It shall be the duty of every member of the Patterson Township Police Department to read, acknowledge and conform to all rules and regulations of this Department. Ignorance to their existence shall not constitute a defense for a violation.
All members will enforce all federal, state and municipal ordinance laws. This enforcement shall be conducted in a congenial and gentlemanly manner.
All members of this Department when in uniform shall salute the national colors as they pass on all occasions providing they are facing the colors and are not otherwise engaged. Members when not in uniform shall salute by uncovering and standing at attention. On all occasions when the national anthem is being played, members in uniform shall come to attention and salute. Members not in uniform shall uncover and stand at attention.
A patrolman shall carry out all functions of the Department, including but not limited to the preservation of peace, the protection of life and property, the prevention of crime, the arrest of violators and the proper enforcement of all laws and ordinances. He/she shall constantly direct his/her best efforts to accomplish this in an intelligent, efficient and responsible manner and shall perform those duties and work the hours as prescribed by the Chief of Police.
No member of the Department shall bring or permit to be brought into the Police Station any intoxicating liquor, beer or other beverage unless it represents evidence or has been prescribed by a physician.
Each member when reporting for duty shall be in regulation uniform and be neat and clean in appearance. Routine polishing of leather goods and footwear is encouraged.
The duty officer, during the night and during the times that businesses are closed, will exercise all vigilance in examining and protecting all businesses by making a physical inspection of those businesses and making an entry of any irregularities found onto the business patrol sheet and document the findings via computer incident entry.
A. 
The duty officer will exercise all vigilance in examining and protecting the homes of those residents of Patterson Township and Patterson Heights who are temporarily away. The duty officer on the shift of 12:00 midnight until 8:00 a.m. shall make a physical inspection of those homes and notify the proper individuals of any irregularities found and report the same via computer incident entry. Homes will be inspected every night with the number of homes not to exceed 20 per night. When the number exceeds 20 homes, they will be halved and checked every other night. Should the number exceed 30, they will be divided by three and checked every third night.
B. 
No officer shall enter any residence of an individual temporarily out of Patterson Township or Patterson Heights unless accompanied by an authorized person having right and access. Should the temporary designee not be available and only in cases of emergency, entry may be made in the accompaniment of another police officer. Documentation of these actions will be done via computer incident entry.
At all times, but particularly in hours of darkness, all officers shall constantly vigilant to any suspicious vehicles, persons or movement constituting departures from normal observations. Notations as to vehicle descriptions and license numbers will be logged and any irregularities noted via computer incident entry for other Department members.
Each member of the Department shall be responsible for the routine maintenance, proper care and serviceability of Department-issued property pursuant to all policies enacted and prescribed. Any property lost, stolen or damaged shall be reported immediately to the Chief of Police.
All members of the Department shall promptly turn over all recovered properties, either found or confiscated as evidence, in their possession to the Chief of Police or his/her designate for proper logging and securing within the evidence storage area. Every attempt shall be made to locate the owner of properties found either by Department members or the general public.
A. 
All members of the Department shall treat as confidential the official business of the Department. No member is permitted to repeat, photograph, photocopy or communicate in any fashion any information dealing with the Department itself, Department personnel, or incidents under investigation without express verbal or written permission by the Commissioner of Police or the Chief of Police. This rule shall not apply to information subpoenaed or covered under the Freedom of Information Act.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq.
B. 
No officer shall release details of any incident or accident to the news media. Media releases shall be made only by the Chief of Police or his designate.
Members of the Department shall at all times obey the lawful orders of a superior officer as long as that order is not in conflict with a previous one. The officer noting said previous order shall respectfully bring that conflict to the superior officer's attention for resolution. Obeyance of the most recent order will release the officer from the liability of the previous order. All officers shall at all times display respect of rank while in uniform and in public.
No member of the Department shall permit anyone to operate a Department vehicle other than those persons authorized by the Board of Commissioners, the Chief of Police or the Assistant Chief of Police. No unauthorized person shall ride or be permitted to ride in the Department's patrol vehicles. This rule will not apply to bank or courtesy escorts documented via computer entry.
No member of the Department shall have another officer substitute for him/her on duty without prior permission of the Chief of Police.
No equipment, either personal or Department-issued to that officer, shall be left in any patrol vehicle at the end of that officer's duty tour. Each officer shall inspect the patrol vehicle for damages noting any via computer incident entry and shall in all cases leave the patrol vehicle in a neat and clean condition.
A. 
Any member of this Department who is unable to report for work due to illness or emergency will, in all cases possible, notify the Chief of Police at least two hours in advance of the beginning of his/her assigned duty tour. Should the Chief of Police be unavailable, the Assistant Chief of Police will be notified. Should the Assistant Chief of Police be unavailable, the duty officer shall be notified. The duty officer shall make out two report off sheets to be completed by the officer reporting off when he/she returns to duty. One copy shall remain within the Department, and one copy shall be submitted to the Township Secretary.
B. 
Members of the Department shall be entitled to sick days with pay pursuant to the existing contractual agreement between the Township of Patterson and the Department. However, should the officer be absent from work due to sickness for more than three consecutive scheduled working days but less than seven consecutive scheduled working days, the officer cannot return to work unless released for return to duty by his/her primary care physician. If the work absence exceeds seven consecutive scheduled workings days, in addition to a release by the officer's primary care physician, a release must also be secured by the township's physician. Being absent from work does not include properly selected vacation days, preapproved leave of absence, time off by permission or any period of layoff.
C. 
Any member of the Department taken ill or injured while on duty shall as soon as practical notify the Chief of Police or the Assistant Chief of Police. The duty officer shall not leave his assigned duties until properly relieved unless it is physically impossible to do so. In the case of injury, the incident shall be documented via computer entry and a copy submitted to the Chief of Police as soon as practical.
Members of the Department shall be entitled to vacation time with pay pursuant to the existing contractual agreement between the Township of Patterson and the Department. Vacation time will be chosen by seniority. In no case shall two officers be granted vacation at the same time or during a time period where granting said vacation time would jeopardize or endanger the safety of the Township of Patterson. At his discretion, the Chief of Police may, when feasible, permit an individual vacation day of one officer to be scheduled concurrent with another officer's full vacation week. No vacation time shall be taken during the week of the Fire Company's carnival.
Each officer shall be responsible for the recording of his/her activities via computer report or other documents as required during his/her duty tour. These reports shall be completed by the end of the shift unless exigent circumstances make it impractical. In no case shall any reports or records be removed from the office without express permission of the Chief of Police or the Assistant Chief of Police.
Juveniles, defined as any person under the age of 18 years, committing violations of federal, state or local laws shall be treated in accordance with existing laws governing the handling and adjudication of juveniles. It shall be the responsibility of the Chief of Police to disseminate updates in juvenile procedures to the Department. Juveniles charged with violations of the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code, as amended, will be treated as an adult driver with the exception of Vehicle Code misdemeanor violations.
Because of required municipal police training pursuant to Act 120 of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, it is presumed that all officers are aware of and have demonstrated proficiency in normal police-related matters and preliminary investigations. In the event of a serious crime, it shall be the duty officer's responsibility to take control of the crime scene, assist any injured parties, summon backup police or medical personnel as needed and secure the crime scene. The officer shall then notify the Assistant Chief of Police or his designate as lead investigator. The duty officer shall then conduct preliminary interviews if possible and preserve the crime scene. In no case shall the duty officer permit unauthorized personnel to enter or corrupt the crime scene.
Any officer questioning, detaining, arresting or charging a person with a violation of any enforceable laws shall at all times be in compliance with and adhere to the rules of criminal procedure as prescribed by Pennsylvania State statutes. It shall be the responsibility of the Chief of Police to maintain, through proper and available channels, ongoing or mandated update training.
Any subject in custody will be given the privilege of notifying a relative, friend or legal counsel of their arrest, and all reasonable assistance shall be given them to facilitate that notification.
A. 
While engaged in routine patrol, all officers shall be vigilant to the discovery of a fire. Should an officer locate a fire, he/she will make notification of the location, type and severity of the fire by the quickest means available. It shall also be the duty of the officer to arouse, by whatever means available, any occupants of a burning building or an adjoining building and shall assume charge of the scene until Fire Company personnel arrive, at which time the officer will relinquish command.
B. 
All officers shall maintain fire protection lines at a fire scene and will ensure the protection and safety of all pedestrian and vehicular traffic and will furnish whatever assistance is deemed necessary or requested by the command line officer in charge of the Fire Company. Traffic control duties shall be assumed until such time as the Fire Company fire police arrive and assume their respective duty stations.
When required to interrupt routine patrol duties to answer routine or emergency calls, the officer shall attend to those duties in an expeditious and courteous manner and, after completing the assigned duties, return to routine patrol in a timely fashion.
All officers shall render assistance to any other police agency when requested to do so but only in accordance with all existing Department rules and regulation and when such assistance will not jeopardize the safety or security of the citizenry of Patterson Township or Patterson Heights.
All officers shall investigate and complete the necessary forms and computer data entry for all accidents that occur within the Department's jurisdiction. The classification and approval of said accident reports will be the responsibility of the officer designated by the Chief of Police.
All officers shall, upon institution of a criminal or ordinance arrest, complete and submit all relevant reporting forms and case control jacket folder. The classification and filing responsibilities of said arrest reports will be the responsibility of the officer designated by the Chief of Police.
An officer called upon to control traffic will do so in a manner with due regard for the safety of pedestrians as well as the traveling motorists. The officer shall ensure that all traffic laws are observed and shall do so in a calm, dignified and courteous manner. The reprimand of any traffic violator in an abusive or spectacular manner will not be tolerated.
All officers in the course of routine patrol shall make notice of unsafe, hazardous, unsanitary or offensive conditions and shall make report of the same to the proper state, county, Township or heights agency as soon as practical and make record of the same via computer entry.
No member of the Department shall make or cause to be made any contractual agreement for services or purchases for the Department without express permission of the Chief of Police. This policy shall not prohibit the purchase of minor and/or necessary patrol vehicle parts during times when the Chief of Police is not available and such parts are needed for the safe operation of the patrol unit.
Any officer involved in a motor vehicle accident with a Department vehicle shall notify the Pennsylvania State Police for the purposes of the accident investigation. As soon as practical, the officer will notify the Chief of Police or the Assistant Chief of Police and a detailed computer entry will be made of the incident.
The daylight officer shall be responsible for the washing and cleaning of the patrol vehicles and for the timely delivery of all necessary documents to the District Justice's office.
No officer shall wear or use any part of his/her uniform or any other equipment, including any firearms, belonging to the Department while employed for himself/herself, another person, firm, agency, corporation or government body. A violation of this rule shall be deemed grounds for dismissal. This rule shall not apply to functions under the aegis of the Blackhawk School District.
If the Township of Patterson purchases personal body armor for an officer, that officer shall wear said body armor every time he/she is on scheduled duty and in full uniform. This rule shall not apply to an officer's uniformed or nonuniformed appearances at the minor judiciary, Common Pleas Court, seminars or mandated schooling. Exception to this rule for just cause or medical reason may be given by the Commissioner of Police or the Chief of Police. Violation of this rule will be as follows:
A. 
First offense: three-day suspension without pay.
B. 
Second offense: fifteen-day suspension without pay.
C. 
Third offense: thirty-day suspension without pay.
D. 
Fourth offense; termination.
All officers shall respond to reported abandoned 911 calls as dispatched. The officer shall, upon dispatch to a single and nonresponding 911 call at a residence, make every effort to ensure that the residence is secure and that no person is present, stopping short of making entry. If the reported 911 call has an open- ended line, particularly if signs of distress are reported by the dispatcher or there are repeated calls with a hang-up response on call back, every effort shall be made to ensure contact with a subject inside. If after all reasonable efforts fail to bring a subject to the door for entry and the officer believes an emergency exists, the officer shall contact a backup unit and make entry into the residence by the least invasive measure possible. The incident shall be documented via computer entry detailing the circumstances present that dictated entry.
It shall be the policy of the Department to respond to all requests for assistance in the accidental lockouts of vehicles. Prior to attempting entry with tools provided by the Department, the officer shall inform the owner or operator that the attempt to gain entry could cause damage to the locking device. Only after verbal permission from the vehicle owner or operator is received shall the attempt be made to make entry. The incident will be documented via computer entry with all necessary vehicle data entered and comments indicating verbal permission was granted.
All officers shall read and be knowledgeable of these general rules, the rules of discipline and conduct and all specific policy guidelines contained in the Patterson Township Police Department Standard Operating Procedures and Policies manual.[1] In cases where a specific consequence or penalty for rule violation is not delineated in the rule or policy, it shall be at the discretion of the Commissioner of Police or Chief of Police as to the penalty and action taken. Said actions may result in verbal or written reprimand, suspension, dismissal or termination. Any disciplinary action is subject to review and appeal to the Board of Commissioners.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Arts. III through VIII of this chapter.
In the event that a situation arises that is not addressed in these procedures and policies, it shall be the duty of that officer recognizing that deficiency to bring that matter to the attention of the Chief of Police or Assistant Chief of Police.
The officer in charge, in the event of a catastrophe or other extreme emergency, may with the utmost of discretion make minor deviations from the general rules.[1] Departure from the rules in this instance shall be subject to the review and evaluation by a superior officer or the Board of Commissioners.
[1]
Editor's Note: "General rules" refers to this Article.