Firefighter Ethical Guidelines Quiz

Waukegan Fire Department Work Rules

• Revised: January 2020
• Purpose: Intended to be general guidelines, supplemented by detailed operating procedures.
• Rules not intended to replace: Civil Service Rules or contractual obligations.
• Rule Book Ownership: Property of the Waukegan Fire Department.
• Member Responsibility: Each member must read and become familiar with the rules.
• Copy Return: Employees must return the rule book to the department upon leaving employment.

Chapter 1: Definitions

• Orders: Commands given by a superior to a subordinate.
• Special Orders: Temporary orders of current concern, circulated and coded.
• Fire Incident: Any event requiring Fire Department action or service.
• Shift: A 24-hour period of duty.
• Company: A group of firefighters assigned to a station, supervised by a company officer.
• Detail (Company): Temporary assignment of a company to another for a limited time.
• Detail (Special): Special assignment of firefighters by the Chief for specific tasks or hours.

Chapter 2: Command and Supervisory Responsibilities and Authority

• Fire Chief: Chief executive officer, final authority on policy and operations.

• Fire Chief Responsibilities: Responsible for protecting life and property, planning, coordinating, staffing, operations, enforcing rules, communicating with the public and the City, and reporting.

• Deputy Chief: Responsible for department operations in the absence of the Fire Chief.

• Battalion Chief/Commanding Officer:

  • Direct control over personnel in their command
  • Ensures proper duty performance, adherence to rules and procedures, loyalty maintenance, and discipline
  • Handles personnel complaints, inter-divisional cooperation, and ensures necessary action in fire duties.

• Organization and Assignment: Proper organization and assignment of duties are crucial for proper performance.

• Reports and Records: Maintain records accurately related to command activities.

• Maintenance: Ensure equipment, supplies, and stations are appropriately maintained.

• Grievances: Handle grievances as outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Chapter 3: Rules and Regulations for All Members

• Professional Conduct and Responsibilities: Members must conduct themselves in a manner that does not bring the department into disrepute while demonstrating loyalty and cooperating with fellow members.
• General Conduct On Duty: Members must maintain professionalism while on duty.
• Uniforms: Uniform regulations for firefighters, lieutenants, and captains, detailing procedures for dress and how to maintain appearance. This also addresses the need for and manner of uniform changes.
• Suppression Equipment: Thorough cleaning and upkeep of equipment are needed for efficiency.
• Department Buildings: Proper care of facilities is part of duty.
• Department Vehicles: Keeping them operational and clean is vital.
• Death and Injury Notifications: Process for notifying authorities during incidents.
• Procedure at Fire Scene: Action by fire responders at fire scenes.
• Station Procedure: Procedures for station operations.
• Public Activities: Guidelines for professional conduct concerning the public.
• Judicial and Investigative Actions: Procedures when involved in judicial and investigative actions.
• Training: Training procedures for all members.
• Safety: Procedures for safety of all members.
• Miscellaneous: Diverse information including matters relating to work permits.

Chapter 4: Departmental Discipline

• Employee Conduct: Expected behavior standards by all officers and employees, aligned with serving the public.
• Improper Employee Conduct: Any violations of civil service, department safety rules, or existing regulations.
• Disciplinary Action: The objective of actions is to improve the quality of the municipal fire service.
• Disciplinary Authority: Fire Chief has final authority; Deputy Chief, Battalion Chief, and Captains have disciplinary power, following strict procedures.
• General Disciplinary Actions: Includes varied penalties like reprimands, suspension and dismissal. Process for emergency or inter-divisional actions with required reporting.

Chapter 4: Specific Procedures

• Acceptance of Gifts, Gratuities, Fees, etc.: Prohibition of accepting gratuities that influence or reflect negatively on the department.
• Other Transactions: Restrictions on buying or selling things from people who are involved with the department.
• Rewards: Restrictions are in place about accepting rewards when performing duties; proper compensation for services to the community will not be in conflict with these rules.
• Disposition of Unauthorized Gifts, Gratuities, etc.: Procedures are detailed for how to handle unauthorized gifts or gratuities.
• Free Admissions and Passes: Members cannot solicit or accept free admissions without being in the line of duty.
• Debts Incurring and Payment: Members must satisfy their debts.
• Compensation for Damages While On Duty: Members must notify the Chief before accepting compensation for sustained injury or damage during duty.
• Compensation for Damages While Off Duty: Procedures for proper handling of compensation when off duty.
• Misplaced Equipment: Proper procedures for reporting any loss or misplaced equipment.
• Duty to Notify Police: All members must notify authorities in cases of any suspected illegal or unsafe activities or behaviors.

Chapter 5: General Conduct

• Loitering: Members in uniform cannot enter taverns, theaters, or other public places unless for a specific assigned task.
• Military Courtesy: Members in uniform must comply with standards for military courtesy.
• National Colors and Anthem: Proper honoring of national colors, etc. for members in uniform
• Roll Call: Instructions for attending roll calls in uniform
• Reliefs Procedures: Procedures for relief from duty at the scene of a fire, followed by reporting to appropriate authorities.
• Reporting Accidents: Rules for reporting accidents.
• Radio Discipline: Rules for using radios during fire emergencies and other operations.
• Radio Communications: Clear procedures for using radios and reporting.
• Death and Injury Notifications: Reporting procedures for members killed or seriously injured on or off duty.

Chapter 6: Procedures At Fire Scenes

• General Responsibilities of Members at Fire Scene: Actions necessary upon arriving at a fire, including contacting medical help, containing and extinguishing the fire.
• Reporting to Commanding Officer: Reporting to the appropriate officer at fire scenes.
• Relieving Companies and Responding to Fires: Relief assignments and reporting requirements at fire scenes.
• Travel Response: Procedures when responding to emergencies.
• Speed of Apparatus: Restrictions concerning speed and safety measures, including use of sirens and apparatus lights.

Chapter 7: Additional Procedures

• Impartial Attitude: Members maintaining impartiality is important.
• Judicial and Investigative Actions Appearances and Testifying: Required court attendance and testimony when requested.
• Departmental Investigations – Testifying: Procedures related to responding to investigations.
• Civil Action Interviews/Appearances: Members must comply with relevant legal procedures for civil cases
• Civil Depositions and Affidavits: Details for proper procedures when involved in civil cases, including speaking with the Commander before agreeing to a testimony.
• Discipline: Members must follow defined disciplinary processes should any rules be broken. Reporting procedures are explicitly written.
• Misconduct by Fire Personnel: If misconduct is observed, it needs to be reported, along with necessary accompanying actions.
• Citizens' Complaints: Procedures for handling citizens' complaints about fire personnel.
• Investigations of Alleged Misconduct: Procedures for investigating allegations. Including written statements from involved parties.
• Reports of Investigation: Reports required including findings: not sustained, exonerated, sustained, or not involved.

Chapter 8: Specific Areas

• Department Property and Equipment: Members are responsible for the proper care and maintenance of department property.
• Damaged Inoperable Property: Details on the process of reporting loss of or damage to departmental items.
• Display of Materials: Requirements for displaying information.
• Department Buildings: Procedures for building maintenance.
• Notices/Warnings: Procedures concerning notices, including marking or altering of notices. No derogatory notices are allowed on any bulletin board.
• Surrender of Departmental Property: Required procedures for handing over property during or after separation from service.
• Care of Fire Stations - Interior/Exterior: Requirements for cleanliness, order, care, and safety within the fire station.
• Department Vehicles: Required procedures for use and maintenance of department vehicles.
• Training to Establish Program: Details regarding training programs and necessary training. Included are reporting procedures.
• Safety: Policies on maintaining safety within the workplace.

Chapter 9: Additional Topics

• Employee Conduct: Standards and conditions for the conduct of workers.
• Improper Employee Conduct: Examples of disciplinary actions
• Disciplinary Action: Details of how to address disciplinary situations.
• Who is Subject to Disciplinary Action: Categories of individuals subject to disciplinary action.
• Penalties: Defined penalties for wrong actions.
• Departmental Authority to Discipline: Authority among officers for addressing disciplinary problems.
• Emergency Suspensions: Detailed procedures and those persons who have authority to initiate emergency suspension.
• Reports of Disciplinary Actions: Procedures for written reports following disciplinary actions and the necessary components of each report.

Test your understanding of the ethical guidelines and responsibilities that firefighters must adhere to. This quiz covers topics such as accepting gifts, handling equipment, and managing off-duty compensation. Assess your knowledge about proper conduct and decision-making in the line of duty.