Policy Text
CONCORD POLICE DEPARTMENT
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE
SWORN SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS
GENERAL ORDER: 10.01 CREATED: November 11, 2020 ISSUE DATE: December 12, 2024
CALEA STANDARD: EFFECTIVE DATE: December 12, 2024
ACTION: Amends general order dated October 1, 2022.
10.01.0 PURPOSE
The purpose of this general order is to establish a standard method by which special
assignments are advertised; the method by which coworkers apply and compete for special
assignments; and the length of time a coworker may serve in such assignments.
10.01.1 POLICY
It shall be the policy of Concord Police Department to use special assignments as a means to
provide officers with professional development opportunities consistent with the strategic
objective of making officers as well-rounded and highly trained as practicable. Further, it shall
be the policy of the department to ensure a fair, consistent, transparent, and equitable
process for assigning officers to special assignments.
10.01.2 DEFINITIONS
A. SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT
A full-time assignment advertised via a posting, and for which an officer must apply and
go through a competitive selection process. Special assignments, and the policy set forth
herein, apply to officers up to and including the rank of Police Sergeant.
B. TEMPORARY DUTY ASSIGNMENT
An assignment for a limited period of time that may or may not be advertised via a
posting, and for which an application and/or competitive selection process may or may not
be held.
10.01.3 SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS
A. EXAMPLES
The following list is not all -inclusive, and based upon changes to the department’s
organizational structure new special assignments may be created and existing special
assignments may be eliminated:
1. School Resource Officer
2. Airport Unit
General Order 10.01 SWORN SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS Page 2 of 4
3. Motorcycle Patrol
4. K-9 Handler
5. Criminal Investigations Division
6. Special Operations Division
7. Accreditation Unit
8. Training Unit
9. Planning and Logistics Unit
10. Recruiting Unit
B. POSTING
The Chief of Police shall publish a posting for any special assignment vacancy or
anticipated vacancy. Such posting shall generally include eligibility requirements,
assignment duties and responsibilities, preferred characteristics, application deadline,
and directions to provide supporting documentation (i.e., resume, letter of interes t,
etc.), if applicable.
C. SELECTION PROCESS
Bureau commanders shall determine an appropriate selection process for the special
assignments under their command. All processes shall be reviewed and approved by
the Chief of Police. Generally and at minimum, candidates shall participate in a
structured interview.
D. SERVICE TIME LIMITS
1. Except as outlined below , officers shall generally serve in a special assignment for
up to three (3) years.
2. Police canine s have an expected service life of 7 -9 years depending upon the age
at which the canine began police service and other factors. A police canine ’s
service life may be reduced because of an unexpected illness or injury. When
partnered with a canine , handlers are expected to commit to the service life of
their canine , regardless of whether that commitment lasts 6 months or 10 or
more years. Therefore, the service time limit for a canine handler shall be limited
to the service life of the canine to which the ha ndler is assigned. In the event of
an early canine retirement or death, the chief of police may consider whether the
affected handler receives another canine or competes for a canine through a
future competitive posting process.
3. Criminal Investigations Division assignments shall generally be for up to five (5)
years, subject to a mutually agreed upon extension(s) between the affected
officers and his/her chain of command. This extended service time limit is based
upon the length of time needed to develop interview and interrogation skills, and
learning investigative processes for a broad range of major crime types that may
or may not occur with in a shorter service time limit.
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4. Special assignment extensions may be approved for a total of up to two (2)
additional years, totaling five (5) years or seven (7) years , respectively, in any
one special assignment.
5. Certain factors such as specialized training or certifications (i.e., polygraph,
computer forensics, crime scene forensics, etc.); contractual obligations (i.e.,
school resource office r); or a lack of interest in a special assignment may require
an extension beyond the two (2) additional years cited above.
6. Any extension beyond the initial three (3) years or five (5) years of service shall
be based upon a recommendation from the officer ’s chain of command , subject to
the sole discretion of the chief of police.
NOTE: Service time limits exist for a single special assignment.
Coworkers who serve a complete term in a particular special
assignment may be eligible to return to that same special
assignment later in one’s career so long as a reasonable
reassignment period – as outlined below – has passed