Policy Text
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
EFFECTIVE DATE: 05/20/2024 STANDARD NO. 104
OBJECTIVE: To establish policy and procedures for disclosing potential conflicts of interest
and ensuring impartial conduct and investigations by police department
employees.
POLICY: It is the policy of the Homestead Police Department to safeguard its police
department employees and the public by establishing policies and procedures for
departmental employees to disclose actual or potential conflict of interests while
performing their duties and obligations.
SCOPE: All employees of this department shall be governed by the procedures set forth
below.
DEFINITIONS:
A. Family: Familial relations based on blood, marriage or people living in the same
household as a family.
B. Friend: A person whom one knows well and is fond of.
C. Financial / Business Associates: Persons or entites with whom one has a shared
business and or financial interest.
PROCEDURES:
I. PURPOSE AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES
The Homestead Police Department is committed to ensuring that the public can trust
that they will be treated fairly, free of any bias because of any relationships or
associations between departmental employees and others while involved in an
assignment or investigation. This includes, but is not limited to, relationships and or
associations with others that involve family, friends or associations that are financial
and or business like in nature.
II. RESPONSIBILITIES
A. Departmental Employees
1. When a departmental employee becomes aware, or should have been aware, of
a relationship or association they have with someone who is involved in an
assignment or investigation to which they are assigned to or involved in, they
shall immediately notify their direct supervisor of the relationship or association.
If their direct supervisor is not on duty or is unavailable, the employee shall
immediately notify an on duty supervisor.
2. Upon being informed of such a relationship or association, the supervisor shall
direct the employee on how they should proceed (e.g., handle the assignment,
abstain, or other actions, etc.). In giving direction to the employee, the supervisor
shall take into consideration how likely the relationship or association will be, or
appear to be, a conflict of interest with any of the parties involved in the
assignment or investigation. Supervisors shall also consider how likely the
intimacy and or circumstances of the relationship with people involved in the
assignment or investigation will affect the impartiality of, or the appearance of
impartiality of, the employee while they perform their duties. The supervisor
handling the disclosure shall document the conflict as well as any subsequent
actions in an email notification to their immediate supervisor as soon as possible
and or practicable. The Department’s Command Staff shall be included in the
notification email.
III. IMMEDIATE DISCLOSURE EXCEPTIONS:
In emergency situations, departmental employees shall perform their duties without
delay to protect life and property. Notification to a supervisor shall be made as soon
as it is safe and practicable to do so.