national origin, ancestry, or physical and mental handicap.

6 This positive commitment shall be supported by a San Bernardino county Equal Employment Opportunity Plan to ensure equal employment opportunity for all in both securing county employment and in promotional opportunities at all job levels. Objectives of Equal Employment Opportunity The general objectives of the Equal Employment Opportunity Plan are: o To establish and maintain employment levels for minorities, women, and other protected groups in proportion at least equal to their availability in the county labor force. o To take such Equal Employment Opportunity as is necessary to distribute this employment representation throughout job classes in the Department . o To make efforts to eliminate and prevent occurrence of arbitrary, unnecessary, and o artificial practices which relate to employment or promotion within the Department .

7 O To make efforts to upgrade and fully utilize existing women and minority resources within the Department . o To communicate the Department s Equal Employment Opportunity policy and activities into the community. o To develop organizational strength from within the Department to actively monitor and enforce the Equal Employment Opportunity Program. Interpreter Services All persons who are non-English-speaking or have limited-English proficiency ( LEP ) that limits communication shall be provided equal access to services and information. All members are Sheriff s Department Manual San Bernardino county Sheriff s Department | 5 responsible for ensuring the public is treated with dignity and respect, identifying language needs of the public. Members shall utilize available resources to assist members of the public when needed.

8 Effective communication with persons who are non-English speaking or LEP shall be achieved through available bilingual staff, translated written materials, or contracted interpreter/translation services, which can be accessed through the Sheriff s Dispatch Centers. Members shall request bilingual staff or translator when necessary to ensure effective communication. If an appropriate bilingual staff member is not available, members shall seek the assistance of contracted interpreter/translation services via the Sheriff s Dispatch Centers. Members shall not interpret or act as an interpreter between members of the public having confidential legal communications between their attorney or attorney representative. The Law Enforcement Mission The basic law enforcement task is the prevention of crime.

9 As this basic function is not performed completely, the Department must respond by taking all necessary steps to assure the identification, detection, and apprehension of the perpetrators. In addition, steps must be taken to recover stolen property. These tasks of identification, detection, apprehension of the perpetrators, and recovery of property represent the primary elements of criminal investigations. In accomplishing these duties, the deputy conducting the investigation must Sheriff s Department Manual San Bernardino county Sheriff s Department | 6 gather all available information, some of which may later be used as evidence in a court of law. Decisions in law enforcement operations frequently must be made in an instant, and the lives of deputies and others may depend upon the quality of those decisions.

10 A deputy is confronted in stress situations with both criminal and non-criminal behavior, and he must be capable of making a reasonable response in both cases. A deputy must base his conduct and action in each instance upon the facts of the situation as they reasonably appear, relying upon his experience, training, and judgment to guide him toward morally justified and lawful decisions and actions. What is reasonable in terms of appropriate law enforcement action or what constitutes probable cause depends on the individual circumstances of each situation, and different facts may justify either an investigation, a detention, a search, an arrest, or no action at all. The requirement that legal justification be present imposes a limitation on a deputy's action.