Policy Text
\n\n--- Page 1 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
TITLE ACCREDITATION
Command and Control CALEA 1.2.1; 11.2.1[ 11.2.2,
11.3.1 (a-b); 11.3.2; 12.1.1;
12.1.2(a-d); 12.1.3; 12.1.4;
PRIOR REVISIONS:
PROPONENT UNIT
07/16/07, 01/20/09, 07/03/19
Office of the Chief
ATTACHMENT:
NUMBER ISSUE DATE REVISION DATE TOTAL PAGES
12.1 07/01/98 09/24/2024 8
I.PURPOSE: This Order delineates the authority of the Chief of Police and provides Department command and
supervisory guidelines.
II.POLICY: The Chief of Police has authority over all members and components of the Department consistent with
the laws of the State of Florida and the ordinances of the City of Gainesville. The authority and responsibilities of the
Chief of Police are derived from Section 21-1 of the City of Gainesville Code of Ordinances. [CALEA 12.1.1]
III.PROCEDURE: The Chief is designated as having the authority and responsibility for the management, direction,
and control of the operations and administration of the agency.
A.Command: The Chief shall appoint staff as necessary to assist in the exercise of command.
Subordinates may be appointed to supervise bureaus, divisions, sections, or units within the agency.
[CALEA 1.2.1] Each organizational component is under the direct command of one supervisor. [CALEA
11.2.1]
1.Delegated Authority: Supervisors are granted sufficient authority to effectively perform the
tasks delegated to them, and to direct their subordinates.
This authority is extended to acting supervisors for their period of assignment.
2.Command and Supervisory Authority and Accountability:
i.The Chief may delegate authority but retains control of all tasks and duties.
ii.The Chief has final authority to select and approve assignments.
iii. Commanders and supervisors will exercise authority in the interest of the
Department.
iv. Commanders and supervisors shall be accountable for the performance of the
members under their immediate supervision. [CALEA 11.3.1.a and 11.3.2]
3.Individual Authority:
i.Each member shall have the authority to make decisions commensurate with and
necessary for the effective and efficient execution of assigned duties and
responsibilities. [CALEA 11.3.1.b]
a This includes the responsibility of members under the community-oriented
policing philosophy to use their own judgment, make contacts, propose plans,
and offer recommendations and solutions regarding identified or assigned
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b.Members are required to make every effort to keep supervisors informed of
projects, problems, and outcomes.
ii.Each member shall be accountable for the use of, or failure to use, the Chief’s
authority delegated to him/her.
iii.Department members are accountable to only one supervisor at any given time as
depicted in the organizational chart. [CALEA 11.3.2]
B.Command Succession: To ensure continuity of command and availability of timely leadership when
the Chief or other commanding officer is unavailable, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to act,
command shall automatically succeed as follows:
1.Unplanned Absence: During an unplanned absence of the Chief of Police or other
commanding officer, the order of succession will be consistent with the established chain-of-
command for the Department or subdivision affected.
i.The Assistant Chief will take primary short-term responsibility for the Chief’s
duties until and unless a long-term solution is decided by the City Manager.
ii.Vacancies caused by unplanned absences of commanders in bureaus,
divisions and units will be filled by the next highest-ranking member within the
subdivision.
In the case of members of equal rank being next in line, seniority will prevail as the
determining factor absent a command-succession plan being in place within the
subdivision.
iii.When indicated by a higher authority, the Chief’s position may remain temporarily
vacant.
2.Anticipated Absence: During an anticipated absence of the Chief of Police or other
commanding officer, the order of succession will be consistent with the established chain-of-
command for the Department or subdivision affected.[12.1.2.a]
- i. Chief’s Absence: The Chief of Police will designate the Assistant
Chief as the “acting” or "interim" Chief of Police.
a.In the unlikely event Assistant Chief is not available; the
succession of command will go to the Major.
b.The commander designated as the "acting/interim"chief will designate,
when necessary and in writing via memorandum, an “acting” commander
of their assigned subdivision.
This is required only if the ‘Acting/Interim Chief’ designation removes the
appointed commander from their regular duties.
ii.Commanders’ Absence: Commanders who will be out of the office will designate, in
writing, an acting/Interim commander during their absence via memorandum.
iii.Exceptional Events/Situations: In exceptional situations, in the absence of the Chief
of Police or other commander, the order of succession and/or order of notification in the
event of an emergency will coincide with the established chain-of-command and the
protocol identified in the Chain-of-Command. [12.1.2.b]
C. Determining Seniority: Seniority will be determined as follows:
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1.First, by rank;
2.Second, by continuous service in current rank;
3.Third, by length of continuous service with the Department.
D.Chain-of-Command: The chain-of-command is a formal management structure to facilitate
downward and upward communication throughout all levels within the agency.
1.The chain-of-command of the Gainesville Police Department is as follows:
i. The Chief of Police,
ii. Assistant Chief
iii. Major
iv. Captain/ Bureau Manager
v. Lieutenant,
vi. Sergeant/ Department/Unit Supervisor,
vii. Corporal, and
viii.Police Officer.
2.Non-sworn members are in the chain of command as designated by job title or
classification.
3.A Department member assigned to a command position, regardless of classification, will
report to the immediate higher authority within the chain-of-command of the organizational
component affected.
The command member will exercise authority over all lower-ranking personnel, whether sworn
or non-sworn, within the command assigned.
E.Command Protocol: To ensure the principle of unity of command, members of the Gainesville
Police Department will follow the established chain-of-command within the agency.
1.Normal Daily Operations: Members will follow the chain-of-command as depicted on the
Gainesville Police Department’s Organizational Chart listed on the Department’s intranet.
[CALEA 12.1.2.d]
i.Normal Circumstances: Subordinates must notify their supervisors, either orally or in
writing, of their intent to circumvent the chain-of-command.
The supervisor will accept the request and pass it along to the next level of command.
ii.Unusual Circumstances: Deviations from following the chain-of-command under
‘Normal Circumstances’ as identified above are permitted only in certain circumstances,
such as:
a.When a subordinate has probable cause to believe a supervisor is involved
in unlawful activity, or is or has violated any written order, directive or procedure
of the Department; or
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b, When a subordinate reasonably believes that they have been given an
unlawful order.
iii.Informal Communication: Informal communication among all members is
encouraged to facilitate agency progress and growth.
Members shall not use informal communication to undermine supervisory authority.
2.Incident Command: An incident shall be under the command and control of the bureau,
division or unit best suited to carry out the ultimate goal of the operation or incident. [CALEA
12.1.2.c]
i.Individual members or units shall operate within the procedures established for their
own unit/area.
ii.When more than one member is on-scene and no supervisor is present, an incident
shall be under the command of the member orig