Bexar County Sheriff's Office Policy Manual PDF

BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE POLICY MANUAL Revision Date Effective Date Chapter Number March 22, 2022 May 3, 2022 Three Subject Office of Primary Responsibility Organiza...

BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE POLICY MANUAL Revision Date Effective Date Chapter Number March 22, 2022 May 3, 2022 Three Subject Office of Primary Responsibility Organization Sheriff’s Administration References Enclosures None None Distribution Supersedes Reevaluation Date Pages All Sheriff’s Employees April 15, 2014 December 1, 2023 6 Approved by: Javier Salazar, Bexar County Sheriff 3.01 PURPOSE The duly elected Sheriff of Bexar County has the authority to hire non-sworn employees and to deputize sworn employees to assist in carrying out his/her statutory functions. The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) is organized in a hierarchal structure known as the chain of command; understanding and abiding by this chain is essential for every employee. 3.02 POLICY This policy provides a description of the chain of command and supervisory responsibilities for those in the chain. 3.03 DEFINITIONS A. BRANCH - A specialized group within a Division, commanded by a Captain. B. BUREAU - A major functional activity of the BCSO, commanded by an Assistant Chief Deputy. C. CHAIN OF COMMAND – A series of executive positions in an order of authority that flows from the top authority downward. D. DETAIL - An assignment or duty. E. DIVISION - A specialized group within a Bureau, commanded by a Deputy Chief. F. ORDER/ COMMAND - A verbal or written instruction or directive given by an authoritative position to perform or cease an action. G. SECTION - A specialized group within a Branch, commanded by a Lieutenant. H. UNIT - A specialized group within a Section, supervised by a Sergeant. 1 3.04 CHAIN OF COMMAND STRUCTURE The BCSO sworn and non-sworn chain of command shall be as listed in the following order: A. Sheriff; B. Chief Deputy; C. Assistant Chief Deputy; D. Deputy Chief/Director; E. Captain; F. Lieutenant; G. Sergeant; H. Investigator (Law Enforcement) or Corporal (Detention); I. Deputy Sheriff (peace officers and detention officers); J. Civilian Employee. 3.05 CHAIN OF COMMAND RESPONSIBILITIES A. Sheriff The Sheriff is the Chief Executive Officer. Final authority for determining office policies, together with full responsibility for the complete discharge of all duties imposed by law, rest with the Sheriff. As Chief Executive Officer, the Sheriff must officially sanction and approve any changes in office organization. The detailed method of directing and controlling specific functions may be developed by designated subordinate personnel, but the original direction, final approval, and adoption of the guiding principles rests with the Sheriff. The Sheriff may also designate any position of command or responsibility they feel is necessary for the administration of the Sheriff’s Office at such time as is determined appropriate. B. Chief Deputy The Chief Deputy is appointed by the Sheriff and is subordinate in rank only to the Sheriff. As the chief administrator and executive to the Sheriff, the Chief Deputy is second in command of the Sheriff’s Office. The Chief Deputy’s primary duty is to oversee operations in accordance with the direction of the Sheriff and speak for the Sheriff on any such issues. In the absence of the Sheriff, the Chief Deputy automatically assumes all duties and responsibilities of the Sheriff and is responsible directly to the Sheriff. The Sheriff at any time may delegate specific administrative and executive duties to the Chief Deputy. 2 C. Assistant Chief Deputy Each Assistant Chief Deputy is appointed by the Sheriff and shall be responsible for and exercise command over the functions of the employees assigned to their bureau. All are subordinate to the Sheriff and the Chief Deputy. D. Deputy Chief Each Deputy Chief is appointed by the Sheriff and shall be responsible for, and exercise command over, the functions of the employees assigned to their division. All are subordinate to the Sheriff, Chief Deputy and Assistant Chief Deputies. Each Deputy Chief has the responsibility to establish and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) for their division. 1. Division SOPs shall not conflict with this Manual. Each Deputy Chief is responsible for the planning and conduct of various programs to maintain competent levels of performance of the personnel assigned to their division. 2. It is the Deputy Chiefs’ duty to aid, advise, and cooperate with the Sheriff, Chief Deputy, and Assistant Chief Deputies in general administrative matters and determining matters of policy. Each Deputy Chief may prescribe rules and regulations for the conduct of employees under their command so long as they do not conflict with the general rules and regulations prescribed by the Sheriff, Chief Deputy, Assistant Chief Deputies, or with other rules prescribed by the other Deputy Chiefs. 3. Any rules which will affect personnel outside their division shall be submitted for approval and inclusion into this Manual. E. Civilian Director The Civilian Director(s) shall be responsible for and exercise command over the functions of the civilian employees assigned to their division, through the Assistant Chief Deputy, subject to final approval of the Sheriff. Civilian Directors are generally responsible for directing subordinates and establishing priority of work to be performed by their division in accordance with the policies prescribed by the Sheriff or Chief Deputy. F. Captain Each Captain is selected by a promotional procedure administered through the Sheriff’s Civil Service Commission. A Captain is usually designated as the highest-ranking officer within a branch and will supervise the activities prescribed by the Sheriff, Chief Deputy, Assistant Chief Deputy, and Deputy Chief in accordance with policy. G. Lieutenant Each Lieutenant is selected by a promotional procedure administered through the Sheriff’s Civil Service Commission. A Lieutenant is normally the second highest-ranking supervisor of a branch and is responsible for the entire operation of a shift or of a section within a division. The Lieutenant shall be directly responsible for the actions of personnel assigned to their shift or section, and it is the Lieutenant’s duty to aid, advise and cooperate with the assigned Captain in general administrative 3  matters of policy. In the absence of the Captain, the Lieutenant will assume the same authority, stature, and responsibilities as described in the position of Captain. H. Sergeant Each Sergeant is selected by a promotional procedure administered through the Sheriff’s Civil Service Commission. A Sergeant is responsible for the direct supervision of the deputies assigned to the shift or unit, which includes their overall performance of duties. The Sergeant also functions directly under a higher-ranking deputy to ensure compliance with all Sheriff’s orders and is responsible for providing the necessary aid, advice, and assistance to the deputies serving under the Sergeant’s command. I. Investigator Each Investigator is selected by a promotional procedure administered through the Sheriff’s Civil Service Commission. The Investigator is assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division and is directly responsible for conducting specific criminal investigations assigned in the normal course of business. This is a non-supervisory rank belonging to the Law Enforcement tier. J. Corporal Each Corporal is selected by a promotional procedure administered through the Sheriff’s Civil Service Commission. This is a supervisory rank belonging to the Detention tier only and serves as the senior officer in charge of a specific detail assignment. K. Deputy Sheriff While all peace officers of any rank employed by the Sheriff’s Office are Sheriff’s Deputies, the term is used here to refer to those deputies who do not hold one of the above ranks. These deputies can be assigned to either the Detention or Law Enforcement tier. 1. Deputy Sheriffs assigned to the Law Enforcement tier shall be selected by a promotional procedure administered through the Sheriff’s Civil Service Commission from a pool of eligible peace officers assigned to the Detention tier or hired from an eligible pool of peace officers from outside the BCSO, as allowed by the current Collective Bargaining Agreement. 2. Detention Officers are uniformed, sworn, and licensed jailers performing duties in the Bexar County Adult Detention Center. While referred to as Deputy Sheriffs, Detention Officers do not have arrest powers other than those of an ordinary citizen. Detention officers are licensed as jailers by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) under the Texas State Administrative Code and Occupations Code. L. Civilian Managers The official authority assigned to these civilian positions shall be determined by the Sheriff, with the responsibilities inherent in their respective positions and based primarily on their individual job description and classification. (E.g. Personnel Office, Business Office and Central Records Managers.) 4 M. Civilian Employees Certain administrative, clerical, and support-type positions within the BCSO are filled by civilian employees, who are non-uniformed, non-sworn personnel. Some, although civilian, are also regulated by TCOLE and are required to be licensed by that agency. 3.06 CHAIN OF COMMAND GENERAL RULES A. The order of authority of any official responsibility shall follow as set forth in this section. The lines of demarcation are clearly drawn so that responsibility is clearly placed. All subordinates shall follow the orders and instructions of their supervisors. 1. An employee, regardless of rank, may be placed in charge of a specific situation or operation by the supervisor. 2. In that instance, the supervisor should advise persons who might question this and proceed as being in command of that particular situation or operation until relieved by competent authority. B. There may be an instance where two or more employees of equal rank are working together on the same assignment or detail and a situation arises where a clear command decision is required under an emergency necessitating immediate action. When the issue of who shall be in command cannot be determined by an appropriate supervisor, such authority shall be determined by seniority in the following order: 1. Date of rank if serving at higher than an entry level; 2. Order of placement on the promotion eligibility list from which they were promoted; 3. Continuous service with Bexar County Sheriff’s Office; 4. Continuous service with Bexar County. C. Deputies shall follow the direction and/or orders of the supervisors within their respective tier (Detention or Law Enforcement) up to and including the rank of Captain, after which all deputies, regardless of tier, fall under the authority of Deputy Chiefs and above. Deputies assigned to those special sections that include deputies from both Detention and Law Enforcement shall follow the direction and/or orders of the unit commander, regardless of tier. D. Deputies shall also follow the direction and/or orders of their direct supervisor. In cases where a deputy is following the order of their direct supervisor and another supervisor gives them a contradictory order, they will advise the second supervisor that they are already under conflicting orders. If the second supervisor insists their orders be followed instead, the deputy will do so but will report the new and contradictory order to their direct supervisor as soon as it is practical to do so. E. Law Enforcement deputies shall treat all Detention supervisors with the respect due to their position, shall refer to said supervisors by their rank, and at no time shall engage in interactions or exchanges that would lead members of the public to believe that instances of disrespect or insubordination are taking place. 5 F. The Chain of Command may be by-passed in emergency situations. 3.07 RESPONSIBILITY OF SUPERVISION A. Every employee of the Sheriff’s Office, except the Sheriff, shall have a supervisor, that being the next above him or her in the chain of command. Each supervisor or person in command is accountable for the proper execution of every order, policy, or instruction. 1. The supervisor is therefore deemed to supervise such execution of orders or instructions by personal presence and established rules, instructions given, or delegation of authority. Lack of physical presence does not relieve the supervisor of supervisory responsibility. 2. They shall also take all reasonable steps to determine that each employee being supervised performs their duty completely and promptly and complies with existing Sheriff’s Office rules, and that each employee being supervised has the proper equipment, training, and support needed to safely and efficiently perform their assigned duties. A supervisor is expected and required to offer suggestions and recommend solutions to problems which arise daily, thus increasing efficiency and promoting high morale. B. A supervisor assumes the responsibility for the direction of all subordinate employees in the chain of command. Each supervisor or person in command shall act in a manner that will: 1. Promote an understanding and compliance with all policies and procedures; 2. Create and maintain a high degree of morale among the employees; 3. Provide suitable, clear-cut, decisive instructions and orders; 4. Develop efficient procedures which will be used to promote maximum productivity; 5. Strive to match the capabilities of subordinates accurately with the requirement of assignments; 6. Inspire confidence and industriousness by properly giving orders and testing their understanding of the instructions to ensure subordinates know in detail what they need to do, how to do it, and the reasons for the task; 7. Guide employees to correct their own mistakes and set an example for all others to follow; 8. Maintain a high level of morale and respect through friendly, but reserved conduct toward subordinates, and personally set the example; and 9. Be fair, impartial, and objective in evaluating the work of subordinates. 6