Policy Text
ORGANIZATION AND SUCCESSION OF COMMAND
EFFECTIVE DATE: 08/01/89 STANDARD NO. 062 REVISED: 08/14/17
REPLACES: N/A Rev: 07/25/11:
OBJECTIVE: To establish an orderly succession of Departmental command by providing
definitive guidelines and specific delegation of authority.
POLICY: It is the policy of the Homestead Police Department (HPD) to provide personnel
the authority to make decisions commensurate with their position and
responsibility. Each employee is responsible for the use of the delegated
authority as well as for the failure to utilize it.
SCOPE: All employees of this Department shall be governed by the procedures set forth
below.
I. PROCEDURES:
A. Absence of the Chief:
1. During the Chief’s absence, the Chief shall designate an employee of his/her
command staff to command the administration and operations of the Department.
B. In a case where the Chief (for any reason) does not designate an employee, the senior
employee will assume command of the Department during the absence of the Chief.
The City Manager shall have the authority to supersede the designation of the senior
command staff employee by appointing a command staff employee of his/her choice.
C. Authority:
1. The employee assuming an acting status is delegated the authority and
responsibility commensurate with the position.
D. Command and Organization:
1. Command of resources rests with the senior supervisor or the assigned senior
employee who has authority to direct the operation and is responsible for its
outcome.
2. When personnel from two (2) or more Departmental elements are engaged in a
joint operation, the senior officer of the element, which initiated the operation,
shall be in charge. An officer of lesser rank shall assume command of the
operation only if he/she possesses unique information or skills, which are
necessary for the successful conclusion of the operation. The senior on-scene
officer shall then yield command and provide full supervisory guidance and/or
assistance to ensure operational success.
3. When uniform and investigative elements are jointly involved in an operation,
command shall be vested in the senior uniformed officer or lead investigator,
Organization and Succession of Command – SOP# 062
depending on which element initiated the operation, unless circumstances dictate
otherwise.
E. Span of Control:
1. Each supervisor is accountable for the performance of his/her immediate
subordinate(s). To ensure unity of command, each organizational bureau is
directly supervised by a captain, and clearly defined lines of authority are drawn
to ensure each employee is accountable to one (1) supervisor at any given time.
Each employee must be aware of his/her relative position in the organization, to
whom he/she is immediately responsible and those persons who are accountable
to him/her. Employees should strive at all times to operate within the chain-of-
command and to keep supervisors informed as to their activities.
II. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE:
A. The Departmental Organization Chart can be viewed on the website.