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\n\n--- Page 1 ---\n\nTALLAHASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDERS SUBJECT Staff Inspections CHIEF OF POLICE Signature on File Proudly Policing Since 1826 Nationally Accredited 1986 NUMBER ORIGINAL ISSUE CURRENT REVISION TOTAL PAGES 52 06/15/2001 06/27/2025 9 AUTHORITY/RELATED REFERENCES AIU-2, Staff Inspection Protocols FS Chapter 119, Public Records General Order 2, Chain of Command-General Management General Order 17, Records Management ACCREDITATION REFERENCES CALEA Chapters 53, 84 CFA Chapter 14 KEY WORD INDEX Authority and Scope Procedure III General Guidelines Procedure I Objectives of a Staff Inspection Procedure II Phases of a Staff Inspection Procedure VI Responsibilities – Members Procedure V Responsibilities – Staff Inspector Procedure IV Unannounced Inspections, Inventories, and Audits Procedure VII POLICY The Department will establish and maintain a staff inspection function in support of policy and statutory compliance, accreditation mandates and management best practices. Staff inspectors are responsible for adhering to established protocols in conducting staff inspections. DEFINITIONS Findings: Conclusions supported by relevant facts.\n\n--- Page 2 ---\n\nTALLAHASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT Liaison: A member from the work unit being inspected appointed to act as a point of contact for the assigned staff inspector(s). Staff Inspection: A careful and critical examination; a formal review of all components of a work unit and an examination of their work processes conducted by a member or members who do not have control of the persons, facilities, or procedures being inspected. Staff Inspector: A member who conducts a staff inspection. PROCEDURES I. GENERAL GUIDELINES A. Staff inspections shall be conducted within each organizational component (i.e., each Bureau, and the Office of the Chief) at least once every four (4) years. B. The Chief of Police has the authority to require staff inspections be conducted more frequently. C. While staff inspections are typically announced, the Chief of Police may direct an unannounced staff inspection at any time for any work unit. D. The staff inspection function is assigned to the Accreditation and Inspection Unit within the Executive Services Branch. E. The Accreditation Manager is responsible for the management and coordination of all staff inspection activities, and shall: 1. Assign a staff inspector to conduct each staff inspection, 2. Provide managerial oversight for each staff inspection, and 3. Ensure the creation of a staff inspection schedule which allows for compliance with the mandate of subsection A above. F. The Chief of Police or designee may assign a specialist or technical advisor to the staff inspection team when the work unit to be inspected is of a highly technical or specialized nature. G. In circumstances warranting additional staff inspectors to adequately complete an inspection, the Accreditation Manager should request GENERAL ORDER 52 PAGE 2 of 9 STAFF INSPECTIONS JUNE 27, 2025\n\n--- Page 3 ---\n\nTALLAHASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT approval for additional staff inspectors through the Executive Services Branch chain of command. H. Additional staff inspector assistance from another Bureau requires approval of the affected Bureau Commander and their Deputy Chief. I. Throughout this written directive, whenever a protocol involves a Bureau Commander, the protocol is equally applicable to work units whose commanding officer is not a Bureau Commander (e.g., work units within the Office of the Chief). J. Any member may request or suggest a staff inspection of their work unit, one under their control, or another work unit. 1. Requests or suggestions should be directed to the Executive Services Branch chain of command. 2. The Chief of Staff shall evaluate all requests or suggestions for a staff inspection and make a recommendation to the Chief of Police through the chain of command. 3. The decision to conduct a staff inspection rests solely with the Chief of Police. K. Staff inspectors are responsible for conducting staff inspections with clear objectives and a positive approach and adhering to the procedures of this general order and AIU-2 (Staff Inspection Protocols). II. STAFF INSPECTION OBJECTIVES Staff inspections are conducted to promote an objective review of Department administrative and operational activities, facilities, property, equipment, and members, and: A. Serve to inform the Chief of Police and Command Staff of strengths and deficiencies in members, supervision, integrity, training, morale, and policy/procedures, B. Determine whether resources are adequate for achieving Department goals and objectives, C. Continually review Department practices and programs to ensure compliance with applicable policies and procedures, statutes, and accreditation standards, GENERAL ORDER 52 PAGE 3 of 9 STAFF INSPECTIONS JUNE 27, 2025\n\n--- Page 4 ---\n\nTALLAHASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT D. Assess the risk or vulnerability for loss of assets, loss of time, breaches of security, personal physical harm, institutional harm, and lack of adequate internal controls to maintain efficient and effective operations, E. Monitor organization components in terms of their results or progress towards the attainment of identified Department goals and objectives, F. Evaluate the discharge of management duties and responsibilities, and G. Assess the appearance of members and the condition of equipment and facilities. III. AUTHORITY AND SCOPE A. During a staff inspection, staff inspectors, regardless of rank, are: 1. Subordinate only to the Chief of Police, and 2. Considered equal to the ranking member of the work unit being inspected. B. All access to appropriate Department facilities, equipment and records shall be given to the staff inspector or staff inspection team during a staff inspection. C. The primary focus of staff inspections shall be directed towards policies and procedures, records and files, communications, staffing, workload assessment, overtime expenditures, training, supervision and leadership, facilities and equipment. IV. STAFF INSPECTOR RESPONSIBILITIES A. The staff inspector shall be free of any official, professional, personal, or financial relationships which might cause the inspector to limit the extent of their inquiry, limit disclosure, or weaken/bias inspection findings in any way. B. The staff inspector shall maintain the completed staff inspection report and all related materials in a secure file within the Executive Services Branch. C. Information contained in the staff inspection files which is deemed to be confidential by FS Chapter 119 shall be handled in accordance with GENERAL ORDER 52 PAGE 4 of 9 STAFF INSPECTIONS JUNE 27, 2025\n\n--- Page 5 ---\n\nTALLAHASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT established procedures regarding control and disposition of exempt public records. D. The staff inspector is responsible for completing a staff inspection report within fourteen (14) days of the completion of the staff inspection. E. The only deviation permitted from the timeframe in subsection D above in when approved by the Accreditation Manager or higher chain of command authority. F. Whenever a staff inspector receives confidential information during a staff inspection, every effort shall be made to keep the information anonymous except: 1. When a clear violation of law is present, or 2. If the mission or reputation of the Department is jeopardized by a serious policy violation (i.e., a policy violation which places the Department at risk for loss of assets, breach of security, personal physical harm, institutional harm, or significantly increased liability). G. A staff inspector with information as described in subsections F above shall promptly bring it to the attention of the Executive Services Branch chain of command or, if more appropriate, the Chief of Police. H. The staff inspector shall perform other duties as directed by the Chief of Police, or the Executive Services Branch chain of command. V.