Policy Text
Sheriff’s Department Manual
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department | ii Sheriff’s Department Manual
Table of Contents
Volume 1 Philosophy and Organization 1
Volume 2 Administration and Management 173
Volume 3 Field Operations and Activities 408
Volume 4 Property and Evidence 745
Volume 5 Uniforms 802
Volume 6 Volunteer Units and Members 919
Note: Please see the Comprehensive Table of Contents for a detailed listing of all
Department Manual sections .
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Volume 1 Philosophy and Organization
1.100. Department Philosophy
The motto, "Dedicated to Your Safety," states the essential
purpose of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.
Dedicated means being devoted to a cause, to an ideal, or to
a purpose, committed to a goal, or to a way of life. The
Department is dedicated to protect the right of all persons
within its jurisdiction to be free from criminal attack, to be
secure in their possessions, and to live in peace. We, the
members of the Department, stand ready to serve the people
of San Bernardino County by performing the law enforcement
function in a professional manner, as it is to these people that
the Department is ultimately responsible.
1.102. Department Vision Statement
We believe in being a high performance, inclusive department
with high professional standards of integrity, ethics, and
behavior guided by the letter and the spirit of the law, and the
Law E nforcement Code of Ethics. We will relentlessly investigate
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criminal acts and arrest those guilty of violating the law, while
building positive relationships with those we serve.
This requires each of us to:
o Treat all people with respect, fairness and
com passion;
Value each employee’s and citizen’s contribution to the
Department and the community regardless of position,
assignment or role;
o Create a work environment that encourages
innovation, input and participation, and values
each member’s diversity;
o Work in a partnership with each other and the
community to reach an environment where we
are all accountable and responsible to one
another.
1.104. Department Value Statement
We believe in strong, effective law enforcement services. We
believe in high professional standards of integrity, ethics and
behavior guided by the letter and spirit of the law, and the Law
Enforcement Code of Ethics.
o We believe in a balance between personal and
professional life.
o We believe in attaining and maintaining excel lent
physical conditioning, current intellectual
competence, and optimum mental health.
o We have a personal and professional
commitment to improve our communities and
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earn their trust, respect and support through
active partnerships, involvement and service .
o We believe we should treat all people with
respect, fairness, and compassion.
o We believe in loyalty and support for each other
and the community without compromise of the
high ethical standards of law enforcement.
o We believe in recognition for, and valuing each
individual’s contribution to the Department and
the community regardless of position, assignment
or role.
o We believe in open and honest communications,
both internal and external.
o We believe in an empowering work environment
that encourages in novation, input and
participation, and values each member’s
diversity.
o We believe in all members working together to
achieve Departmental goals through partnership
with each other and the community.
o We believe in initiative and autonomy at all levels
with responsibility for our own actions and the
actions of those we lead and influence.
o We believe in an equitable system that evaluates
each person on their merits and provides for
appropriate recognition and just sanctions.
We have pride in the law enforceme nt profession with a
productive work ethic and a high level of commitment to the
Department and the community.
1.106. Equal Employment Opportunity
It is the policy of the Department and the San Bernardino
County Board of Supervisors to be fair and impartial in all its
relations with its employees and applicants for employment
without regard to race, color, religion, marital status, sex, age,
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national origin, ancestry, or physical and mental handicap. This
positive commitment shall be supported by a San Bernardino
County Equal Employment Opportunity Plan to ensure equal
employment opportunity for all in both securing County
employment and in promotiona l opportunities at all job levels.
1.106.10 Objectives of Equal Employment Opportunity
The general objectives of the Equal Employment Opportunity
Plan are:
o To establish and maintain employment levels for
minorities, women, and other protected groups in
proportion at least equal to their availability in the
County labor force.
o To take such Equal Employment Opportunity as is
necessary to distribute this employment
representation throughout job classes in the
Department.
o To make efforts to elimina te and prevent
occurrence of arbitrary, unnecessary, and
o artificial practices which relate to employment or
promotion within the Department.
o To make efforts to upgrade and fully utilize
existing women and minority resources within the
Department.
o To commu nicate the Department’s Equal
Employment Opportunity policy and activities
into the community.
o To develop organizational strength from within
the Department to actively monitor and enforce
the Equal Employment Opportunity Program.
1.106.20 Interpreter Services
All persons who are non -English -speaking or have limited -English
proficiency (“LEP”) that limits communication shall be provided
equal access to services