For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
CHIEF. The office of Chief of Police and the person occupying that office at the time, whether he or she is acting in a permanent or temporary capacity.
CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE. An employee of the Police Department not sworn in as a police officer.
CONDUCT UNBECOMING AN OFFICER. Any of the following:
(1) Use of profane language in public;
(2) Loss of temper and self-control;
(3) Discourteous treatment of a citizen or fellow law enforcement officer;
(4) Loud, boisterous, vulgar, indecorous, clownish, or obtrusive behavior in public;
(5) Repeating rumors or falsehoods concerning a fellow officer or holding a fellow officer up to ridicule;
(6) Knowingly submitting a false report to the Police Department;
(7) Knowingly withholding information from the Police Department or any court in which the officer is a witness; and
(8) Any other act or conduct which is unethical or tends to ridicule, debase, disgrace, or degrade the officer or his or her department, or otherwise create disrespect.
GENERAL ORDER. A written order issued by the Chief, approved by the Board, and applicable to the entire Police Department which expresses and establishes a principle, policy, or procedure concerning a given subject and which is effective permanently or until revoked by a subsequent order.
OFF DUTY. The period during which an officer is not actively engaged in the performance of his or her duties.
OFFICER. Any employee sworn in as a police officer of the Police Department of the city.
ON DUTY. The period when an officer is actively engaged in the performance of his or her duties either on a regular tour of duty or when on duty during and by reason of emergency.
RANKING OFFICER. The officer on the scene with the highest rank assuming that he or she is not incapacitated at the time and thereby unable to assume leadership. If officers of equal rank are present, then the one with the most seniority shall be the RANKING OFFICER. This shall not prevent the Chief from specifically delegating responsibility for command of a detail or situation to an officer regardless of his or her seniority status and, in which event, the delegated officer shall be considered the RANKING OFFICER.
SHIFT. A tour of duty to which an officer may be assigned, the hours of which shall be established, from time to time, by the Chief.
SICK LEAVE. The period during which an officer is excused from active duty and reporting by reason of illness or injury.
SPECIAL DUTY. The service which the officer is assigned to perform which is not regular routine duty.
SPECIAL ORDER. A written order issued by the Chief applicable to the entire Department, shifts, or individuals of the Department which establishes a temporary principle, policy, or procedure concerning a given subject for a stated period of time. When the effective period of the special order is not stated, it becomes inoperative with the passing of the incident.
(Ord. 1974-1, passed 1-24-1974; Ord. 1995-1, passed 1-26-1995; Ord. 2006-8, passed 5-25-2006)