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Table of Contents

PART A -- GENERAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Chapter 1 -- Organization, Administration and Management

Page #
.A101 Philosophy, Values, Vision and Mission link
.01  Philosophy of the Austin Police Department A101 –   1
.02 Department Values A101 –   1
.03 Vision Statement A101 –   1
04 Mission Statement A101 –   1
A102a Organization and Functions link
.01 Sworn Ranks Established A102a – 1
.02 Civilian Staffing A102a – 2
.03 Departmental Organization A102a – 2
.04 Committees & Boards A102a – 2
A102b Command and Coordination link
.01 Watch Commander A102b – 1
.02 Duty Commander A102b – 1
.03  Direction A102b – 1
.04  Seniority Determinations A102b – 2
.05    Routine Command Protocol at Police Situations. A102b – 2
.06   Command Protocol at Major Incidents A102b – 3
.07  Other Special Situations A102b – 4
A103 Restricted Duty link
.01 Range of Restricted Duty A103 –   1
.02 Placement of an Employee on Restricted Duty Status A103 –   1
.03   Duty Restrictions A103 –   1
.04   Placement Procedures A103 –   1
.05   Return to Full Duty Status A103 –   2 
A104  Grievance Policy link
.01  General Grievance A104 –   1
.02  Discrimination Grievance A104 –   1
.03  No Reprisal A104 –   1
.04  Coordination and Records Maintenance A104 –   1
.05 Annual Analysis A104 –   1
A105 Written Directive System link
.01  Authority to Exempt Provisions of Directives A105 –   1
.02 Written Directives A105 –   1
.03  Authority to Issue, Modify or Rescind A105 –   2
.04 Legality of Contents; Order of Precedence; Conflicts A105 –   2
.05 Grammatical Construction A105 –   3
.06  Knowledge of Written Directives A105 –   3
.07 Right to Propose A105 –   3
.08   General Orders A105 –   3
.09   Special Orders A105 –   5
.10 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) A105 –   6
.11  Training or Protocol Directive A105 –   7
.12   Personnel Directives A105 –   7
.13  Memorandum (General) A105 –   8
.14 Memorandum Addressed to the Chief of Police A105 –   9
.15   Directive System Manuals A105 – 10
Sample Memorandums A105 – 13
A105b Forms Control link
.01 Development, Modification, Approval of Departmental Forms A105b – 1
.02 Reproduction of Existing Forms A105b – 1
A106  Policy Review Committee link
.01 Purpose A106 –   1
.02 Membership A106 –   1
.03  Procedures A106 –   1
A107 Administrative Reporting link
.01   Administrative “Per Incident” Reports A107 –  1
.02  Administrative Monthly Reports A107 –  1
.03 Administrative Quarterly Reports A107 –   1
.04 Administrative Semi-Annually Reports A107 –  1
.05 Administrative Annual Reports A107 –  2
.06  Administrative Biannual Reports A107 –  2
.07 Administrative 3 Year Reports A107 –  2
A108 Meet and Confer link
.01 Meet and Confer Negotiations Process A108 –   1
.02 Management of Meet and Confer Agreement A108 –   1
A109a Internal Investigations link
.01  General Policy A109a – 1
.02 Cooperating with Investigations A109a – 1
.03   Confidentiality of Information A109a – 1
.04 Complaint Process A109a – 2
.05 Officer Final Classification Agreement A109a – 3
.06 Mediation of External Complaints A109a – 4
.07  Criminal Investigative Processes A109a – 6
.08 Notification Responsibility A109a – 8
.09 Receiving/Documenting Complaints A109a – 8
.10   Classification of Complaints A109a – 9
.11  IA Retention/Destruction of Files Protocol. A109a – 9
.12   Transfers of Investigative Files to the Civil Service Commission (Officers Only) A109a– 10
A109b Internal Investigations Process
.01 Statement of Purpose A109b – 1
.02  Complaint Process A109b – 1
.03 Investigative Processes – General Guidelines A109b – 1
.04  Investigative Processes A109b – 4
.05  Administration of Discipline A109b – 5
A109c   Discipline Process link
.01 Effective Date A109c – 1
.02 Goal of the Discipline Process A109c – 1
.03 Philosophy of the Discipline Process A109c – 1
.04  Guiding Principles of the Discipline Process. A109c – 1
.05  Factors to Consider in Determining Discipline A109c – 1
.06 Rights of the Chief. A109c – 2
.07  Dishonesty – False Official Statements A109c – 2
.08 Neglect of Duty – Misleading Statements A109c – 2
.09  Progressive Corrective Actions A109c – 3
.10  Records Retention A109c – 4
A109d Discipline Matrix A109d – 1

Chapter 2 -- Code of Conduct

Page #
A201a  Code of Conduct link
.01  Compliance Required A201a – 1
.02 Individual Responsibilities A201a – 2
A201b  Responsibility to the Community link
.01 Impartial Attitude A201b – 1
.02  Courtesy A201b – 1
.03   Duty to Identify A201b – 1
.04 Neutrality in Civil Actions A201b – 1
.05 Negotiations on Behalf of Suspect A201b – 2
.06  Customer Service and Community Relations A201b – 2
A201c Responsibility to the Department
.01 Responsibility to the Department A201c – 1
.02 Responsibility to the Co-Workers A201c – 6
.03 The Workplace Environment A201c – 7

Chapter 3 -- General Conduct

 A301 Residence Address, Phone Number and Pager link
.01 Requirements A301 –  1
.02  Disclosure or Release A301 –  1
A302 Dress & Grooming Standards link
.01 Uniforms (Officers) A302 –  1
.02 Uniforms (Civilian) A302 –  6
.03 Personal Appearance A302 –  6
.04 Inspection of Uniforms and Appearance Standards A302 –  8
.05  Plain Clothes Apparel A302 –  9
.06 APD Identification Cards A302 – 10
.07 Dress Code for Court Appearance A302 – 10
.08  Dress Code While on Limited Duty / Injury Status A302 – 10
.09  Dress and Grooming w/Attending Training A302 – 10
.10  Requests for Changes to Authorized Equipment. A302 – 10
.11 Order of Precedence and Wear Chart A302 – 10
A303 Building Security link
.01 Area Security Designations A303 –  1
.02 General Security – Employee Responsibilities A303 –  1
.03 General Security Measures – All Facilities A303 –  2
A304   Court Appearances link
.01 Subpoena Procedures A304 –  1
.02  Appearance Procedures for County and District Courts A304 –  2
.03  Appearance Procedures for Municipal Court A304 –  3
.04  Court Overtime A304 –  3
.05  Administrative License Suspension Hearings A304 –  3
.06 Civil Subpoenas A304 –  3
.07   Interviews with Attorneys A304 –  3
.08 Dismissal of Complaints A304 –  4
.09 Witness Fees A304 –  4
.10   Out of Town Appearances A304 –  4
A305 Equipment Accountability link
.01 Care of City Property A305 –  1
.02 Care of Laptop Computers in Vehicles A305 –  1
.03 Checking Out Equipment/Supplies From PCO A305 –  1
.04 Issuance of Property and Equipment A305 –  2
.05   Returning Issued Property and Equipment A305 –  2
.06  Body Armor –  Issued and Privately Owned A305 –  3
.07 Lost, Stolen or Damaged Police Equipment A305 –  3
.08 Repair or Replacement A305 –  4
.09 Personal Equipment Loss/Damage A305 –  4
.10 Purchase of Issued Property A305 –  5
.11 Equipment Inventory Control A305 –   5
.12 Annual Inventory A305 –   6
.13 Zone Managers and Specialized Equipment Managers A305 –   6
A306a  Police Vehicles link
.01 Check-Out and Inspection of Police Vehicles A306a – 1
.02 When Repair is Required A306a – 1
.03 Operation of Police Vehicles A306a – 2
.04  Use of Police Vehicles to Push/Pull Other Vehicles A306a – 2
.05    Assignment and Use of Take Home Vehicles A306a – 3
.06  Pool Cars A306a – 3
.07  Automated Fuel Support Program A306a – 3
A306b Mobile Video Recorder Operation link
.01  Operation of Police Vehicles Equipped w/ Mobile/Video
Recording Equipment		 A306b – 1
.02  MVR Recordings as Evidence A306b – 2 
A306c Parking – Official Business
.01 General Policy A306c – 1
.02 Procedures A306c – 1
A307 Secondary Employment link
.01 Definitions A307 –  1
.02   General Provisions A307 –  1
.03  Limitations on LERE Hours Worked A307 –  3
.04 Equipment and Uniform Issues A307 –  4
.05 Reports & Arrests Made While Working LERE Assignments A307 –  4
.06 Motor Vehicle Escorts A307 –  5
.07 LERE Courtesy Officers A307 –  6
.08 Coordinators and Supervisors of Secondary Employment.. A307 –  6
.09   Supervisor Responsibilities A307 –  7
.10 Secondary Employment Documents A307 –  7
.11 Revocation of Secondary Employment Privileges A307 –  9
A308 Attendance at Schools, Conferences and Seminars link
.01 Types of Training A308 –   1
.02  Training Required A308 –   1 
.03 Department Sponsored Training A308 –   3
.04   Other Training for Personnel A308 –   4
.05   Unauthorized Training A308 –   4
.06  Attendances at Training A308 –   4
.07  Requirements to Train Others A308 -    5
.08  Dress and Grooming Standards A308 -    6
.09 Officers Assigned to be Out-of-City at the Time of Promotional Exams A308 -    6
.10   Training for Newly Promoted Employees A308 -    6
.11 Professional Development Training Requirements A308 -    7
A309 Blood Exposure Response Protocol link
.01 Initial Actions A309 –   1
.02  Supervisor Responsibilities A309 –   1
.03 Filing of Criminal Charges A309 –   2
.04  Post Exposure Information for Employees A309 –   2
A310 Courtesies to the Flag link
.01 Manner of Executing a Courtesy to the Flag A310 –   1
.02 When Courtesies are Rendered A310 –   1
A311 Telephone and Mail Protocols
.01 Telephones A311 –   1
.02  Intra-Departmental Mail and Inter-Departmental Mail A311 –   2
.03 Pick-Up and Delivery of Departmental Mail A311 –   3
.04 Personal Mail A311 –   3
.05  Special Mail Services A311 –   3
.06 Receipt of Mail A311 –   3
A312 Internet/Networked Computer Use link
.01 Definitions of Internet Acronyms and Nomenclature A312 –   1
.02 Statement of Purpose A312 –   2
.03  General Policy A312 –   2
.04  Capability Specific Policies A312 –   3
A313 Confidential/Open Records link
.01    Required Disclosure A313 –   1
.02 Exceptions to Disclosure A313 –   1
.03 Release and/or Security of Criminal Records A313 –   2
A314 Expunction of Files link
.01 Requests for Expunctions A314 –   1
.02  Expunction Procedures A314 –   1

Chapter 4 Personnel and Benefits Administration

  A401a Attendance and Leave link
.01 Definitions A401a – 1
.02 Attendance A401a – 1
.03  Vacation Leave A401a – 2
.04 City Observed Holidays/Exception Vacation Leave A401a – 3
.05 Personal Holiday A401a – 4
.06  Compensatory Leave A401a – 4
.07 Sick Leave A401a – 4
.08   Emergency Leave A401a – 5
.09  Leave Without Pay A401a – 5   
.10   Leave of Absence A401a – 5
.11  Military Leave A401a – 6
.12   Administrative Leave A401a – 7
.13  Family Medical Leave A401a – 7
A401b   Illness, Injury and Limited Duty link
.01   Definitions A401b – 1
.02  Applicability of Provisions A401b – 1
.03   Reporting of Injury/Illness A401b – 2
.04  Leave Specifications A401b – 3
.05  Limited Duty Assignment A401b – 3
.06 Extended Limited Duty Assignments A401b – 4
.07  Physical Therapy/Doctor Appointments A401b – 7
.08 Restrictions While on Illness/Injury Leave, Limited Duty Status, or Extended Limited Duty Status A401b – 8
.09   Disciplinary Action A401b – 8
A401c Pregnancy Leave and Assignment link
.01 Reassignment Procedures A401c – 1
.02 Requesting Leave A401c – 1
.03   Returning to Duty A401c – 2
A401d  Health, Death and Disability Benefits link
.01  Benefit Programs A401d – 1
.02  Eligibility for Benefits A401d – 1
.03   Employee Assistance Program A401d – 1
A401e Retirement Programs A401e – 1
A401f   Severe Weather Policy link
.01   Essential Personnel A401f –  1
.02 Severe Weather Situations A401f –  1
A402a Overtime and Compensatory Time link
.01 Definitions A402a – 1
.02  Assignment A402a – 1
.03   Elective City Overtime Limitations and Reporting A402a – 1
.04 Court Assignment A402a – 1
.05  Specific Guidelines for Overtime Assignments A402a – 2
.06  Compensatory Time A402a – 2
.07  Callback Overtime A402a – 2
.08 On-Call A402a – 2
A402b Pay Differential link
.01 Statutory Authority A402b – 1
.02 Procedures A402b – 1
.03  Limitations A402b – 2
A402c Incentive Pay link
.01 Bilingual Pay A402c – 1
.02   Other Types of Incentive Pay A402c – 1
.03 Mental Health Certification Pay A402c – 2
A403 Personnel Evaluations link
.01 General Provisions A403 –   1
.02  Evaluation Frequency A403 –   1
.03   Evaluation Schedule A403 –   2
.04  Employee Responsibilities A403 –   2
.05   Rater Responsibilities A403 –   2
.06 Rater Training A403 –   3
.07 Procedures for Completing and Submitting Forms A403 –   4
.08  Appeals to Ratings A403 –   4
.09 Retention A403 –   4
.10  Evaluation of Raters A403 –   4
.11 Managerial Responsibility A403 –   4
A404 Transfer Policy for Officers link
.01 Authority A404 –   1
.02  Twenty-Eight Day Notice A404 –   1
.03 Definitions A404 –   1
.04   When Agreement is not Reached Regarding Transfers A404 –   1
.05   Appeal Process A404 –   1
.06    Hardship Transfers A404 –   1
.07  Transfers While on Limited Duty A404 –   2
.08  Transfer Procedures Pertaining to Each Rank A404 –   2
.09 One Year Stabilizing Period A404 –   2
.10 Posting of Vacancy Notices A404 –   2
.11  Filing of Initial Vacancies A404 –   3
.12 Filing of All Other Routinely Occurring Vacancies A404 –   3
.13 Major Staffing Adjustments A404 –  4
A405   Employee Support Systems link
.01   Critical Incidents Defined A405 –   1
.02 Assignment of a Support Partner A405 –   1
.03  Peer Support Program A405 –   1
.04  Assignment of a Hospital Guard A405 –   1
.05 Transportation of Family Members to Hospital A405 –   1
.06 Debriefing with the Department Psychologist A405 –   1
.07  Legal Debriefing A405 –   2
.08  Work Assignment while on Administrative Duty A405 –   2
A406 Funeral Procedures link
.01  Employee’s Death – Notifications A406 –   1
.02 Responsibilities of Funeral Committee A406 –   1
.03 Funeral Ceremonial Procedures A406 –   2
.04 Officer’s Death – In the Line of Duty A406 –   2
.05 Death of Austin Police Department Cadet A406 –   3
.06 Officer’s Death – Not in the Line of Duty A406 –   3
.07 Death Under Less than Honorable Conditions A406 –   3
.08 Visiting Officers Attending APD Funerals A406 –   3
.09 Police Officer Funerals – Outside Agencies A406 –   3
.10 Officers from Outside Agencies Being Buried in Austin A406 –   4
.11  Dress and Decorum at Funerals A406 –   4
.12 Attendance A406 –   4
A407  Awards Committee & Commendations link
.01 Types of Awards A407 –   1
.02 Devices A407 –   4
.03 Nomination Procedures A407 –   4
.04  Personal Commendations A407 –   4
.05 Citizen Awards A407 –   4
.06 Awards Committee A407 –   5
.07 Notifications of Awards Ceremonies A407 –   5
A408a Drug and Alcohol Free Workplace link
.01 Drug Testing - General A408a – 1
.02  Coverage A408a – 1
.03   Definitions  A408a – 1
.04 Prohibited Conduct  A408a – 3
.05 Consequences of Violations A408a – 3
.06 Drug Testing A408a – 3
.07 Sample Collection and Results Reporting Procedures A408a – 8
.08    Additional Drug Screening Due to Assignment A408a – 8
.09 Responsibility for Reporting Legal Drug Use A408a – 9
.10  Approved Rehabilitation Programs A408a – 9
A408b  Alcohol Abuse and Treatment link
.01 The Problem A408b – 1
.02 Identification of Problem Drinking A408b – 1
.03 Available Assistance and Confidentiality A408b – 1
.04 Referral for Assessment and Treatment A408b – 1
.05 Treatment Follow-up A408b – 2
.06 Supervisor Responsibilities A408b – 2
.07 Employee Responsibilities A408b – 2
A409    Bulletin Boards link
.01  Types of Bulletin Boards A409 –   1
.02 Departmental Bulletin Boards A409 –   1
.03 APA Bulletin Boards A409 –   1

Chapter 5         Financial Management

A501   Purchasing Policies link
.01 Purchase Approval/Review Authority A501 –   1
.02 Equipment Disposition A501 –   1
.03  Sales Tax Exemption A501 –   2
.04 Petty Cash Purchases A501 –   2
.05 Invoices A501 –   2
.06 Damaged/Incomplete Shipments A501 –   2
.07 Bidding Requirements A501 –   2
.08 Sole Source Purchases A501 –   2
.09 Bid Splitting Prohibited A501 –   3
.10  Emergency Purchases A501 –   3
.11 Equipment Specifications A501 –   3
.12  Office Supplies A501 –   3
A502 Budget link
.01 Responsibilities and Authority A502 –   1
.02 Accounting and Auditing Duties A502 –   1
.03 Cash Handling Policy A502 –   2
A503 Grants Management link
.01 Grant Support Staff Roles and Responsibilities A503 –   1
.02  Project Administrator Roles and Responsibilities A503 –   1
A504  Gifts and Donations link
.01    Acceptable Gifts and Donations A504 –   1
.02 Solicitation and Acceptance of Donations A504 –   1
.03 Disposition of Accepted Gift or Donation A504 –   1


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