68509301.pdf

\n\n--- Page 1 ---\n\nSEMINOLE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE NUMBER: G - 1 GENERAL ORDER RESCINDS: SUBJECT: Standards of Conduct EFFECTIVE: November 14, 1994 REVISED: October 31, 2025 Table of Contents: I. Purpose II. Scope III. Definition IV. Mission Statement V. Organizational Philosophy VI. Sheriff’s Office Values VII. Canon of Law Enforcement Ethics VIII. Oath of Integrity and Ethics IX. Oath of Office X. Duty Responsibilities XI. Prohibited Conduct XII. Issuing and Compliance to Orders XIII. Conduct toward Supervisors, Subordinates and Peers XIV. Substandard Performance XV. Employees Investigated for, Charged with, or Convicted of a Crime XVI. Use of Tobacco Products XVII. Use of Intoxicants and Drugs XVIII. Political Activity I. PURPOSE: This directive defines the organizational philosophy and values of the Seminole County Sheriff's Office, delineates the Canons of Law Enforcement Ethics, establishes basic guidelines of employee conduct, and provides the public with a general standard by which they can measure the performance of the agency. All written directives are central to the operations of the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office and to your efforts as one of its employees. Among our goals are the reduction of crime and the fear of crime, which is essential to our mission of improving the quality of life for the citizens we serve. These directives provide common ground by defining how we pursue this mission. Written directives are intended to be living documents and must be updated as necessary to ensure our mission is accomplished, that work is handled within clear guidelines, that uniformity of service is provided to our communities, and that common standards of performance and conduct are understood by all employees. To ensure this continuous growth, you are encouraged to bring recommendations for changes in Sheriff’s Office policy and procedures to the attention of your chain of command. It is the responsibility of each member of the Sheriff’s Office to know and understand these policies, procedures, and rules and regulations. Except where specifically noted, these written directives are applicable to all employees, both full-time and part-time, paid or volunteer. GENERAL ORDER Standards of Conduct GO # 1 PAGE 1 OF 15\n\n--- Page 2 ---\n\nII. SCOPE: All employees shall abide by the Sheriff’s Office canon of law enforcement ethics, its values, and its oath of integrity and ethics, and will fulfill the agency’s objectives and organizational philosophy. Employees shall maintain sufficient competence to properly perform their duties and assume the responsibilities of their positions. They will not engage in any conduct that constitutes neglect of duty, conduct unbecoming, or any act likely to adversely affect the discipline, good order, or reputation of the Sheriff's Office. III. DEFINITIONS: A. Personnel: The term "personnel," used synonymously with "employee," includes those persons appointed or hired by the Sheriff and may either be sworn or non-sworn, full or part time, volunteer, or classified or unclassified according to Civil Service. B. Public Safety Associate: Other public safety/criminal justice associates might include, but are not limited to: members of task forces with which the agency works, members from other agencies with shared or concurrent jurisdictions, agency volunteers, or representatives from support organizations within the broader criminal justice system. IV. MISSION STATEMENT OF THE SEMINOLE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE: Our mission is to enhance the quality of life by reducing crime and the fear of crime throughout Seminole County. V. THE ORGANIZATIONAL PHILOSOPHY OF THE SEMINOLE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND ITS EMPLOYEES: We, the men and women of the Seminole County Sheriff's Office, believing in the dignity of man and the sanctity of human life, are committed to maintain and to promote community order and respect for the law; to protect the lives and property of the public served; to uphold the Constitution of the United States and the State of Florida; to enforce the laws of the State of Florida and the ordinances of Seminole County; to abide by the policies and procedures of the Seminole County Sheriff's Office, and to do so in a manner that is sensitive to all citizens. Recognizing that in a democracy all power and authority is derived from the people served, the Sheriff's Office is steadfastly committed to fair, just and equal treatment for all citizens without regard to age, race, creed, color, sex, national origin, sexual identity, sexual orientation, sexual preference or position in life. The Sheriff's Office recognizes that it is a symbol of the law and government that it represents and is committed to the highest standards of organizational and personal professionalism, integrity, moral and ethical conduct while performing its functions. The Sheriff's Office affirms the concept of community-oriented policing; promotes innovative crime prevention measures, inter-agency cooperation and communication; and pledges to provide leadership within its ranks, within the community and within the criminal justice profession to fulfill the ideals of its mission. The mission of community-oriented policing includes: • Assigning sworn and non-sworn personnel who will focus their policing efforts in specific geographic areas within the community; • Engaging in direct communication with area residents and businesses to identify area problems and needs in an effort to prevent crime and reduce the fear of crime; • Involving sworn personnel not specifically and traditionally assigned, to handle various aspects of civil process and investigation of cases originating from their region; GENERAL ORDER Standards of Conduct GO # 1 PAGE 2 OF 15\n\n--- Page 3 ---\n\n• Making law enforcement personnel accessible to the community by having them "police" from outside the confines of their police vehicle; • Providing public assistance and information; • Monitoring repeat and sexual offenders living in the area; • Working with other governmental agencies, area residents, area businesses, the school system and court offices to ensure the safety of the community; and • Empowering law enforcement personnel to use their discretion in a manner which brings credit to the agency and their profession and pride to their community. • Having personnel equipped to identify and address mental health issues, substance abuse problems, mental disability or handicap. This may be accomplished by employing crisis intervention techniques, de-escalation techniques, and/or the incident command system. The Seminole County Sheriff's Office identifies its employees as its most important resource and will provide them the assistance to develop the skills, and also provide the equipment necessary, to carry out its mission. In furtherance of this end, the Seminole County Sheriff's Office is committed to providing its employees with a harmonious workplace free of harassment, discrimination, unsafe work conditions and other disruptive practices that adversely affect discipline, morale or the efficiency of the agency. The Seminole County Sheriff's Office is committed to the fair and full consideration of personnel comments and suggestions when processed productively pursuant to General Orders, yet will not tolerate non-productive comments on internal agency matters or those which are disruptive to the efficient operation of the agency. The Seminole County Sheriff's Office understands the importance of incarceration within the criminal justice continuum. The need to detain will be provided in a constitutionally humane method which will support the dignity of the individual. Furthermore, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office is committed to providing incarcerated individuals with self-help and self-improvement programs that will provide them with a method for habilitation or rehabilitation. The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office will continue to investigate and implement innovative p