Department Manual | Standard Operating Procedures
103 - Rules & Regulations
103.1 Leave of Absence (LOA) & Reduction of Activity (ROA)
103.11 LOA/ROA Information
Leave of Absence and Reduction of Activity Status allows us to maintain department members whilst continuing to monitor and maintain activity within the department.
LOAs/ROAs must have a definite end date or they cannot be granted.
103.12 Terms and Conditions
Leave of Absence (LOA): When LOA, you may not RP on the server as a Civilian, LOA is LOA from the server in its entirety not just Law Enforcement. You may only be LOA for more than 1 month with approval from Command.
Reduction of Activity (ROA): When ROA, your individual activity requirements are reduced from the standard 5 hours per week to 2 hours per week. You may not be ROA for longer than 1 month.
103.13 Filing LOA/ROA Request
Officers must complete the DOSARP Law Enforcement LOA/ROA Form, providing the appropriate details. This will automatically be put in place and logged on the roster. Supervisors will then review the reason and grant you the LOA or ROA in the department discord, or revoke the LOA/ ROA if the reason is deemed not valid.
103.2 Promotions
103.21 Information
Promotions within the main department up to and including the rank of Corporal are handled by the Supervisory Team (Sergeants and First Sergeants). Officers must reach certain criteria, given below, before they can be considered eligible for promotion.
If you feel you are deserving of a promotion you have not yet received, you may request an Officer Progress Review, details outlined in section 3.2 of this SOP.
Promotions are to be given with an unbiased opinion, to mitigate unconscious bias, ensure you collect second opinions from other supervisors prior to promotion.
Any and all promotions will be logged in #supervisor-logs.
103.22 Promotion Eligability Criteria:
Time
Time is considered the most insignificant factor, as the "minimums" can be ignored given exception performance and contribution to the department. Below is a general guideline to the timespan of Officer progression given average activity and performance:Recruit to Probationary: Time - N/A | Training Passed
Probationary to Officer 1: Time - Min. 1.5 hour(s) ridealong with FTO.
Officer 1 to Officer 2: Time - 2 weeks minimum
Officer 2 to Officer 3: Time - 2 weeks minimum
Officer 3 to Corporal: Time - 4 weeks minimum
Officer 3/ Corporal to Sergeant: Time - 6 weeks from Exam submission.
Sergeant to First Sergeant: Time - 8 weeks
First Sergeant to Lieutenant: Time - 12 Weeks | Significant contribution to the department
Lieutenant to Captain: Time - 12 Weeks | Significant contribution to the department
Captain to Command Administration: Time - Variable | Significant contribution to the department
Activity
The Officer must have demonstrated an acceptable level of activity within the department, their presence on duty must be noticed as frequent by yourself or other supervisors.Behaviour
Their behavior should be exemplary prior to promotion, with 0 official disciplinary action handed out within 2 weeks before their promotion.
In summary, the 3 eligibility requirements are time, activity and behaviour.
Internal Sub-Division Promotions fall under the responsibility of the Sub-Division Leads and the Supervisory team respective to each subdivision.
103.3 Disciplinary Action
103.31 Supervisor Responsibility
Supervisors reserve the right to take disciplinary action against department members under them in the Chain of Command who do not follow the Standard Operating Procedures.
Department Supervisory must adhere to the following guidelines when considering disciplinary action:
Supervisors are responsible for enforcing department policies and taking disciplinary action when necessary.
Supervisors must ensure that discipline is administered fairly and consistently.
Supervisors must follow established disciplinary procedures when taking disciplinary action.
103.32 Types of Disciplinary Action
All forms of Disciplinary action are logged automatically in order to keep track of each offence (i.e 1st, 2nd and 3rd offence).
Verbal Reprimand
Written Warning
These are considered to be of greater severity than being verbally reprimanded.
Suspension
Suspensions vary in length depending on the violation (refer to 3.6.2 Discipline Procedure).
These restrict an officer from patrolling for a given amount of days.
Demotion
Demotions are often handled on a more case by case basis.
Officers with numerous offences will likely be considered for demotion by the supervisory team.
Removal from Department
Often handled on a case by case basis when not explicitly stated for a particular offence in the table below (3.6.2 Disciplinary Procedure)
Schedule for Retraining
A supervisor may forward an Officer to the training bureau for a retraining in a particular area that they believe the Officer struggles in.
This is not considered punishment but rather a form of helping the Officer progress.
103.33 Procedure Violations
331. Inactivity:
Failing to meet 5 hour per week activity requirements for an extended period of time without an approved ROA or LOA.
1st Offence: Written Warning (14 Days to improve activity).
2nd Offence: Written Warning (7 Days to improve activity).
3rd Offence: Demotion
332. Insubordination:
Refusal to comply with a superior Officer’s orders.
1st Offence: Verbal Reprimand
2nd Offence: Written Warning
3rd Offence: 7 Day Suspension
333. Breaking Uniform and/or Vehicle Structure:
Knowingly refusing to comply with the given structure.
Unknowingly misinterpreting structures will simply be corrected by a supervisor without punishment.
1st Offence: Verbal Reprimand
2nd Offence: Written Warning
3rd Offence: 3 Day Suspension
334. Violating RTO:
Poor radio transmissions.
Example(s): Interrupting other transmissions for no reason; using explicit language.
1st Offence: Verbal Reprimand
2nd Offence: Written Warning
3rd Offence: 3 Day Suspension
335. Dangerous or Unrealistic Driving:
Driving your vehicle (whilst onduty) in a manner that fails to consider the safety of the public, yourself and the potential damage to state property (the police vehicle) regardless of running code or not.
1st Offence: Verbal Reprimand
2nd Offence: Written Warning
3rd Offence: 3 Day Suspension
336. Abuse of Power:
Misuse of the power entrusted to you by the people.
Example(s): Upgrading misdemeanor charges to a felony charge without cause; Suspension of licence without cause; using police lights or siren without reason.
1st Offence: Verbal Reprimand
2nd Offence: Written Warning
3rd Offence: 3 Day Suspension
337. Conduct unlikely of a Police Officer:
Act inappropriately as an Officer to the public that you serve.
Example: Using rude or aggressive tone where unesseccary or more serious examples of harassment.
1st Offence: Written Warning
2nd Offence: Demotion
3rd Offence: Removal from Department
338. Misuse of Non-Lethal Force:
Using non-lethal force where a reasonable threat to yourself or others is not present beyond a reasonable doubt.
1st Offence: Written Warning
2nd Offence: 1 Day Suspension
3rd Offence: 3 Day Suspension
339. Misuse of Lethal Force:
Using lethal force where a reasonable threat to yourself or others is not present beyond a reasonable doubt.
1st Offence: Written Warning
2nd Offence: 3 Day Suspension
3rd Offence: Demotion
3310. Other miscellaneous violations of Procedure other than those listed above.
Supervisors should use discretion when dealing with procedure violations not explicity listed above.
103.4 Progress Reviews
Officers Ranked Officer 1 to Corporal may request a ‘Progress Review’ from the Supervisory Team at any point.
103.41 How to request a Progress Review
You can request a Progress Review via Verbal Request or DM to ANY Supervisory Staff (following chain of command).
If you feel you are deserving and think you may have been overlooked, Supervisors have specific parameters that they must deem you have reached before eligible for promotion. In that case, requesting a Progress Review is the best course of action.
103.42 Supervisor's Responsibility
Ask the Supervisory Team for their Opinions on the particular Officers Action on scenes; Communication with both fellow officers and citizens; eligibility for promotion of disciplinary action; general performance as a Law Enforcement Officer.
The Supervisor Team must then formulate some points of advice tailored towards that particular Officer’s strengths and weaknesses to give feedback to the Officer to help them progress.
The Supervisor leading the particular Progress Review must feedback the discussion to the Officer, after which point the progress review is complete.
103.5 Reserve Officers
103.51 Reserve Rank Authority
Reserve Officers (X-Ray Callsigns) a regarded as Senior Officers and therefore fall alongside Corporal regarding Chain of Command.
They report to Supervisors like every other officer however are outside the scope of activity requirement and do not fall within a alloted Division (A, B, C or D), much like Department Command.
103.52 Eligibility Criteria
Eligibility for the Reserve Officer rank is handled on a case by case basis by Community Management. In summary, to be eligible for Reserve Officer, you must have made significant (not financial) contribution to the server and/or department for an extended period of time.
103.6 Reinstatement
103.61 Reinstatement Criteria
An Officer who meets all of the following criteria:
Left on good terms with Law Enforcement and the community as a whole.
Was in Law Enforcement for at least 3 months.
Was rank Police Officer I of above.
is eligable for re-instatement, without application nor training.
Disclaimer*: Retraining may be required if there has been major change in procedure in the time of their absence.
103.62 Reinstatement Ranks
Officers who leave at or above the rank Corporal may only be reinstated at the rank of Corporal.
Officers ranked Police Officer I to Police Officer III are to be reinstated at a their previous rank without demotion.
103.8 Uniform Policy
103.71 Uniform Types
The following Patrol Uniforms must be worn at all times by all officers:
Class A : Formal Patrol
Class B : Regular Patrol Uniform
Class C : Regular Patrol Uniform with short sleeves
Utility Uniform : T-Shirt / Polo & Utility Pants (Corporal+)
103.72 General Regulations
Probationary officers must wear the Class B uniform at all times.
You must have a body-worn video camera on at all times (Mask #90) (Only for Patrol officers wearing Class B / C Uniforms)
External Bullet Proof vests may be worn but removed during patrol until a high priority scene (via 'Y' Clothing Menu).
Blue Surgical Gloves may be worn only when carrying out searches or investigations (via 'Y' Clothing Menu).
You must not have more than 1 Taser visible on your outfit (on both duty belt and vest).
A Green Taser must be worn for LSPD, a Yellow Taser must be worn for BCSO.
You may wear a high-vis jacket when directing traffic or on scene in poor visibility (Body Armor - #54, Texture 3)
Rank Appropriate Insignias must be worn at all times if eligible.
Drop Leg holsters may only be worn by Sergeants or above for regular patrol operations.
103.73 Exceptions
All uniforms may be modified to the officer's preference. (Glasses, Watches, Other vests,...) However you must remain a professional look, for any uncertainties in your uniform contact your division supervisor to verify.
Command Members (Lt. +) are permitted to wear unmarked and modified uniforms.
When wearing a top without badge, you must wear a badge on your belt at all times.
Command members may hand out exceptions to the Uniform Policy if the situation requires it.
103.74 Plainclothed Officers
Plainclothed Officers must conform to the following standards.
Plain colored clothing (E.g. blacks, grey, white, navy, etc).
Minimal Accessories (E.g. simple caps and sunglasses are permitted).
Minimal Jewellery (E.g. Plain Wedding band and a wrist watch is permitted, large chains and bracelets are not permitted).
Footware must be plain and not restrict mobility (E.g. No flipflops, heels, open-toe shoes of any kind).
You must always wear a Police Badge, wether that be on a belt or necklace or ballistic vest.
You must have a secure holster for your service pistol.
103.75 Miscellaneous Uniforms
Weather appropriate uniforms may be used whenever needed.
Utility Class uniforms may be used by all officers when a Watch Commander approves.
Subdivision Uniforms should be used appropriately.
103.76 Service Stripes
All officers may wear their rewarded service stripes on their Class A & B uniforms.
Service stripes are handed out automatically, no action from the officer is required to receive them.
For every 6 months an officer is enrolled in the department, 1 service stripe is awarded.
Total service stripes can be found on the roster.
All default uniforms can be found in the /eup menu.