Policy Text
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Monterey County SO Policy Manual
MONTEREY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
SHERIFF'S PREFACE
The Monterey County Sheriff's Office Manual represents the best practices of
contemporary sheriff practices and procedures. These policies serve to establish and
communicate expectations, provide guidelines for daily operations, and validate the
principles and values which guide individual and collective performance. Each of us has
an obligation to become familiar with the manual, to abide by its policies and to ensure that
our behavior and attitude reflects the Department's Core Values and Mission Statement
and the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics. When guidance and clarification is necessary,
seek it from a supervisor, first. If there is a question of the interpretation of this manual,
that interpretation rests with the Sheriff.
The policies in this manual are a tool to be used when making decisions so that
the outcome is aligned with Sheriff's expectations and are in the best interest of
the community. The manual is not, however, a substitute for critical thinking and
good judgment. No written guidance document can predict the entire range of human
behaviors that law enforcement employees might encounter, nor can every contingency
be anticipated. We are all expected to use our best professional judgment and basic
human decency to guide our thoughts and actions. In keeping with these principles, I am
confident that the men and women of the Monterey County Sheriff's Office will continue
to honor our legacy of being the finest Sheriff's Office we can be.
Tina M. Nieto
Sheriff-Coroner
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Monterey County SO Policy Manual
LAW ENFORCEMENT CODE OF ETHICS
As a law enforcement officer, my fundamental duty is to serve the community; 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 to liberty, equality and justice.
I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all and will behave in a manner that
does not bring discredit to me or to my agency. I will 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 both in my personal and official life, I will
be exemplary in obeying the law 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, political beliefs,
aspirations, 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 ill will, never employing unnecessary force
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 police service. I will never engage
in acts of corruption or bribery, nor will I condone such acts by other police officers. I will
cooperate with all legally authorized agencies and their representatives in the pursuit of
justice.
I know that I alone am responsible for my own standard of professional performance and
will take every reasonable opportunity to enhance and improve my level of knowledge
and competence.
I will constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself before
God to my chosen profession . . . law enforcement.
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Monterey County SO Policy Manual
BLANK FOR MISSION STATEMENT
Monterey County Sheriff’s Office Mission Statement
The mission of the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office is to safeguard the lives and property
of the people within our County. We perform our law enforcement and custody duties with
honor and integrity in order to guard the public trust. Our highly trained and competent
workforce reflects the diversity of our community and demonstrates the highest standards
of professionalism.
Core Values
Model Leadership Excellence With Honor and Integrity
Compassionately Embrace Diversity
Serve with Dedication, Loyalty and Respect
Objectively Perform Our Responsibilities with Sacrifice and Courage
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Monterey County SO Policy Manual
Table of Contents
Monterey County Sheriff's Office. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Law Enforcement Code of Ethics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Blank for Mission Statement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Chapter 1 - Law Enforcement Role and Authority. . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
100 - Law Enforcement Authority. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
102 - Chief Executive Officer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
104 - Oath of Office. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
106 - Policy Manual. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
107 - Law Enforcement Code of Ethics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Chapter 2 - Organization and Administration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
200 - Organizational Structure and Responsibility. . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
204 - General Order. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
206 - Emergency Management Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
208 - Training. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
212 - Electronic Mail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
214 - Administrative Communications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
216 - Staffing Levels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
218 - License to Carry a Firearm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
220 - Retiree Concealed Firearms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Chapter 3 - General Operations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
300 - Use of Force. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
302 - Use of Force Review Boards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
306 - Handcuffing and Restraints. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
308 - Control Devices and Techniques. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
309 - Conducted Energy Device. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
310 - Deputy-Involved Shootings and Deaths. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
312 - Firearms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
314 - Vehicle Pursuits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
316 - Deputy Response to Calls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
320 - Domestic Violence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
322 - Search and Seizure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
324 - Temporary Custody of Juveniles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
326 - Senior and Disability Victimization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
328 - Discriminatory Harassment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
330 - Child Abuse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
332 - Missing Persons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
334 - Public Alerts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
336 - Victim and Witness Assistance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
338 - Hate Crimes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
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