65728402.pdf

\n\n--- Page 1 ---\n\nFFOORRTT MMYYEERRSS PPOOLLIICCEE DDEEPPAARRTTMMEENNTT GGEENNEERRAALL OORRDDEERR 11..77 TITLE: Responsibility & Authority of Personnel INDEXING: Supervisory Responsibility, Authority & Responsibility of Personnel, Span of Control, Unity of Command, Chain of Command, Delegation ISSUED: 09/01/95 REVISED: 05/03/2022 RESCINDS: 05/06/2009 C.A.L.E.A. STANDARDS: 11 PAGES: 2 This general order contains the following numbered sections: I. Unity of Command II. Span of Control III. Chain of Command PURPOSE The purpose of this order is to establish the authority and responsibility of department personnel. SCOPE These procedures shall apply to all Fort Myers Police Department personnel. POLICY – DISCUSSION In police agencies, authority is often delegated to subordinates. It is the policy of the Fort Myers Police Department that all members of the department are delegated the necessary authority to allow them to perform their designated duties in an efficient and effective manner. It is important that only one person is in direct command and control of each situation, and that each member is supervised by only one supervisor. Unity of command assures unity of effort by coordinating the actions of all forces toward a common goal. Span of Control is determined by such factors as the complexity of tasks to be performed by subordinates, the separation of superiors from subordinates by time or geography, and the time required for other functions not related to supervisors. SECTION I: UNITY OF COMMAND A. Unity of Command: The organizational structure of the agency shall provide clear-cut channels of authority. 1. Each member shall be accountable to only one supervisor at any given time. (C.A.L.E.A. 11.3.2) 2. Only one supervisor shall be in direct command of an organizational component at any time. (C.A.L.E.A. 11.2.1) 3. Every supervisor, regardless of assignment, is responsible for taking action in emergencies requiring immediate supervisory attention. 4. All personnel at each level shall have the latitude to make necessary decisions and exercise discretion to effectively execute their duties. (C.A.L.E.A. 11.3.1a) G.O. 1.7 Responsibility & Authority of Personnel 1 o f 2 05/03/2022\n\n--- Page 2 ---\n\n5. Each employee shall be held fully accountable for the application of, or the failure to apply, the authority delegated to him or her. (C.A.L.E.A. 11.3.1b) 6. Any officer, of lower rank, who may be placed temporarily in the position of an officer of higher rank by a commanding officer, shall exercise the authority and perform the duties of that higher position. They shall be held responsible, in like manner, as if regularly appointed as such higher officer. The officer shall not unnecessarily interfere with or countermand any order issued by the officer whose place they temporarily occupy. (C.A.L.E.A. 11.3.1a) 7. All personnel in a supervisory position are accountable for the actions of subordinates under their command whether they are in a permanent or temporary assignment. (C.A.L.E.A. 11.3.2) SECTION II: SPAN OF CONTROL Span of Control: No more than (12) twelve employees should be under the immediate control of an individual supervisor unless the variables of the situation or the needs of the department dictate otherwise. Every supervisor is accountable for the performance of his or her immediate subordinates. To ensure unity of command, only one commander directly supervises each organizational bureau, and clearly defined lines of authority are drawn to ensure that a structural relationship exists between each employee and the Chief of Police. Each employee is accountable to one supervisor at any given time and must be aware of their relative position in the organization, to whom he is immediately responsible, and those persons who are accountable to him. SECTION III: CHAIN OF COMMAND Chain of Command: All members will follow the “Chain of Command” as outlined in department general orders and the organizational chart. ___________________________________________________________________________________ FMPD Organizational Chart APPROVED: [Electronic Signature on File] 08/23/2024 ________________________________ ____________________________ Jason Fields, Chief of Police Date Fort Myers Police Department G.O. 1.7 Responsibility & Authority of Personnel 2 o f 2 05/03/2022