go-01.pdf

\n\n--- Page 1 ---\n\nTALLAHASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDERS SUBJECT Written Directives System CHIEF OF POLICE Signature on File Proudly Policing Since 1826 Nationally Accredited 1986 NUMBER ORIGINAL ISSUE CURRENT REVISION TOTAL PAGES 1 07/15/1985 06/27/2025 8 AUTHORITY/RELATED REFERENCES City of Tallahassee Ethics Statement General Order 2, Chain of Command-General Management General Order 46, Rules of Conduct AIU 4, Policy Revision and Dissemination Process ACCREDITATION REFERENCES CALEA Chapters 1, 11, 12 CFA Chapter 3 KEY WORD INDEX Composing, Issuing, Indexing and Archiving Procedure V General Guidelines Procedure I Policy Responsibilities – All Members Procedure II Policy Responsibilities – Supervisors/Commanders Procedure III PD Forms Procedure VI Written Directives System Management Procedure IV POLICY The Department is responsible for establishing a formal written directives system for the operation of the agency and to provide members with a clear understanding of the constraints and expectations related to the performance of their duties. Members are responsible for adhering to the written directives applicable to their work assignment. DEFINITIONS Branch: A major Department organizational component under the command\n\n--- Page 2 ---\n\nTALLAHASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT of a Deputy Chief. Bureau: A Department organizational component within a Branch, which is under the command of a Major or a civilian Director. Chain of Command: The unbroken line of authority extending from the Chief of Police through a subordinate at each level of command. District: A geographical area within the city limits comprised of a designated number of zones. Employee: Each person filling a full-time or part-time position within the Department and receiving monetary compensation. Member: A Department employee or volunteer. Office: An organizational component of a bureau or the Office of the Chief. Power DMS: A web-based computer application utilized for the maintenance and distribution of Department written directives, training bulletins, and other work-related documents. Section: A primary organizational component of a bureau. Shall: Indicates the described action is mandatory. Shift: 1) A primary organizational component of the patrol function (e.g., day, afternoon, and midnight shifts); 2) The operational functions of the Department during a designated time period (e.g., Alpha/Bravo shifts). Should: Indicates the described action is not mandatory, but preferred. Squad: A subset of a shift or section. Supervisor: A member with delegated authority to oversee or supervise others in the accomplishment of their work assignments and tasks. Sworn Member: An employee who is a certified police officer as described in Chapter 943, Florida Statutes. Unit: A subset of a bureau, district, section, or office. Team: A group of sworn members specially trained for response to certain incidents or situations. Volunteer: A person who donates their services. GENERAL ORDER 1 PAGE 2 of 8 WRITTEN DIRECTIVES SYSTEM JUNE 27, 2025\n\n--- Page 3 ---\n\nTALLAHASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT Written Directive: Approved General Orders, Special Orders, Standard Operating Procedures, and policy memoranda. Zone: A subset of a district to which officers are assigned for patrol purposes. PROCEDURES I. GENERAL GUIDELINES A. The definitions provided in the definitions section above are applicable to the entire written directives system. B. The written directives system is used to inform members and the public of Department policies and protocols in the fulfillment of the Department’s mission. C. The Chief of Police has the authority to issue, modify, approve and rescind Department written directives. D. The Accreditation and Inspection Unit (AIU) is responsible for the administration of the written directives system. E. The written directives system consists of: 1. General Orders, 2. Special Orders, 3. Standard Operating Procedures, and 4. Policy Memoranda. F. A General Order (GO) is a written directive addressing member actions in the performance of their duties, from daily tasks to emergency situations (e.g., rules of conduct, vehicle pursuits). 1. Approval authority: Chief of Police. 2. Distribution: Department-wide or all sworn members. G. A Special Order (SO) is a written directive addressing a specific circumstance or temporary event (e.g., mass arrests, responses to weather related emergencies). GENERAL ORDER 1 PAGE 3 of 8 WRITTEN DIRECTIVES SYSTEM JUNE 27, 2025\n\n--- Page 4 ---\n\nTALLAHASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT 1. Approval authority: Chief of Police. 2. Distribution: Department-wide or all sworn members. H. A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is a written directive issued by a Unit, Office, Section, or Bureau to describe specific member protocols to carry out the job tasks of the work area. 1. Approval authority: Chief of Police, Assistant Chief of Police, Deputy Chief of Police, or the affected Bureau Commander. 2. Distribution: The affected unit, office, section, or bureau; however, Patrol Bureau SOPs are distributed to all sworn members regardless of work assignment. I. A Policy Memorandum is utilized to disseminate policy information or instructions to members. 1. A policy memorandum may be issued to: a. Present information not warranting inclusion in a General Order, Special Order, or Standard Operating Procedure, b. Relay policy-relevant information prior to, or contemporaneous with, the issuance of a General Order, Special Order, or Standard Operating Procedure, or c. Explain or re-emphasize an existing General Order, Special Order, or Standard Operating Procedure. 2. A policy memorandum must have a memo number issued by the Office of the Chief. 3. Approval authority: a. Policy Memoranda related to a specific General Order or Special Order: Chief of Police. b. Policy Memoranda related to a specific Standard Operating Procedure: Chief of Police, Assistant Chief of Police, Deputy Chief of Police, or the appropriate Bureau Commander. 4. Distribution: Department-wide, the affected unit, office, section, or bureau, or only specific members based upon their job classification (e.g., all civilian, all sworn). GENERAL ORDER 1 PAGE 4 of 8 WRITTEN DIRECTIVES SYSTEM JUNE 27, 2025\n\n--- Page 5 ---\n\nTALLAHASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT J. As with any human endeavor, there will undoubtedly be times when a situation arises which is not addressed by a written directive. In those instances: 1. All members shall rely upon the principles outlined in the City of Tallahassee’s Statement on Ethics, and 2. Sworn members shall additionally rely upon the principles outlined in the Law Enforcement Officer Code of Ethics. K. Power DMS is the central repository and access point for all written directives, policy memoranda, and associated training bulletins. 1. Members are able to review and acknowledge receipt of these documents by electronic signature within the Power DMS application. 2. The AIU is responsible for management of Power DMS. 3. Members encountering issues with Power DMS should contact the designated AIU member for assistance. II. POLICY RESPONSIBILITIES – ALL MEMBERS A. Each member is responsible for understanding and adhering to the written directives applicable to their work assignment. B. Unless directed otherwise by a supervisor or the Accreditation and Inspection Unit (AIU), members are responsible for acknowledging receipt and review of issued written directives, policy memoranda, or training bulletins within 30 days of: 1. Reporting for a new work assignment (e.g., new hire, transfer, promotion), or 2. Being notified a written directive, policy memorandum, or training bulletin has been distributed through Power DMS. C. Members are responsible for successfully completing any associated examination contemporaneous to the review of the issued written directive, policy memorandum, or training bulletin. D. Members with questions about a particular written directive, policy memorandum, or training bu