Policy Text
Policy
200Buena Park Police Department
Buena Park PD Policy Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/12/01, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Buena Park Police DepartmentOrganizational Structure and Responsibility - 1Organizational Structure and Responsibility
200.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The organizational structure of this department is designed to create an efficient means to
accomplish our mission and goals and to provide for the best possible service to the public.
200.1.1 ACCREDITATION STANDARDS
This policy pertains to the following CALEA Standards: 11.1.1, 11.2.1, 11.3.1, 11.3.2, 12.1.1,
12.1.2, 12.1.3
200.2 DIVISIONS
The Chief of Police is responsible for administering and managing the Buena Park Police
Department. There are two divisions in the Police Department as follows:
•Support Services Division
•Operations Division
200.2.1 SUPPORT SERVICES DIVISION
The Support Services Division is commanded by a captain, whose primary responsibility is to
provide general management direction and control for that division. The Support Services Division
consists of:
(a)Investigations Bureau
(b)Property Unit
(c)Community Relations/Crime Prevention/Training Unit
(d)Forensic Services
(e)Records Bureau
(f)Communications Center
(g)Data Analysis
200.2.2 OPERATIONS DIVISION
The Operations Division is commanded by a captain, whose primary responsibility is to provide
general management direction and control for that division. The Operations Division consists of:
(a)Uniformed Patrol
(b)Traffic
(c)Special Operations Unit
(d)Community Impact Team
(e)Jail
(f)Reserve Police Officer Program
Buena Park Police Department
Buena Park PD Policy Manual
Organizational Structure and Responsibility
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/12/01, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Buena Park Police DepartmentOrganizational Structure and Responsibility - 2200.2.3 ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
The Department's organizational structure, including the rank and supervisory responsibilities of
all personnel within the Department, is clearly defined in the Department's organizational chart
available to all personnel on the Department website, Organizational Chart .
200.3 COMMAND PROTOCOL
Command protocol in situations involving personnel of different offices or sections engaging in a
single operation is as follows:
(a)The command structure always follows the chain of command.
(b)Whenever the command structure is not easily distinguishable by rank, responsibility
of command remains with the command officer having primary functional
responsibility.
(c)Whenever command structure is easily distinguishable by rank, but the command
officer having primary functional responsibility is of lower rank, the responsibility of
command remains with the highest-ranking officer.
(d)"Primary functional responsibility" means matters that fall within an officer's normal
responsibilities and duties.
200.3.1 SUCCESSION OF COMMAND
The Chief of Police exercises command over all personnel in the Department. During planned
absences the Chief of Police will designate a Division Commander to serve as the acting Chief
of Police.
Except when designated as above, the order of command authority in the absence or unavailability
of the Chief of Police is as follows:
(a)Operations Division Commander
(b)Support Services Division Commander
(c)Watch Commander
(d)Supervisor
200.3.2 UNITY OF COMMAND
The principles of unity of command ensure efficient supervision and control within the Department.
Generally, each employee shall be accountable to one supervisor at any time for a given
assignment or responsibility. Except where specifically delegated authority may exist by policy or
special assignment (e.g., K-9, SWAT), any supervisor may temporarily direct any subordinate if
an operational necessity exists.
200.3.3 ORDERS
Employees must promptly obey any lawful orders or directives of a supervisor. This includes orders
or directives from a superior that an employee of the same or lesser rank relays. If an employee
receives a conflicting order or directive, the employee must respectfully call the conflict to the
attention of the supervisor giving the last order. If the supervisor giving the last order does not
Buena Park Police Department
Buena Park PD Policy Manual
Organizational Structure and Responsibility
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/12/01, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Buena Park Police DepartmentOrganizational Structure and Responsibility - 3change the order, the employee must obey the last order and is not responsible for disobedience
of the first order.
200.3.4 UNLAWFUL ORDERS
Employees must never obey any order they know or should know would require them to commit
an illegal act. If they are in doubt about the legality of an order, employees must request the issuer
clarify it or confer with a higher authority.
Any employee who disobeys or disregards a supervisor's lawful order or directive, verbal or written,
is subject to disciplinary action.
200.4 AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY
Commanders, managers, and supervisors are responsible for the effective and efficient operation
of their assigned function and have the authority and duty to make decisions to fulfill their role.
200.4.1 RESPONSIBILITY AND COMMENSURATE AUTHORITY
It is Department policy that the latitude to make decisions and take the necessary actions to satisfy
the requirements of each assigned position is inherent in delegated authority. Commensurate with
the authority, each employee will accept responsibility for using, misusing or failing to use that
authority.
Responsibility shall be accompanied by commensurate authority as granted by California statutes,
the Buena Park