Members and employees are responsible for the proper care of Department
property and equipment assigned to them. Damaged or lost property may subject
the responsible individual to reimbursement charges and appropriate disciplinary
action.
A. Damaged/inoperative property or equipment. Members and
employees shall immediately report to their commanding officer on designated
forms any loss of or damage to Department property assigned to or used by
them. The immediate superior will be notified of any defects or hazardous
conditions existing in any Department equipment or property.
B. Care of Department buildings. Members and employees shall
not mar, mark or deface any surface in any Department building. No material
shall be affixed in any way to any wall in Department buildings without specific
authorization from a commanding officer.
C. Notices. Members and employees shall not mark, alter
or deface any posted notices of the Department. Notices or announcements shall
not be posted on bulletin boards without permission of a commanding officer,
except for on the Police Benevolent Association board.
D. Department vehicles use. Members shall not use any Department
vehicle without the permission of a commanding officer. Department vehicles
shall never be used for personal business or pleasure.
E. Operation of motor vehicles. Members and employees, when
driving vehicles of any description, private or of the Department, shall not
violate the traffic laws, except only in cases of absolute emergency and then
only in conformity with the law regarding the same. They shall set an example
for other persons in the operation of their vehicles.
F. Emergency calls and use of red light and siren. Members
driving any Department vehicle, when responding to an emergency call, shall
exercise judgment and care with due regard to the safety of life and property.
They shall slow down at all street intersections to such degree that, when
crossing the same, they will have safe control of their cars, especially when
crossing street intersections where the traffic signal lights are against
them or where there are stop signs. They shall use the red light and sound
the siren on such calls and take the utmost precaution.
G. Transporting citizens. Citizens will be transported in
Department vehicles only when necessary to accomplish a police purpose. Such
transportation will be done in conformance with Department policy or at the
direction of a commanding officer, immediate supervisor or communications
center.
H. Reporting accidents. Accidents involving municipal personnel,
property and equipment must be reported in accordance with Department procedures.
I. Presumption of responsibility. In the event that municipal
property is found bearing evidence of damage which has not been reported,
it shall be presumptive evidence that the last person using the property or
vehicle was responsible.