Policy Text
Revisions or additions are highlighted 1 (04/21/2022) ST. PETERSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
Subject: SPECIALIZED ASSIGNMENTS
Index as: Assignments Request for Transfer Specialized Assignments Transfers
Accreditation Standards: 33.4.3, 33.6.1
Cross Reference : I.O. V.6:2, Allocation and Distribution of Personnel
Replaces : G.O. II- 32, Specia lized Assignments ( March 12, 2019)
This Order consist s of the following Sections:
I. Purpose
II. Policy
III. Definitions
IV. Announcement & Request for Transfer
V. Selection Process
VI. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
I. PURPOSE
This order establishes a selection process that enables the St. Petersburg Police Department to fill vacancies in specialized
Units in an expeditious manner so as to better serve the communit y. It also provides a means by which officers and
sergeants may pl an a career path, by offering them the opport unity to gain experience and become proficient in various
capacities throughout the Department.
II. POLICY
A. Selection of personnel to fill specialized assignments shall be made on the basis that each assignment is the best
utilization of personnel and is without personal bias. The goal is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the
Department so as to provide a more professional service to the communit y.
B. Vacancies will be filled by utilizing the process defined in this General Order, unless the Chief of Police determines
that an operational need requires a deviation from these procedures.
C. A listing of specialized assignments, including requirements and desired skills and abilities, are depicted in
J:\Research\ GeneralOrders \II Administrative General Orders \II-32 Specialized Assignments_Attachment A.pdf
.
D. Employees wishing to apply for a transfer should not be deterred from applying based on a lack of desired training.
DATE OF
ISSUE EFFECTIVE DATE NUMBER
August 2017 Immediately II-32
Distribution: All Employees
General Ord er II-32
Revisions or additions are highlighted 2 (04/21/2022) III. DEFINITIONS
A. Specialized Assignment - Any sworn assignment other than to a patrol squad.
IV. ANNOUNCEMENT AND REQUEST FOR TRANSFER
A. Announcement – A job announcement will be posted on a bulletin board located on the second floor of Police
Headquarters in the area occupied by the Uniform Services Bureau, on the patrol read- off board, and on CARS .
1. The announcement will include a description of the po sition, the requirements for the position and any special
needs of the Department, Division , Section or Unit.
2. The format for the job announcement shall be a memorandum from any Assistant Chief, Major, Division
Manager or Section or Unit Commander . The memorandum will be addressed to “ Sworn”, “Civilian”, or “All Personnel”.
B. Request for Transfer to a Specialized Assignment
1. An employee may submit a memorandum requesting a transfer to any Division, Section or Unit in response to
a specific job announcement or at any time expressing an interest in a transfer.
a. Announced Openings – A request for transfer to a specialized assignment will be in the form of a
memorandum addressed to the Commander posting the job announcement.
1) The Request for Transfer will be accepted for ten (10) business days after a specific job announcement
is posted, unless specifically extended by the posting Commander .
b. Request for Transfer –
1) Any employee may submit a Reques t for Transfer at any time to a Division , Section or Unit in which
they have an interest.
2) The Request for Transfer shall be directed to the Bureau Assistant Chief , requesting consideration for
a specialized assignment.
3) The request may be retained by the Assistant Chief and may be considered when filling a vacancy.
2. The Request for Transfer should include, in summary form, the employee’s skills, knowledge, abilities and
reasons for wanting the transfer.
3. The Request for Transfer memorandum will be routed via the employee’s Chain of C ommand to the respective
Division , Section or Unit Commander .
a. The employee’s Request for Transfer memorandum may be stopped at any point, based on performance
deficiencies, only if there is a concurrence of two or more members of the C hain of Command.
b. If the C hain of Command stops a Request for Transfer , the employee shall be informed and afforded an
opport unity to meet with those members who stopped the memorandum, in order to identify disqualifying activities or
behaviors so as to allow corrective action by the employee.
V. SELECTION PROCESS
A. The selection process for a specialized assignment is based on a determination that the employee has the
knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for the position.
B. The Commander , to which the specialized Unit reports, will consider the following information resources during the
selection process:
1. Applicant's personnel file;
2. Applicant's performance evaluations;
3. Written reports/investigations prepared by the applicant;
4. Applicant's training records;
5. Office of Professional Standards records;
General Ord er II-32
Revisions or additions are highlighted 3 (04/21/2022) 6. Interviews with S upervisors;
7. An interview with the candidate; and
8. Interviews with peers.
C. If a practical exercise is warranted, one will be scheduled as part of the application process.
D. If necessary, the two (2) assistant chiefs, from the bureaus that are not filling the position,