Policy Manual

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Chief's Preface

The policy manual for the Louisville, CO Police Department provides guidelines to all members of our agency in the performance of their duties. The policies and procedures outlined in this document are maintained and reviewed regularly to ensure compliance with legislative changes, reflect industry best practices, and support our department's professional standards of conduct. Our agency strives to deliver exceptional service to our community to enhance the quality of life in Louisville. We will continue to work in partnership with our residents to maintain a safe and secure city and we value collaboration in our operations to enhance those relationships.

While no policy manual is capable of addressing all situations police employees encounter, our members will use the guidelines outlined in the document together with their training and sound judgment in their decision making process. Decisions should be based on legal, ethical, and moral principles and reflect a commitmentto upholding the values and canons of the City of Louisville and the Police Department.

All employees will be responsible for reviewing and understanding our policies and procedures and
remaining current with revisions or updates that result. Each member of the agency, to include myself, is expected to act with professionalism and accountability. I am committed to supporting the organization and will work with each member of this agency toward our mutual success.

Rafael Gutierrez
Chief of Police

Law Enforcement Code of Ethics and Oath of Honor

Law Enforcement Code of Ethics

As a law enforcement officer, my fundamental duty is to serve the community; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation and the peaceful against abuse or disorder; and to respect the constitutional rights of all to liberty, equality and justice.

I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all and will behave in a manner that does not bring discredit to me or to my agency. I will maintain courageous calm in the face of danger, scorn or ridicule; develop self-restraint; and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others. Honest in thought and deed both in my personal and official life, I will be exemplary in obeying the law and the regulations of my department. Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature or that is confided to me in my official capacity will be kept ever secret unless revelation is necessary in the performance of my duty.

I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, political beliefs, aspirations, animosities or friendships to influence my decisions. With no compromise for crime and with relentless prosecution of criminals, I will enforce the law courteously and appropriately without fear or favor, malice or ill will, never employing unnecessary force or abuse and never accepting gratuities.

I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of police service. I will never engage in acts of corruption or bribery, nor will I condone such acts by other police officers. I will cooperate with all legally authorized agencies and their representatives in the pursuit of justice.

I know that I alone am responsible for my own standard of professional performance and will take every reasonable opportunity to enhance and improve my level of knowledge and competence. I will constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself before God to my chosen profession . . . law enforcement.

Oath of Honor

On my honor, I will never betray my profession, my integrity, my character or the public trust. I will always have the courage to hold myself and others accountable for our actions. I will always uphold the laws of my constitution, my community and the agency I serve.

Essence, Mission Statement, Values and Philosophy

Essence - Safety, Quality of Life, Community

Mission Statement - Ensuring public safety and improving the quality of life in partnership with our
community.

Core Values - We commit our talent and energy to the Mission of the Louisville Police Department by consistently demonstrating the following Core Values:

Collaboration - We embrace teamwork by coordinating efforts and ideas, being flexible, accessible and open to change and input. We achieve better outcomes as partners.
Communication - We are conduits for meaningful communication. We actively listen and shareinformation, are transparent and follow through.
Integrity - We conduct ourselves ethically and honestly to enhance trust within our organization and the community.
Leadership - We inspire, motivate, empower, guide, model accountability and are courageous.
Preparedness - We invest in our organization's success and are focused on continuous improvement. We provide professional development and training opportunities, stay current onindustry trends and technology, strive for innovation and serve as proactive problem solvers.
Respect - We are open-minded, appreciate diversity and value the rights of all people.

Philosophy - Public safety and crime prevention are the department's top priorities. City provided policeservice is designed to protect the public through education, prevention, response, enforcement, and investigative services. The Louisville Police Department provides both service and safety, and has adopted a philosophical shift from a traditional 9-1-1 driven, purely reactive approach, to an emphasis on communitybased, prevention-oriented (investigating beyond the obvious) police services. Often referred to as community oriented policing, the Louisville Police Department believes in building partnerships with the community to work on solving crime and crime related problems. One primary goal of this approach is to reduce crime and disorder by carefully examining the characteristics of problems in neighborhoods, and then applying appropriate problem solving remedies. To be successful, this effort should engage many different
groups within the city, including neighborhood alliances, local schools, human service agencies, church groups and members of the business community.

Rules

Compliance with Values, Rules, and General Orders - Except as otherwise approved by the Chief of Police, members of the department perform their duties in accordance with city and department rules, policies, and procedures, and conduct themselves within the framework of the department's values.

Conformance with Laws - Members obey the laws of the United States of America and of any state or local jurisdiction. Employees have a duty to report any custodial arrest, criminal summons or receipt of a restraining/protection order they are served to an on-duty supervisor. A conviction for violation of law is prima facie evidence of a violation of this rule.

Truthfulness - Members are truthful in matters associated with or related to department business or responsibilities, except as recognized for legitimate investigative purposes.

Respect for Others - Members treat others with fairness and respect.

Police Authority and Public Trust - Members are entrusted to effectively, helpfully, and nonabusively use the authority and public trust vested in them. Members do not take any police action which they know, or reasonably should know, is not in accordance with the law, and always use their position and credentials appropriately. members appropriately utilize city equipment, resources, and public monies.

Use of Force - Members only use a level of force that is lawful and reasonable under given circumstances.

Adherence to Orders - Members obey lawful orders and directives.

Conduct - Members use reasonable judgment and refrain from conduct which reflects unfavorably on the department. This type of conduct includes that which:

causes embarrassment to the department or its members, or compromises the department's reputation;
reflects discredit upon the individual as a member of the department; or
tends to impair the operation, effectiveness, credibility, or efficiency of the department or its members.

Cooperation in Investigations - Members assist and cooperate with any department authorized investigation.

Security of Police Information - Members treat the official business of the department asconfidential. Members do not:

access, disseminate, or remove any official report or record for other than authorized purposes;
communicate any information which may jeopardize an investigation, arrest, police action, or
prosecution, or which may aid a person to escape, destroy, or remove evidence; or
communicate any information which may endanger the safety or well being of others or
jeopardize the operation of the department.

Chapter 1: Law Enforcement Role and Authority

Chapter 2: Organization and Administration

Chapter 3: General Operations

Chapter 7: Equipment

Chapter 8: Support Services

Chapter 9: Custody

Chapter 10: Personnel

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