Rank Structure

Policy:

It is the policy of the Los Angeles Port Police Department to manage the Departments using principles of command recognized by the law enforcement profession and to clearly define the lines of authority that extend throughout the organization (chain of command). The Department adheres to the management principle referred to as “unity of command” which dictates that an employee is accountable to only one supervisor at any given time and that each organizational component is under the direct control of only one supervisor. 

ADHERANCE TO CHAIN OF COMMAND: 

All Department business will be conducted via the chain of command; that is, information will be transmitted upward or downward as necessary only to the employee(s) immediately above or below an individual in the chain of command, with the following exceptions: 

1. An employee wishes to discuss with another employee, regardless of his rank or position, a personal matter that has nothing whatsoever to do with the administration, the operations, or the activities of the Department;

 2. An employee possesses information which is detrimental in some respect to a superior, and which in all likelihood would not be transmitted for information or action. In such circumstances, the employee is authorized only to directly contact the supervisor of the employee about whom the detrimental information exists; 

3. An employee is required in an emergency or due to exigent circumstances to initiate immediate action;

 4. An employee is specifically directed or authorized to do so by the General Orders of the Department; or

5. An employee is conducting an operation or activity that by its nature requires cooperation with other members of the Department.