Policy Text
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Lassen County Sheriff Policy Manual
SHERIFFS PREFACE
Sheriffs Office Overview:
The Office of the Sheriff is responsible for a variety of public safety services throughout Lassen
County. The Office currently has 85 full-time employees and several part-time and seasonal
employees, assigned into three primary Divisions; Operations, and Services.
Each Division contributes to, and interacts with the other, to achieve the 'Primary Goal of providing
professional public safety services. Each Division has a Division Captain that reports to the
Undersheriff. The Undersheriff reports directly to the Sheriff. The Divisions have operational units
within them that are responsible for specific functions, such as Custody, Dispatch, Patrol, Coroner
services, Fleet Maintenance, Civil, Court Security, Boating Safety and Contract services for the
US Forest Service and BLM.
Policy Overview:
For the purposes of this manual, the terms Sheriffs Office, Office of the Sheriff, and Sheriffs
Department are interchangeable. The Policy and Procedure Manual is a collection of policies and
corresponding procedures assembled as a guide to assist the Sheriffs Office staff in providing a
safe and secure environment for Lassen County.
The manual is intended to be a management tool to insure consistency and professionalism within
all operations and to provide staff with direction and guidance in the performance of their duties.
This Manual will supercede any and all existing Departmental General Orders, policies, directives
and standing orders where applicable. Existing Division and Unit policy manuals will be
supplemental to this manual, addressing operational issues specific to that function.
Provisions of the "Policy and Procedure Manual" may be suspended by directive or standing order
from the Division Captain or Sheriff, with ending date specified. Policy amendments, deletions
and additions shall be submitted by the authority of the Division Captain and must be approved
by the Sheriff before becoming policy.
Suggestions, requests and recommendations for policy changes will be submitted to the Division
Captain via chain of command. In the event that any provision of this manual conflicts with any
local, state or federal law, or Division Poliocy Manuals, the conflict will be brought to the attention
of a Division Captain and/or the Sheriff immediately.
Emergency provisions: Policies and procedures contained in this Manual may be suspended
during emergency situations, at the direction of the Shift Supervisor or a higher ranking officer.
The reasons for the suspension or deviations will be reported to a Division Captain as soon as
practicable. The suspension will remain in effect until repealed or modified by a Command Officer.
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Lassen County Sheriff Policy Manual
LAW ENFORCEMENT CODE OF ETHICS
As a Law Enforcement Officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and
property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation,
and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the Constitutional rights of all men
to liberty, equality and justice.
I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all; maintain courageous calm in the face of
danger, scorn, or ridicule; develop self-restraint; and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others.
Honest in thought and deed in both my personal and official life, I will be exemplary in obeying the
laws of the land and the regulations of my department. Whatever I see or hear of a confidential
nature or that is confided to me in my official capacity will be kept ever secret unless revelation
is necessary in the performance of my duty.
I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, animosities, or friendships to
influence my decisions. With no compromise for crime and with relentless prosecution of criminals,
I will enforce the law courteously and appropriately without fear or favor, malice or violence and
never accepting gratuities.
I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it as a public trust to be
held so long as I am true to the ethics of the police service. I will constantly strive to achieve these
objectives and ideals, dedicating myself before God to my chosen profession...law enforcement.
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Lassen County Sheriff Policy Manual
MISSION STATEMENT
Mission Statement:
It is our pledge to work in partnership with the community to provide honest and professional public
safety services, free from prejudice or favor. We will strive to provide operational excellence in
every corner of the county, and dedicate ourselves to protecting our citizens.
Core Values:
All of our long-term strategies and short-term actions will be molded by a set of core values that
are shared by each and every member of the Sheriff's Office.
To always act in a Professional Manner,
To Respect everyone,
To maintain our Integrity even in the most difficult situations,
To be Disciplined, and
To always maintain the highest Ethical standard
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Lassen County Sheriff Policy Manual
Table of Contents
SHERIFFS PREFACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
LAW ENFORCEMENT CODE OF ETHICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
MISSION STATEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Chapter 1 - Law Enforcement Role and Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
100 - Law Enforcement Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
102 - Chief Executive Officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
104 - Oath of Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
106 - Policy Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Chapter 2 - Organization and Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
200 - Organizational Structure and Responsibility . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
204 - Departmental Directives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
206 - Emergency Management Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
208 - Training Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
212 - Electronic Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
214 - Administrative Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
216 - Staffing Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
218 - License to Carry a Firearm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
220 - Retiree Concealed Firearms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Chapter 3 - General Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
300 - Use of Force . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
302 - Deadly Force Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
306 - Handcuffing and Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
308 - Control Devices and Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
309 - Conducted Energy Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
310 - Officer-Involved Shootings and Deaths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
312 - Firearms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
314 - Vehicle Pursuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
316 - Deputy Response to Calls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
318 - Canines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
320 - Domestic Violence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
322 - Search and Seizure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
324 - Temporary Custody of Juveniles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
326 - Adult Abuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .