5.3 Rules of Conduct

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Centreville Police Department
Title: Rules of Conduct Directive #: 5.3
Issued: 10.1.2016 Revised: 7.12.2018 / Rev. #1
Approved by: Kenneth N. Rhodes
Chief of Police
A. Authority
The Chief of Police shall have the power to make any rules necessary to promote the effective and efficient
performance of the duties of the Department and to insure the good governance of the Department and its
employees. The authority of the Chief shall also include the power, to suspend, amend, rescind, abrogate, or
cancel any rule adopted by him or by any former Chief of Police.
B. Policy
1. It is the policy of the Centreville Police Department that all employees shall comply with the rules of
conduct as herein stated, with the additions and amendments to these rules that may be promulgated
and with all other orders and directives, either verbal or written, which may be issued by competent
authority. The violation of any rule of conduct, procedure, or lawful order, whether written or verbal,
subjects the violator to disciplinary action.
2. Ignorance of the rules and regulations, procedures, directives and orders of the Department is not
justification for any such violation. An employee shall be responsible for his own acts and he may not
transfer to others his responsibility for executing or failing to execute any lawful order or police duty.
C. Unbecoming Conduct
1. Every employee shall conduct himself at all times, both on and off duty, in a manner which reflects most
favorably on the Department. The phrase "reflects most favorably" pertains to the perceptions of both
citizens and other Department employees. Conduct unbecoming an employee shall include that which
tends to bring the Department into disrepute, or reflects discredit upon the employee as a representative
of the Department, or that which tends to impair the operation or efficiency of the Department or
employee.
2. A supervisor will not injure or discredit a subordinate through unreasonable, unjust, arbitrary, or
tyrannical conduct, or abusive language.
3. An employee of the Department shall not maliciously threaten, strike, or assault any other employee of
the Department.
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D. Insubordination
1. CPD employees shall, unless otherwise directed by competent authority, transact all official business with
employees senior in rank or classification only through the official chain of command.
2. An employee shall promptly obey all lawful orders of a superior, including those from a superior relayed
by an employee of equal or lesser rank. A lawful order is any order, either verbal or written, which an
employee should reasonably believe to be in keeping with the performance of his duties or the
responsibilities of his post.
3. An Employee will obey all orders from superiors, whether written or verbal, except when compliance with
such orders would require the commission of an illegal act. No employee without adequate justification,
will intentionally issue an order that is contrary to an order issued by a superior. Employees to whom
conflicting orders are issued will call immediate attention to such conflict; however, if the conflict is not
resolved, the last order will be obeyed.
4. Any order may be countermanded in an emergency. An employee countermanding a prior order will
immediately report the reason for his action to his immediate supervisor. Responsibility for all prudent
and reasonable action necessary for compliance with orders will remain with the superior issuing the
order. Accountability for all action taken in compliance with orders remains that of the person taking such
action.
5. At the scene of any incident, the assigned police employee shall be in charge until relieved at the direction
of another police employee senior in rank.
E. Criticism
An employee shall not criticize or ridicule the Centreville Police Department, any other Town Department or
Town Official, or the Maryland Judiciary, their policies, or their officers by speech, in writing, or by expression
in any other manner, when such speech, writing, or other expression is defamatory, obscene, unlawful,
exhibits a reckless disregard for truthfulness, or tends to undermine the operation of the Centreville Police
Department, other Town agency, or the Judiciary by impairing their efficiency or interfering with their
operation or maintenance of discipline.
F. Abuse of Position
1. While deprived of police powers, police employees of the Department will not wear the uniform and will
not represent themselves in an official capacity as an employee of the Department.
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2. An employee is prohibited from using his official position, his official identification card or badge or any
other item that represents him as a member of the CPD for personal or financial benefit or as a means of
obtaining privileges not otherwise available to him, or for avoiding consequences of illegal acts. An
employee may not lend his identification card or badge to another person, or permit it to be
photographed or reproduced without the approval of the Chief of Police.
3. An employee shall not permit or authorize the use of his name, photograph, or official title identifying him
as an employee of the Centreville Police Department in connection with testimonials or advertisements of
any commodity, commercial enterprise, political advertisement or for personal reasons without the
approval of the Chief of Police.
4. An employee shall not sign a petition, without the authority of the Chief of Police when his signature
identifies him as an employee of the Department; nor shall any employee sign any petition which has an
unlawful purpose. However, any employee may sign a lawful petition as a private citizen.
5. An employee shall not address a public gathering, appear on radio or television, prepare any article for
publication, act as a correspondent to a newspaper or a periodical, release or divulge investigative
information or any other matters of the Department, either in an official or unofficial capacity without first
having obtained permission from the Chief of Police.
G. Associations
1. An employee shall avoid associations or dealings with persons whom he knows, or should know, are
racketeers, gamblers, felons, persons under criminal investigation or indictment, or others who have a
reputation in the community for felonious or criminal behavior, except as directed otherwise by a
superior. The purpose of this rule is to maintain the integrity of the employee and to avoid relationships
which would tend to impair the operation of the Department.
2. An employee shall not visit or enter a house of prostitution, gambling house, or any other establishment
wherein the laws of the United States, the laws of the State of Maryland, or any other law or ordinance of
a political subdivision are violated except in the performance of duty and while acting in response to
lawful and specific orders of a superior.
3. An employee of the Department shall not in any manner affiliate himself with any organization,
association, movement, group or combination of persons which advocates the overthrow of the
Government of the United States or any state, or which has adopted the policy of advocating or approving
the commission of acts of force or violence to deny any person his rights under the Constitution of the
United States or any state, or which seeks to alter the form of government of the United States or any
state by unconstitutional means.
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H. Immoral Conduct
Every employee shall maintain a level of moral conduct in his personal affairs which is in keeping with the
highest standards of the law enforcement profession. No employee shall be a participant in any incident
involving moral turpitude which compromises or has the potential to compromise his ability to perform as a
law enforcement officer or as an employee of the Centreville Police Department, or causes the Department to
be brought into disrepute.
I. Conformance to Laws
An employee shall not violate his oath of office and trust or any other condition of his employment with the
Town of Centreville or commit an offense punishable under the laws or statutes of the United States or any
sovereign nation, the State of Maryland, or public local laws or ordinances or civil violations. Any employee
who has been charged with a violation of any law, statute, or public local law or ordinance stipulated in this
Section must report the facts concerning such violation immediately to his commanding officer. Parking
violations, except when they are issued to a Department vehicle, are exempted from this subsection.
J. Payment of Debts
1. Employees of the Centreville Police Department shall make every effort to pay all just debts and legal
liabilities.
K. Seeking or Accepting Gifts, Gratuities/ Bribes
1. A police employee shall not solicit, seek, or accept any gift or gratuity, including food or drink for himself
or another from any individual, business establishment, or merchant, where such offer of acceptance can
be construed to be an effort to influence his official conduct as an Centreville police officer.
2. A police employee shall not receive, seek, solicit, or share in any fee, reward, or other reimbursement for
the performance of his official duties, or for his failure to perform official duties, except as directed by the
Chief of Police. He shall immediately report any offer, or attempt to offer, of money, gift, or other gratuity
made in an effort to influence his official conduct.
3. Employees of the Centreville Police Department shall not solicit or accept any subscription or contribution
for any purpose whatsoever except in conformance with Department policy.
L. Political Activity
1. CPD employees shall not attend any political event, fundraiser, rally or the like while on duty unless on
official department business.
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2. CPD employees that are off duty, may not wear a department uniform, display any department insignia or
use a department vehicle or identify themselves as a member of the CPD while attending any political
event, fundraiser, rally or the like.
M. Labor Activities
An employee shall not engage in any strike or job action. Strike or job action includes, but is not limited to, a
failure to report for duty, willful absence from duty, unauthorized holidays, sickness unsubstantiated by
physician's statement, stoppage of work, or the abstinence in whole or in part from the full, faithful, and
proper performance of the duties of employment for the purpose of inducing, influencing, or coercing a
change in conditions, compensation, rights, privileges, or obligations of employment.
N. Secondary Employment
A police employee shall not be employed in any capacity in any other business, trade, occupation, or
profession, while employed by the Centreville Police Department, except as established by Department and
Town policy, and approved by the Chief of Police.
O. Department Communications
1. An employee shall submit all reports, both verbal and written, required by the Department, on time and in
accordance with established procedures. All official business transacted by Department employees must
be processed through the chain of command.
2. The following procedure will govern the submission of reports in administrative investigations:
a. During any administrative investigation an accused employee shall, upon order of competent
authority, submit a written report detailing the facts concerning his involvement in the incident being
investigated where the incident is related specifically, directly, and narrowly to the performance of his
official duties.
b. Whenever an employee of the Centreville Police Department is ordered to submit a detailed report
concerning an incident in which he is alleged to have been involved and if the authority ordering the
report knows or should have known, that the report is likely to contain information which may be
used as evidence against the employee in a disciplinary hearing, then the authority ordering the report
will, at the time of such order, provide the member with a copy of Notification of Complaint/Waiver of
Rights . The Notification of Complaint should clearly state that the recipient is the subject of an
investigation, and clearly include the nature of the investigation. These criteria do not apply to the
submission of procedural reports required by Department standard operating procedure, rule or
policy.
3. A police employee shall report to his supervisor all information that comes to his attention concerning
organized crime, racketeering, vice conditions, etc.
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4. All reports submitted by employees of this Department will be truthful; no employee shall knowingly
report or cause to be reported any false information or omit any relevant information. A clear distinction
must be made between reports which contain false information and those which contain inaccurate or
improper information. To prove by a preponderance of evidence that one has submitted a false report,
evidence must be presented for consideration that such report is designedly untrue, deceitful, or made
with the intent to deceive the person to whom it was directed.
5. All reports submitted by employees of this Department will be complete and will not contain improper or
inaccurate information. Inaccurate or improper information may be characterized by that which is untrue
by mistake or accident or made in good faith, after the exercise of reasonable care.
6. An employee shall treat the official business of the Department as confidential. Information regarding
official business shall be disseminated only to those for whom it is intended in accordance with
established Department procedures. An employee may remove or copy official records or reports from
the Department only in accordance with established procedures. An employee shall not divulge the
identity of a person giving confidential information, except as authorized by proper authority in the
performance of police duties.
7. The use of department telephones, computers and FAX machines shall be limited to the conduct of official
business except for personal or emergency calls made/received in accordance with established policy.
P. Interrogations
1. In all instances where an employee of the Centreville Police Department has been accused of an act of
misconduct or of any other impropriety, the commission of which is a violation of any Department rule of
conduct, procedure or order, the employee shall, after being advised of his rights as specified in the
Department disciplinary procedures be subject to the procedures outlined in this Chapter. To the extent
that the allegations of misconduct against an employee may also involve a violation of the criminal law,
the procedures outlined in this chapter must be administered consistent with established constitutional
rights guaranteed to all individuals charged with, or suspected of, criminal offenses.
2. During any administrative investigation an accused employee shall, at the request of competent authority,
submit to an interrogation and polygraph examination. The questions to be asked during the
interrogation and the polygraph examination will be related specifically, directly, and narrowly to the
performance of the employee's official duties and to the subject matter of the current investigation.
3. On the order of competent authority, an employee shall submit to any medical, chemical, or other tests,
photographs or lineups. All procedures carried out under this rule shall be specifically, directly, and
narrowly related to the nature and scope of the accused's employment and conduct.
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Q. Reporting For Duty
1. An employee of the Department shall not absent himself without properly approved leave.
2. An employee shall report for duty at the time and place specified by his supervisor and shall be physically
and mentally fit to perform his duty. He shall be properly equipped and cognizant of information required
for the proper performance of duty so that he may immediately assume his duties.
3. Every employee shall log or have logged for him on the appropriate form the time his tour of duty began
and ended.
4. If any employee of the Department is unable to report for duty due to sickness or other causes, such
employee shall, as soon as possible, notify his immediate superior of the reasons for his absence.
5. Police employees, while off duty, shall be subject to call at all times. In the event of an emergency or
potential emergency, police employees ordered to an "inactive - on call" duty status and those required to
leave word where they may be reached, will notify the on-duty CPD Supervisor of the location and
telephone number where they can be contacted.
R. Fictitious Illness or Injury Reports
An employee shall not feign illness or injury, falsely report himself ill or injured, or otherwise deceive or
attempt to deceive any officer of the Department as to the condition of his health.
S. Interference with Duty
1. An employee shall not attempt to bring influence to bear on the Chief of Police for the purpose of securing
promotion or reassignment, or to avoid penalties for violations of the Department's policies, rules,
procedures or orders.
2. An employee shall not interfere with cases assigned to other employees for investigation without consent,
except by order of a superior officer; nor shall he interfere with the operation of a division, section, or
unit. An employee shall not interfere with any lawful arrest or any prosecution brought by other police
employees of the Centreville Police Department or by any other Department or person. A police
employee shall not undertake any investigation or other police action not a part of his regular police
duties without first obtaining permission from his superior unless he can justify the need for his
immediate intervention.
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3. An employee of the Department shall not be directly or indirectly concerned with making arrangements,
agreements, or compromises between a criminal and a person who has suffered from his criminal acts for
the purpose of allowing the criminal to escape any punishment prescribed by law. Any employee having
knowledge of such an arrangement, agreement, or compromise shall report such to his immediate
superior without delay.
4. An employee of this Department shall not reveal the identity of a police employee assigned to plain
clothes or covert investigative work. An employee shall not recognize such employees unless such other
member salutes or acknowledges him first.
T. Abuse of Process/Withholding Evidence
An employee shall not intentionally manufacture, tamper with, falsify, destroy, or withhold evidence or
information, or make any false accusations of a criminal charge.
U. Evidence/Found and Recovered Property
Property which has been received as evidence in connection with investigations or which, for any other
reason, comes into the custody of any officer of this Department, will be processed in accordance with
established procedures. An employee shall not convert to his own use, manufacture, tamper with, or damage
through negligence, or destroy, or in any other way misappropriate any evidence or any other material or
property found in connection with an investigation or other police action, except in accordance with
established Department procedures.
V. Suggestions Pertaining to Services
An employee shall not recommend or suggest in any manner, except in the transaction of personal business
and then representing himself only as a private citizen, the employment or procurement of a particular
product, professional service, or commercial service (such as an attorney, ambulance or towing service,
bondsman, mortician, etc.). In the case of ambulance or towing service when such service is necessary and
the person needing service is unable or unwilling to procure it, the employee shall proceed as a law
enforcement officer in accordance with Department procedure.
W. Requests for Assistance
1. When the public requests assistance or advice, either by telephone or in person, all pertinent information
will be taken in an official and courteous manner, and will be acted upon consistent with established
Department procedures.
2. Police employees of the Department shall not act in an official capacity, without authority, in any civil
case, except where such action will prevent a breach of the peace or assist in quelling a disturbance.
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X. Citizen Complaints
An employee shall courteously and promptly accept any allegation or complaint made by a citizen against any
employee of the Centreville Police Department. The receipt and processing of all complaints shall be in
conformance with established Department procedures.
Y. Courtesy
1. An employee shall be courteous to the public and to fellow employees. He shall be tactful in the
performance of his duties, shall control his temper and exercise utmost patience and discretion, and shall
not engage in argumentative discussions, even in the face of extreme provocation. While on duty or in
the performance of his duties, he shall not use coarse, violent, profane, or insolent language or gestures
toward the public or fellow employees. He shall not express any prejudice or use language which might
be insulting or demeaning to the public or fellow employees concerning race, sex, religion, politics,
national origin, gender identity, lifestyle, or similar personal characteristics.
2. Police employees will at all times show respect for their fellow employees and will conform to the rules of
military courtesy and military discipline as prescribed by the Chief of Police.
Z. Identification
1. During the times that a police employee is not readily identified by the uniform of the Centreville Police
Department, he shall carry his badge and identification card on his person. He shall furnish his name,
identification number and assignment to any person properly entitled to this information, at any time,
except when authorized not to do so by proper authority and when such refusal may be necessary for the
proper performance of his police duties.
2. When a police employee makes a traffic stop or makes an arrest while in plainclothes, he shall identify
himself to the violator and display his badge and/or identification card.
AA. Personal Appearance
A police employee will maintain a neat, well-groomed appearance and will style his hair and wear his uniform
consistent with established Department policy, procedures, and directives.
BB. Neglect of Duty
1. Department employees shall be punctual in attendance to all calls, requirements of duty, court
appointments, and other assignments.
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2. An employee will not read, play games, watch television or movies, or engage in any activity or personal
business while on duty that would cause him to neglect or be inattentive to that duty.
3. The failure of a police employee to take appropriate action, either on or off duty, on the occasion of a
crime, disorder, or other condition deserving police or Department administrative attention is considered
neglect of duty.
4. A police employee will not, without proper authorization, absent himself from his assigned place of work
during his tour of duty.
5. An employee will remain awake and alert while he is on duty. If unable to do so, he will report to his
supervisor, who will determine the proper course of action.
6. A police employee may be authorized to suspend patrol or other assigned activity, subject to immediate
recall at all times, for the purpose of having meals during his tour of duty, but only for such periods and at
such times as are authorized by his supervisor. He will at all times be available via 2 way police radio.
CC. Use of Alcoholic Beverages
1. An employee will not drink intoxicating beverages while in uniform or while on duty unless it is necessary
for the performance of his duty. In every case where it is necessary for an employee to use intoxicating
beverages while on duty, written permission must be obtained from the employee's immediate superior.
An employee given written permission to consume intoxicating beverages while on duty may not do so to
the extent that his ability to perform his duty is impaired.
2. An employee will not report to work with any level of alcohol in his system.
3. Inactive-on call / Unrestricted standby / Recalled to duty
a. Inactive-on call - An employee ordered to an inactive-on call duty status will not consume alcoholic
beverages during the time that he is on call.
b. Unrestricted standby - An employee who, by virtue of a written or verbal order, duty schedule, etc., is
informed that he has been placed on unrestricted standby duty status and that it is expected he will
be able to immediately report for duty if called, shall not consume alcoholic beverages.
c. Recalled to duty - An employee not in an inactive-on call or unrestricted duty status who has
consumed alcoholic beverages and is recalled to duty will notify the supervisor on duty of his condition
and will refrain from further consumption of alcoholic beverages. The employee will be afforded
sufficient reporting time to assure the alcohol is no longer in his system.
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4. No employee of the Department will bring any intoxicating beverage into any building or quarters officially
occupied by the Centreville Police Department, nor will he permit the same to be brought therein, except
as evidence or pursuant to Department property held procedures, and excluding commercial or
prescribed medication.
DD. Use of Drugs
An employee will not use any controlled substance, narcotic, or hallucinogen, except when prescribed in the
treatment of an employee by a licensed physician or dentist. When controlled substances, narcotics, or
hallucinogens are prescribed, an employee shall promptly notify the Chief of Police of this fact.
EE. Treatment of Persons in Custody
1. A police employee will not mistreat persons who are in his custody. He will handle persons in accordance
with established Department procedures.
2. A police employee of the Department will not, without proper authority, release any prisoner in his charge
or, through neglect or design, allow any prisoner in his charge to escape.
FF. Use of Force
A police employee, acting in his official capacity, shall not use unnecessary or excessive force. CPD employees
will employ the minimum amount of force necessary to affect an arrest and overcome any resistance offered.
GG. Firearms
Weapons shall not be used, displayed, or handled in a careless or imprudent fashion or contrary to Centreville
Police Department policy.
HH. Department Equipment
1. Department equipment shall be used and maintained in accordance with established Department
procedures and shall not be abused, damaged, altered, or through negligence, lost. An employee of the
Department shall not cause or contribute to the damage, abuse, alteration, or loss of any Department
equipment through negligence or carelessness. An employee may not convert to his own use or in any
way misappropriate Department equipment/property.
2. Any employee of the Department deprived of his police powers will turn in all Department issued
equipment designated in the order suspending his police powers. Employees under suspension are not
permitted to operate a Department vehicle.
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3. An employee will operate an official vehicle in a careful and prudent manner, and will not through
negligent or careless operation incur or cause damage to be incurred to Department property or to the
property of another. He will obey all laws of the State of Maryland and all local ordinances, and conform
to all Department procedures and regulations pertaining to operation and maintenance of any
Department vehicle assigned to him on a permanent or temporary basis. An employee will at all times set
a proper example for other persons by his operation of a vehicle.
4. Damage to or loss of Department equipment will be reported in conformance with Department
procedure.
5. An employee will not have any item of Department equipment repaired, adjusted, or modified without
official authorization.
6. Only employees of this Department will be permitted to operate or attempt to operate any Department
owned vehicle, or use any Department issued firearm, or use any other item of property owned by the
Centreville Police Department; however, specific exceptions to this rule may be authorized by the Chief of
Police.
II. Incompetence
Employees of this Department shall be held strictly responsible for the proper performance of their duties.
Employees shall maintain sufficient competency to properly perform their duties and assume the
responsibilities of their positions. Employees shall perform their duties in a manner which will maintain the
highest standards of efficiency in carrying out the functions and objectives of the Department.
JJ. Sexual Behavior
An employee shall not engage in any sexual behavior while on duty. While off duty, Department personnel
shall not engage in any sexual behavior in a Department facility, while using a Department vehicle or while
using any Department owned or issued equipment. Sexual behavior is any sexual act, sexual contact, or
vaginal intercourse as defined in Md. Code Ann. CR 3-301.
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