Policy Text
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Sheriff’s Department Manual
Table of Contents
Volume 1 Philosophy and Organization 1
Volume 2 Administration and Management 194
Volume 3 Field Operations and Activities 443
Volume 4 Property and Evidence 831
Volume 5 Uniforms 892
Volume 6 Volunteer Units and Members 1012
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 pur-
pose of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. Dedi-
cated means being devoted to a cause, to an ideal, or to a pur-
pose, committed to a goal, or to a way of life. The Department
is dedicated to protect the right of all persons within its jurisdic-
tion to be free from criminal attack, to be secure in their posses-
sions, and to live in peace. We, the members of the Depart-
ment, stand ready to serve the people of San Bernard ino 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 En-
forcement Code of Ethics. We will relentlessly investigate crimin al
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;
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Value each employee’s and citizen’s contribution to the Depart-
ment and the community regardless of position, assignment or
role;
o Create a work environment that encourages inno-
vation, 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 an-other.
1.104 Department Value Statement
We believe in strong, effective law enforcement services. We be-
lieve in high professional standards of integrity, ethics and be-
havior guided by the letter and spirit of the law, and the Law En-
forcement Code of Ethics.
o We believe in a balance between personal and professional life.
o We believe in attaining and maintaining excellent
physical conditioning, current intellectual compe-
tence, and optimum mental health.
o We have a personal and professional commitment
to improve our communities and earn their trust,
respect and support through active partnerships,
involvement and service.
o We believe we should treat all people with re-
spect, 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 in-dividual’s contribution to the Department and the community regardless of position, assignment or
role.
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o We believe in open and honest communications,
both internal and external.
o We believe in an empowering work environment
that encourages innovation, input and participa-tion, 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 ac-
tions of those we lead and influence.
o We believe in an equitable system that evaluates each person on their merits and provides for ap-
propriate recognition and just sanctions.
We have pride in the law enforcement profession with a produc-
tive work ethic and a high level of commitment to the Depart-
ment 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, national origin, an-
cestry, or physical and mental handicap. This positive commit-
ment shall be supported by a San Bernardino County Equal Em-
ployment Opportunity Plan to ensure equal employment oppor-
tunity for all in both securing County employment and in promo-
tiona l opportunities at all job levels.
1.106.10 Objectives of Equal Employment Opportunity
The general objectives of the Equal Employment Opportunity
Plan are:
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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 represen-tation throughout job classes in the Department.
o To make efforts to eliminate and prevent occur-rence 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 Depart-ment.
o To communicate the Department’s Equal Employ-
ment Opportunity policy and activities into the
community.
o To develop organizational strength from within the
Department to actively