Police Orders & Directives

• General Orders are numbered in the 200s series.

Department Orders, Directive System, and Forms

• Orders of lasting application affecting two or more bureaus are department-level General or Special Orders.
• Special Orders establish temporary, emergency, or interim procedures/guidelines at the department level and are issued/authorized by the Chief of Police.
• Captains and above can approve Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) related to their command areas.

Generating Written Directives

• To initiate a General Order, approval must be obtained through the chain of command, then a draft is submitted to the Assistant Chief of the Finance and Personnel Bureau for assignment to Policy Management.
• Standard Operating Procedures are reviewed annually by the affected unit/section/division/bureau by August 31st.

Amendment Responsibility

• General and Special Orders can only be issued, modified, or withdrawn by the Chief of Police.
• Mandatory verb forms: "shall," "will," and "must."
• Permissive verb form: "may."
• Advisory verb form: "should."
• The General Orders Manual is reviewed annually and updated as needed by Policy Management.

Control of General Orders, Special Orders and Directives

• Policy Management maintains a master file of all General Orders, Special Orders, Bureau Directives, and Standard Operating procedures.
• Employment Services maintains a master file of all Personnel Orders.
• All bureau commanders maintain a master file of all Standard Operating Procedures.

Policy Advisory Committee

• The Policy Advisory Committee considers policies that directly influence police service to the community and provides recommendations to the Chief of Police.
• The committee has no more than 13 members.
• 1 Assistant Chief (Chair, Finance and Personnel Bureau).
• 1 Policy Analyst (Vice-Chair, Policy Management).
• 3 Officers (any rank, Department Recognized Police Associations' Designees).
• 1 Supervisor, Sergeant, or Lieutenant (Patrol Bureau).
• 1 Officer (Patrol Bureau).
• 1 Supervisor, Sergeant, or Lieutenant (Support Bureau).
• 1 Officer (Support Bureau).
• 1 Representative (Business Community).
• 1 Representative (Community-at-large).
• 1 Representative (Youth Community, age 18-25).
• Each member serves a two-year tenure as a voting member.
• Committee meetings are held twice a year.

Firearms Qualification

• Sworn officers must qualify with their primary weapon at least once and with back-up/off-duty weapons at least once every calendar year.
• Handgun: 85%.
• Patrol carbine: 95%.
• Shotgun: 80%.
• Supervisors ensure subordinates complete the required firearms or remedial training in a timely manner.
• If an officer fails to qualify after 3 attempts with their back-up/secondary weapon, they cannot carry it in uniform, on or off duty.
• Officers needing remedial training must attend 12 additional hours of firearms training in the following 12-month period.
• Each officer gets 100 rounds of ammunition monthly for practice.

Training Academy Weather Station

• The Bob Bolen Public Safety Complex has a weather station for real-time lightning and Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) monitoring. Lightning Detection:
  • If lightning is detected within 10 miles: The outdoor siren activates for 15 seconds and all personnel seek shelter
  • If lightning not detected for 30 mins: the all-clear siren sounds three times (5 secs each) and outdoor training may resume. Heat Stress Precautions:
  • <82°F: Normal training.
  • 82.2-86.9°F: Three 4-minute rest breaks per hour.
  • 87.1-90°F: Max 2 hours outdoors, 4 breaks per hour.
  • 90.1-91.9°F: Max 1 hour outdoors, 20 minutes of breaks.

  • 92.1°F: No outdoor training until temp falls below 92.1°F for 30 minutes.

Time Conversion

• Use 24-hour time for all radio, official police reports, and IOCs.
• The 24-hr clock starts 1 min after midnight, listed in hundreds and minutes following the hour.
• Spring Conversion: All except patrol/communications adjust hours to prevent working less than normal shift.
• Fall Conversion: All except patrol/comm are paid OT if schedules can't be adjusted.
• Patrol/Comm adjust hours.
• Division captains/managers inform all personnel of work schedule changes.

Accident Review Board Responsibilities

• The Accident Review Board reviews all police vehicle accidents/incidents to determine the cause and whether it was chargeable or non-chargeable.
• A vehicle accident: is a collision between two or more vehicles, a vehicle and an object, or a vehicle and a pedestrian.
• An incident: is any action other than a vehicle accident that damages the police vehicle or other property.
• The Accident Review Board consists of the Traffic Investigation lieutenant (Chair), one sergeant, one corporal, and two police officers.

Functions

• The Accident Review Board meets monthly.
• Chargeable: The employee violated traffic law or departmental regulation, a contributory factor in the accident. The Board includes the specific law violated from the Texas Transportation Code, city ordinance, and/or police regulations.
• Non-Chargeable: The employee didn't violate any traffic law, city ordinance, or departmental regulations.
• Non-Preventable: The employee did everything reasonably expected to avoid the accident.
• Preventable: The employee failed to do everything reasonably expected to avoid the accident.
• Copies of the board's findings are forwarded by the board coordinator within 10 days.
• The Internal Affairs Unit prepares an annual analysis of all accidents.

Ride In Procedures

• Final authorization for ride in rest with patrol LT working on date/shift of ride in, unless prior written approval by Captain or above.
• Generally requires 72-hour notice for CCH & Warrant check (Through CID and PIC).
• CCH and Warrant check each time R.I. requested, Class B or higher prohibited, warrants shall be handled as required by law.
• Interview ride in for physical/mental condition
• At least 18.
• Exceptions explorer post.
• Waiver form completed, good for 1 year, completed by ride-in, officer, and supervisor
• Issue/review instructions
• Enter waiver into authorized electronic database, hard copy scanned with DL and emailed to employee who inputs, shall rename file to ride-in name
• Shall be retained until City records says it ok, but not before 2 years

Ride-In Requirements

• Ride-In assignments made by division commander/designee
• No restrictions for employees of PD, no waiver needed,
• No restrictions for CAPA (or similar) on #, shift, or division
• CAPA need CCH, Waiver, not required for each ride
• Family can ride, officer must make request through C.O.C.
• Follows normal ride in procedure
• Ride-in limited to Patrol and Traffic, 1 ride in per vehicle, 1 shift, 2 ride ins per year, in different division, unless approved by captain or above
• May terminate with LT approval

Special Provisions

• LT or on duty Supervisors may refuse ride in for many reasons, need to send IOC to deputy chief with reasons
• Ride in not allowed to record unless approved by Public Relations Office No pursuit, unless circumstances suggest greater harm, w/supervisor approval, must be relieved by another patrol officer asap

Explorer Post Ride-Ins

• Need explorer waiver once, 1 plain clothes ride, all other in uniform.
• Age requirements:
• first shift (15-21 yoa),
• 2nd shift (16-21)
• 3rd (18-21)

Mobile Tracking Devices

• All installations of these devices made without the effective consent of the owner of the property on which these devices will be placed shall be accomplished only by probable cause order of a state district judge. In these cases, an application for an order from a state district judge will be made within 72 hours.

Departmental Purchasing Guidelines

• Monitoring/approval of purchasing goods/services shall be the responsibility of Fiscal Command.
• No Purchase Authorization Form needed in advance if under $3k.
• PAF in advance for over $3k (Bid solicitation required).
• PAF sent up C.O.C. & forwarded to Finance Unit.
• Emergency purchases need IOC to Fiscal Manager within 24 hours.
• Under no circumstances shall purchases be made in excess of $49,999 without a Mayor and Council Communication (M&C) being submitted and approved by the City Council.
• Procurement Card (P-card) must forward receipts to finance unit within (3) business days of purchase, if no receipt need IOC up COC to Fiscal Manager for audit purposes.

General Provisions for Use of City Procurement (Credit) Cards

• Budget/ Finance Section completes bi-weekly P-Card billing reports and will submit all receipts into Finance Department within (4) days of report.

Department Use of Property

• List of equipment identified by property or auto pound supervisor sent to ranks above captain for consideration of departmental use.

Travel/Training Requests

• Shall submit Travel/Training Expenditure request to Budget Finance section at least (14) business days prior, sent up С.О.С..
• Expense reports must be forwarded to Budget/Finance within (10) days after travel/training period.

Investigative Imprest Funds

• Monitoring/Approval by Supplemental Funding Manager of Finance Division.
• Commander, captain or designee is custodian and responsible for fund (i.е. documentation, disbursement, ...)
• Establishing new fund requires assigned supervisory contact supplemental funding manager, IOC, SOPs.
• Any employee accessing fund must take 2-hour city cash handling course and 8-hour FWPD confidential informant/fund management course.
• Reconciliations done by assigned supervisor and witness on a monthly basis and anytime transfer of responsibilities of supervisor.
• Reconciliation done on FWPD cash count sheet.
• C.C.S. needs scan and email to Supp Fund Manager no later than 5th day of month following last day of month being reconciled.
• Reimbursement (Re-ups) submitted/process on quarterly basis (March, June, Sept, Dec), and anytime during quarter when fund balance is less than 30% of beginning balance.
• Increases done through IOC up COC, and sent to Supp Fund Manager, also updated SOPs.
• Accountability for fund vested solely with assigned supervisor
• Fund shall be secured in individual cash box, accessible only by assigned supervisor, division commander, captain or designees by keyed or combination lock
• Leger must be maintained by supervisor, password protected, only accessible by Comm, Capt, designee
• New supervisor must send IOC up COC, and sent to Supp Fund Manager, also reconciliation must occur
• Audits of funds done March and Sept by Financial Compliance Unit Personnel
• Closing Fund- final reconciliation and re-up, IOC up COC to close, plus copy of final reimbursement request and Cash count sheet, must be hand delivered to Supp Fund Manager along with cash
• Supp Fund Manager counts cash in front of supervisor

Budget Committee

• Comprised of 10 volunteers (9 members & 1 chairperson) divided between civil service and civilian employees.
• Attend meeting on third Wednesday each month, fail to make 3 meetings in a row or 4 in a year, may be asked to resign.
• Each member serves 2-years, after first term can apply for chairperson.
• Chairperson serves 1-year term.
• Budget Committee prioritizes expenses in excess of $5k submitted through needs assessment.
• Executive Staff has final vote of approval.
• Eligible to serve again, but must wait 2 years.
• Budge Unit will distribute applications for selections in February.

Employees' Home Addresses and Telephone Numbers

• Required to have landline/cell in their residence.
• Shall report any change name/address/phone within 24 hours of change to supervisor.
• Home address or phone # shall not be disclosed to public unless required by Texas Public Information act.

Employee Personnel Records

• “A” files maintained by HR Civil Service Director consist of employment records, evaluations, commendations/honors. Misconduct and disciplinary action, Civil service files/commissions.
• Sub "A" file-Records that may be confidential: military, W@, naturalization, marriage, social, college.
• "G" files are maintained by Police Employment Services Section and consist of disciplinary actions less than 1 day off, documents for the departments own use relating to employment relationship, and UOF reports that do not result in a day off or more are unsustained
• "G" file is confidential except for specific actions.
• Training files required for TCOLE maintained by FWPD Training Academy,
• Communication related training maintained by Communications.

Release of Photographs of Police Officers

• Photograph shall not be released if chief feels it endangers officer/family unless mandated by state law i.e.:
• officer under indictment or charged with offense
• party in civil service hearing or a case in arbitration
• photograph is introduced as evidence in judicial proceeding
• officer consents in writing

Public Relations - Release of Information

• Ranking officer at the scene of police incident should provide info regarding:
• General Facts and circumstances of arrest, pursuit, use of weapons.
• Race/gender/ethnic/age/occupation of arrested may be released, name shall not be given until booked into jail or formal charges
• Identify arresting officer, except undercover or heightened risk
• General description of evidence seized, but not detailed to hinder investigation
• Nature of arrest/description of offense Shall not be released:
• Contents of statements/admissions/confessions, Personal opinions, Statements of truthfulness of suspect, Names of victims until notification to NOK, Juvenile or sex assault victims
• Info requested post-scene sent to investigator.

Major Incidents

• Media allowed access adjacent to command post.
• Ranking officer shall provide briefings, may delegate to admin captain in chief's office when on scene and shall assume PIO.
• If widespread attraction likely, ranking officer shall notify admin captain in chief's office.
• When citizen is shot in custody or traffic accident, investigating unit shall notify PIO, rank officer informs PIO, official report shall be checked for accuracy by highest ranking officer in investigative unit, and shall be shown as a courtesy to officer/s involved before release.
• If an officer is seriously injured or killed, the PIO and Critical Incident Investigation Team shall develop an official release asap-checked by the highest-ranking officer; names may be released after notification to NOK, confirmed details may be released.

Information from Police Files

• Available for the public: offense reports, prisoner info/mugshots, arrest warrant/affidavit after execution, NIBRS crime stats/data
• Official crime stats are reviewed by TX DPS.
• General crime stats are not verified or reviewed by records or DPS.
• Requests for stats should be directed to Research and Planning (only official stats, internal stats for PD only provided by Info Management Section).
• Accident reports when no criminal charges: 2 of following needed: date, name of any person involved, specific location.
• If not interfering with the investigation/prosecution all reports will include witness info, a confession, speculations of guilt, views of witness credibility, informant statements, ballistics, lab or forensic test, a spectrographic or other investigative report, historical personal history and CCH. Shall never be released:
• marital status sworn personnel
• CCH
• NCIC/TCIC data

Texas Public Information Act

• The City Manager is the officer for public info; the chief is the agent of compliance. All PD requests are coordinated with IA, the Police Legal Liaison, and the designated assistant city attorney.
• Pending investigations may be exempt; however, a copy of the request and all documents shall be forwarded to the Law Department within (5) days of the request. The Law Department has (10) days from the initial request to file a brief with the AG to protect documents.

Photographs and Interviews

• May be taken from any public access, may restrict flash/strobes/other lighting if it hinders police operations.
• Photographs of prisoners are ok.
• Juvenile suspects are not ok. Other juveniles if public.
• No photographs of suspects or witnesses are permitted in work areas of police facilities.

Internal Investigations

• Any request for internal personnel investigations are confidential and any request should be directed to IA or Public Relations Office. A supervisor of a person investigated cannot release info to the media.
• Info may be released:
• 1. active investigation (general nature & allegations).
• 2. Not sustained investigations, unfounded, or exonerated with no discipline (general nature and that no action taken).
• 3. Sustained and discipline of day off or more (allegation, facts, action taken, and name of personnel). For commissioned only after notification from chief and to Civil service commission.

Contact with Public

• Treat all persons fairly, with dignity, and respect.
• Telephone answering includes the name of the department, assignment, and their name.
• Voicemail not for screening calls, return timely manner, by end of work day if possible, supervisors are to monitor abuse.
• Business cards can be after probation, must follow the city format, limited situations for alternative design approved by a captain/manager.

Photographs/Recordings of Deceased Persons at Crime Scenes or Non-Criminal Deaths

• Only shared with detective or authorized personnel. Only taken by CSSU or someone designated by detective, taken with department-issued device. Traffic division may photograph fatal collisions.
• Photographs are the sole property of FWPD.

Basic Rules Governing the Use of Department Vehicles

• Marked vehicles can only be driven by sworn, TCT, or civilians with COC authorization.
• Not for off-duty employment use unless authorized by the Assistant Chief; Captain can authorize it in writing for one-time use in an emergency. Approval for off-duty use shall be forwarded to DC over Operation Command in finance.
• May not be used as transportation to/from off-duty unless on the way to/from work/home within 30 minutes before or after work.
• No transporting passengers except for performance of city business approved by supervisor. The opposite sex must notify dispatcher of mileage leaving and arriving, plus notify on all stops.
• Must sign consent of Driving History Inquiry, and checks are done annually.
• NO alcohol on or off-duty and then drive the city vehicle.
• If called back or emergency must notify the caller if they have consumed alcohol in the past 8 hours or if they've taken meds. The supervisor must determine if safe to operate the vehicle.

Criteria for Taking Vehicles Home or Parking Off-Site After Normal Working Hours

• Off-site parking is parking on the way home.
• Alternate parking is parking near the employees' worksite due to parking limitation.
• Must have advanced DC approval for take-home or park-off site.
• New request for change of address, assignment, usage, change vehicle.
• Rotating take-home must complete form, the supervisor must manage for 90 days. The vehicle must be parked off-street, preferably covered, all police equipment removed unless in an enclosed area.

Monthly Reports on After-Hours Usage of Department Vehicles

• The Asst Chief of each bureau is responsible for management of vehicle. Oversight shall include the monthly after-hour usage report.
• The operator must keep a monthly log on the After-hour usage form.
• Fleet operations keep a list of positions authorized for take-home/off-site parking.

Requests for Data Processing Services

• Request is made using the electronic department form (i.e., city/county mainframe, servers, software programs, etc.).
• Request through COC to Technology services using Request for Tech Services/Police IT form; all requests require Operational Command DC approval.
• Emails are public record.
• Mass email to the city requires approval from the PRO team, except Bolos, roll call, vacancy, power dms, crime analysis bulletins done through Info Management Section.
• Employees shall check their email and the internal police site (portal) daily for time sensitive material such as a court docket.
• If gone 4 working days, set up an out-of-office reply.
• The Department website is maintained by Technology Services and Research and Planning and is the official website.
• All official department social media sites shall be developed and maintained by personnel in the Police Public Relations Office.
• 3rd party database maintains a list of access/request/info received, nature request, and purpose for 2 years. If required by contractual agreements between the department and the third-party database, a report will be kept in the department's intranet-based audit / search log for a minimum of 2 years and will include the information from the 3rd party database:
• Identification of person who accessed, requested or received information from third party database
• Nature of the information accessed, requested, received
• Specific purpose of the information
• Special investigations in conjunction with Police technology Services will conduct annual audit and may conduct random audit of audit / search logs.

Social Media

• Employees are free to express themselves as private citizens on social media sites to the degree that their speech does not impair working relationships for which loyalty and confidentiality are important, impede the performance of duties, impair discipline and harmony among coworkers, or negatively affect the public perception of the Fort Worth Police Department.
• For safety and security reasons, employees are cautioned not to disclose their employment with the Police Department, nor shall post information pertaining to any other employee without their permission.

Searches

• Inspection = Routine non-investigatory function which may be conducted at any time upon authorization from a sergeant or above and does not require any evidentiary standard of suspicion
• Searches Defined:
• Work Related Purposes= a warrantless search for furthering routine conduct of business / obtain materials form an area needed to complete a project or task
• Investigation of Misconduct = requires reasonable suspicion
• Investigation of Criminal Misconduct = search warrant or well-delineated exception

Inspections

• Inspections may be conducted at any time to determine inventory, readiness of equipment, services, facilities, etc.
• An inspection may be conducted by any sworn or civilian employee upon verbal authorization from a sergeant or above.

Search for Work-Related Purpose

• Search for work related purpose. May be conducted when there is reason to believe that a needed document, file or work-related item is in the area or container to be searched.
• May be conducted by any sworn or civilian with verbal authorization from a sergeant or above.

Search for Investigation of Misconduct

• Shall not be conducted unless authorized by LT or above, IA, or acting on their behalf.
• Reasonable suspicion searches can be done without warrant and can include the search of the person. Only searches clothing, pockets, and items held. Has to be done in city facilities, vehicles.

Criminal Evidence Discovered During Inspection or Administrative Search

• If information found that a criminal offense was committed, the search shall be terminated, and SIU contacted.
• The search area is impounded and restricted to preserve evidence.
• The supervisor is called to take control.
• The suspect employee may be detained/arrested.
• A search is then handled in accordance with Search for Criminal Misconduct.

Search for Investigation of Criminal Misconduct

• Shall be authorized by LT or above, IA, or SIs, unless exigent circumstances.
• Only allowed with PC Search Warrant, or well-delineated exception.
• Suspect employee has a chance to consent to a search.
• Search of the person or containers in possession shall not be done unless:
• Warrant
• Exception to warrant
• or incident to arrest