61664630.pdf

\n\n--- Page 1 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDER TITLE ACCREDITATION Civilian Volunteer Program CALEA 45.3.1(a.b); 45.3.2 PRIOR REVISIONS 12/01/98, 01/21/02, 06/19/05, PROPONENT UNIT 08/05/08, 11/06/18 Personnel Division ATTACHMENT: NUMBER ISSUE DATE REVISION DATE TOTAL PAGES 16.4 07/01/98 10/14/2024 3 I. PURPOSE: This Order provides guidelines for maintaining a Civilian Volunteer Program. II. POLICY: The Gainesville Police Department shall, when feasible, and when qualified applicants exist, maintain a Civilian Volunteer Program to augment law enforcement support functions. The civilian volunteers shall not be sworn or perform any direct law enforcement duties. III. PROCEDURE A. Civilian Volunteer Programs: The Civilian Volunteer Program includes all non-sworn volunteers under the direction of the Gainesville Police Department. The overall Civilian Volunteer Program is comprised of a structured Police Explorer Program and a less- structured component comprised of individual civilian volunteers. 1. Police Explorer Program: The Police Explorer Program is under the command and management of the Personnel Division. 2. Citizens on Patrol: The Citizens on Patrol Program is under the command and management of the Operations Bureau. 3. At-Large Civilian Volunteers: At-large civilian volunteers are screened and tracked by the Personnel Services Division. Individual assignments shall be under the command and management of the respective Bureau/Division/section or Unit commander to whom the volunteer is assigned. B. Application and Screening: Citizens who wish to volunteer shall complete and submit their applications and pass a screening process as required by the Department and the Civilian Volunteer Program for which they are applying. 1. Applicants must successfully pass a background check, administered by the Personnel Services Division, which shall consist of the following, at a minimum: i. Criminal history check, ii. Driver’s license check,\n\n--- Page 2 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT iii. Previous employment check (if applicable), iv. Warrants check, v. Fingerprint check, vi. Local records check. 2. The Chief may exclude certain persons from the Civilian Volunteer Program if the person poses an immediate or potential conflict-of-interest. C. Volunteer Coordinator: The volunteer coordinator will be a department member appointed by the Chief. The Volunteer Coordinator will be responsible for all aspects of program management. Program Managers’ Responsibilities: 1. Recruit and coordinate volunteers. 2. Executing orders governing their Civilian Volunteer Program / member; 3. Enforcing written and verbal orders issued by the Chief of Police; 4. Maintaining control, management, and direction over civilian volunteer members; 5. Collaborative efforts with respective bureau/department of Training the member(s) in the tasks and duties to which they will be assigned; 6. Administering the operational assignments of the civilian volunteer member(s); 7. Maintaining custody of Department property assigned to the Civilian Volunteer Program. However, if a particular department issues equipment, that respective department is responsible. 8. Suspending, for cause, any member of the Civilian Volunteer Program. 9. Terminating the services of any member of the Civilian Volunteer Program whose actions are determined to be in conflict with the best interests of the organization. D. Civilian Member Duties: The following is a non-exhaustive list of civilian volunteer duties and assignments. Under no circumstances shall a civilian volunteer member be knowingly exposed to or placed in a dangerous situation. 1. Clerical tasks; 2. Community relations and crime prevention functions; 2\n\n--- Page 3 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT 3. Secondary support activities (such as Explorers assigned to assist with traffic ` control; civilian volunteers to assist with phone bank duties, etc.) 4. Other support functions, based on the skills and interests of individual members and the needs of the Department. E. Uniforms: If a civilian volunteer member is authorized to wear a uniform to perform a Department function, it will be approved by the Department and be clearly distinguishable from a sworn police officer’s uniform. F. Authority: Civilian volunteers will not be sworn, wear a weapon or have any arrest power. Civilian volunteers shall not wear, use, or present their police identifications while off-duty. G. Administrative: 1. Injuries: Civilian volunteer members shall immediately report injuries received in the performance of their duties to their supervisor. An initial verbal report shall be followed up as soon as possible by a written report, via Inter-Office Communication (IOC). 2. Resignations: Civilian volunteer members wishing to resign may do so by completing and forwarding an Inter-Office Communication (IOC) to the civilian volunteer manager to whom they are assigned. The program manager will ensure all City-owned property and equipment is returned on or before the effective date of resignation. 3. Terminations: A civilian volunteer member may be terminated, with no appeal, at the discretion of the Chief. __________________________ By Order of Signed Original on File in the Accreditation Section __________________________ Nelson Moya Chief of Police 3