Policy Text
HONOR GUARD
EFFECTIVE DATE: 08/01/89 STANDARD NO. 007 REVISED: 08/11/17
REPLACES: SOP Honor Guard 08-04.1-2 – Rev. 01/01/03; Rev. 07/25/11;
OBJECTIVE: To establish criteria for the Homestead Police Department (HPD) Honor Guard
Detail.
POLICY: Upon request, it is the policy of the Homestead Police Department to provide
honor guards comprised of well-trained, special uniformed police officers for the
purposes of parades, funeral services of sworn and non-sworn personnel who
were active or retired employees, in good standing, with the Department at the
time of death, rendering honors and other ceremonies as designated by the Chief
of Police.
SCOPE: All Honor Guard members will adhere to the established guidelines set forth
below.
I. PROCEDURES:
A. Homestead Police Honor Guard members are selected on a volunteer basis and by the
approval of the Honor Guard Unit Supervisor and the Uniform Patrol Division (UPD)
Captain.
B. When a situation occurs where the Honor Guard Unit is required, the UPD Captain or
the Honor Guard Unit Supervisor shall be contacted. The UPD Captain will notify the
Honor Guard Unit Supervisor who will in turn, notify each Honor Guard member advising
them of the location and time that they are to report. The Honor Guard Unit Supervisor
will also notify each member’s supervisor to ensure that these members may be
released from duty until the completion of the Honor Guard assignment. Upon
completion of the Honor Guard assignment, members shall report back to their assigned
function.
C. Details and training assignments made by the UPD Captain or the Unit Supervisor may
be classified as either mandatory or volunteer. If it is a mandatory detail, Honor Guard
members will be required to attend and will be compensated in accordance with
contractual requirements.
D. Unit members, who miss two (2) or more callouts or training sessions, will be subject to
review and possible dismissal from the Unit. The only exceptions will be the following
and a memorandum must be submitted requesting to be excused prior to the detail or
training assignment:
1. Court
2. On-duty shift requirements
3. Sick time
4. Vacation time
Honor Guard – SOP# 007
5. Circumstances beyond a unit member’s control
E. Unit members will be required to maintain their assigned uniforms and equipment to unit
standards. If any uniform or equipment becomes out of standard or in disrepair, it is the
member’s responsibility to submit a request to have the item replaced as soon as
possible.
F. Prior to a scheduled event, Unit members will be subject to intense uniform and
equipment inspections. The Honor Guard Unit Supervisor may dismiss those members
from the detail or event who do not satisfy unit standards.
G. The Unit may consist of a maximum of ten (10) members at any given time.
H. Honor Guard members will receive training on an as-needed basis to maintain
proficiency in close order drill and ceremony as determined by the Honor Guard Unit
Supervisor.