2.2 Chain of Command & Position Responsibilities

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Centreville Police Department
Title: Chain of Command & Position Responsibilities Directive #: 2.2
Issued: 10.1.2016 Revised: 7.12.2018
Approved by: Kenneth N, Rhodes
Chief of Police
A. Purpose
To describe and define the CPD Chain of Command and position responsibilities.
B. Policy
The CPD will provide all employees with a detailed description of the CPD command structure to ensure they
understand their responsibility and authority within the Department.
C. Procedures
1. Authority, Accountability and Responsibility
a. Authority to execute the required activity of the department or particular rank will be delegated by
the Chief, through the chain of command, to individual employees.
b. At every level, employees will be given the authority to make decisions that are necessary for the
effective completion of their responsibilities. Every employee within the Department has been
delegated the authority necessary to make crucial decisions allowing them to execute their
responsibilities and complete their designated function within the Department.
c. Every employee will be held accountable for his performance and the performance of any employee
he supervises.
d. Accountability will include the use of, or failure to use, delegated authority in accomplishing the
responsibilities of their position.
e. Each supervisor:
(1) is responsible for the performance and conduct of his subordinates.
(2) may delegate the authority to complete a duty or task to any employee within his chain of
command, unless that duty has been specifically assigned to that Supervisor for
completion.
(3) retains responsibility for any task or duty that he delegates.
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2. Chain of Command
a. The chain of command will be the line of authority which extends from the Chief through a single
person at each level of supervision to the level of execution.
b. Unless stated otherwise, all CPD communications will follow the chain of command.
c. Each police position within the Department has a rank designation. The ranks in descending order are
as follows:
• Colonel (Chief of Police)
• Lieutenant
• Sergeant
• Corporal
• Officer First Class (OFC)
• Officer (Ofc.)
• Probationary Officer
d. For the purpose of issuing orders, all ranks below Sergeant are considered equal unless an Officer has
been designated as an acting Supervisor or assumes the function of Patrol Supervisor as outlined in
Section 1.1.
3. Position Responsibilities
a. Chief of Police
The Chief of Police is responsible for and will administer the activities and operations of the
Department and will make rules necessary to promote the effective and efficient performance of
responsibilities. All CPD employees are ultimately responsible to the Chief.
b. Lieutenant
The Lieutenant reports directly to the Chief of Police and is responsible for the overall operation of
the Department in his absence. In addition to the responsibilities enumerated in this paragraph, the
Lieutenant shares those responsibilities for all ranks below him. The responsibilities of the Lieutenant
include:
• Compliance with Department policy and procedures.
• Proper supervision.
• Employee performance and morale.
• Public safety.
• Public relations.
• All other matters which affect the effective and efficient daily operation of the Department.
c. Sergeant
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(1) In addition to having the same responsibilities of Corporal and Patrol Officers, Sergeants have the
added responsibility of being supervisors who perform a patrol function and oversee the
performance of subordinates to insure compliance with all Department policies and procedures.
When assigned temporary command, a police supervisor will actively manage operations.
(2) A supervisor's function is to direct and oversee the work of others. His effectiveness is based on
the performance of the persons he supervises as well as their own individual performance.
(3) A supervisor will:
• be a leader.
• be aware of the morale of those supervised.
• influence and motivate those supervised relative to the quantity and quality of their work.
• will perform all duties related to the patrol function including handling calls for service and
investigating crime.
d. Corporal & Patrol Officers (including OFC/Ofc.)
Corporals and Patrol Officers will be responsible for prompt and proper action in all police matters
and the rendering of prompt and courteous service in the manner prescribed by the rules, policies,
and procedures of the Department. In the absence of written directives covering specific situations,
an officer is expected to exercise proper and reasonable judgment in the performance of his duties.
e. Regardless of rank, every sworn CPD employee is responsible for the investigation of reported crimes
and offenses, identification and arrest of perpetrators thereof, and proper introduction of same into
the criminal justice system. Within the limits of law, Departmental policy, and training, the officer has
the authority to make appropriate decisions. The officer may seek the advice of supervisors or other
persons within the criminal justice system who possess expertise concerning any matter being
handled.
4. Command in the absence of the Chief
a. If the Chief is unavailable to command the CPD, either by absence or incapacitation and until the Chief
is able to resume command:
(1) he may designate an employee to be acting Chief, usually the next highest ranking senior police
employee; and
(2) If he is unable to designate an acting Chief, the next highest senior ranking police employee will
assume command of the CPD.
5. Command Protocol
a. Command at an incident involving members of the CPD, will be determined by rank.
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b. A ranking officer’s arrival on the scene of an incident does not automatically place him in charge,
unless he announces he is taking control consistent with the Incident Command Policy.
c. The senior officer at a scene will remain in charge unless he is relieved by an officer senior in rank.
6. Obedience to Orders
a. An employee will promptly obey all lawful orders of a superior, including those from a superior
relayed by an employee of equal or lesser rank, however:
(1) an employee will not obey an order which he knows, or should know, would require him to
commit an illegal act.
b. No employee, without adequate justification, will intentionally issue an order that is contrary to an
order issued by an officer of higher rank.
c. Employees who are given an otherwise proper order which is in conflict with a previous order, rule
regulation or directive, will inform the supervisor issuing the order. If the higher ranking employee
issuing the order does not alter or retract the conflicting order:
(1) the last order will be obeyed;
(2) the responsibility for the conflict will be upon the higher ranking employee;
(3) the employee will not be held responsible for having disobeyed the previously issued
order, rule, regulation or directive.
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