Max Training Time: 1 hour.
Welcome to the Syn County Sheriff’s Office! This manual provides deputies and junior deputies with a clear understanding of department expectations, policies, and procedures. It serves as both a reference and a basic training guide for law enforcement operations within Syn County.
This manual outlines core responsibilities, including uniform standards, daily operations, field procedures, evidence handling, and professional communication. It also covers training requirements, shadow hours, the Chain of Command, and department structure.
Law enforcement is a position of trust. Deputies are expected to act professionally, use sound judgment, and represent the Sheriff’s Office with integrity at all times, both in roleplay and off-duty. This manual will be referenced throughout your time in the department and is expected to be followed.
This guide is primarily used for basic training and review. Junior deputies should use it to learn and reflect, while command staff will use it to pass down knowledge and teach proper conduct as a lawman within the Syn County Sheriff’s Office.
Before the induction officially begins direct Junior Deputies to the Uniforms section of the Handbook, so they understand the uniform standards from the start. Junior Deputies should be in uniforms before the induction begins.
Uniforms must be worn at all times while on duty, and a visible badge is mandatory.
Some regions within the Main Force approved uniform variations by your regional Captain or above. Deputies must follow the standards of the department.
Failure to follow uniform policy may result in a verbal warning, with further disciplinary action if the issue continues
Timeframe & Completion
Junior Deputies have one month to complete all required training and shadow hours.
If real-life circumstances prevent completion, probies must inform their command via LOA Request. Extensions are granted only when properly communicated. If you do not feel comfortable disclosing the reason in an LOA Request, please reach out to a Captain+ whom you feel comfortable with.
Mandatory Trainings
All recruits must complete four mandatory trainings
Paperwork
Combat Training
Robbery Training
Ethics Training
Training(s) may be reissued by Drill Sergeants if necessary. For instance, problem behavior continues even after feedback is issued.
Shadow Hours
Junior Deputies must complete 15 shadow hours in the field.
Shadowing must be conducted with a Sr. Deputy +, actively observing, and participating in lawmen's duties.
Shadow hours include patrolling, responding to calls, and performing in-field tasks alongside the shadow
Probies must remain with their shadow at all times; independent patrolling is not allowed until requirements are completed.
Activity Attendance
If activity expectations are not met, the command may open activity tickets.
Deputies planning to be inactive for more than 7 days, a Leave of Absence (LOA) must be submitted.
Inactivity Policy: Failure to maintain activity or communicate via LOA may result in removal due to inactivity.
Chain of Command
The Chain of Command is a structured hierarchy of authority within the department, designed to maintain order and accountability.
Deputies are expected to follow CoC and avoid bypassing it for routine questions or minor concerns.
Serious issues may be escalated to higher levels, including the Board of Commission, if lower levels are unable to resolve them. For example, the report is on a Sheriff.
A series of authority positions, ranked from lowest to highest.
> Refer to Ranking Structure.
For example: You wouldn't DM a member of BoC about how to go on-duty.
However, if you have a genuine concern or complaint, please come forward.
Mention it to your CoC, but if you feel like it's crucial, then please come to the Board.
Academy Deputies: Report to Instructors and Professors for any issues.
Main Force Deputies: Follow the CoC within your assigned town.
> Answer any questions they may have.
Marshals & Detectives
Authority between SGT and Captain, not above Captains.
Assist in towns as needed, perform raids, interrogations, and patrols, and roam county-wide.
Considered guests in towns (not above regional command in their own town) and must act professionally at all times.
Eligibility to apply begins at Senior Deputy+.
Sisika/Chain Gang
Assist and host Sisika operations such as: Chain Gang, Community Service, Prison Transports & Expungements.
Ability to roam and assist in towns where needed, offering our services to those who are arrested.
Considered guests in towns (not above regional command in their own town)
Eligibility to apply is Deputy + offering ranks similar to main force
Work alongside the USM in the transporting and sentencing of federal fugitives.
Deputies are held to a higher standard, even when off duty.
You may farm, hunt, or participate in non-lawman activities while off-duty. You may not while on duty.
Lawmen must follow all server rules and county law, as you are not above the rules, nor the law.
As a whitelisted government role, lawmen are not permitted to lie, and statements are considered credible even off duty.
If you witness a crime while off-duty, you may detain the suspect if necessary and use /alertlaw to notify on-duty lawmen, so they may arrest the suspect. Do not detain someone if you are clearly outnumbered or if on duty lawmen are present. Obviously, if you do not want to get directly involved, /alertlaw is okay.
No items (contraband or weapons) may be removed from the evidence locker without permission from a Captain+.
Unauthorized removal is considered corruption.
Violations may result in disciplinary action, up to and including removal from the department.
Under NO circumstances are you allowed to take anything out of the Evidence Locker without permission from a Captain or higher.
Consequences:
Doing so without authorization is considered corruption.
Violations may result in disciplinary actions.
> Answer any questions they may have.
Deputies must remain professional and respectful communication with fellow lawmen, civilians, and suspects
RP freedom is allowed, provided server rules and county laws are followed
Repeated complaints from lawmen, doctors, civilians, or mayors may escalate to Command and BOC.
Deputies will not be punished solely for RPing an unpleasant character, however, how you choose to communicate matters. Asking someone politely to remove a mask is respectful, while using aggressive language could be considered rude.
Keep in mind, your roleplay actions/behavior have roleplay consequences.
Deputies should aim to balance between “nice cop” and “bad cop.”
Zero tolerance for corruption
Some examples of corruption includes:
Unauthorized evidence locker access (i.e., taking something out without permission from Captain)+
Abusing lawman privileges
Dishonesty or lying under any circumstances
Character sharing
Leaking information from Sheriff’s Office Discord or registry with those who do not have access to such information
Committing crimes on or off duty
Probable cause is based on observed behavior, such as witnessing a physical handoff.
Deputies may request a search by asking in character.
Strong or compelling roleplay may justify discretion. For instance, you choose not to search someone during a contraband sale alert because they gave a good story. In other words, prioritizing roleplay over ruleplay.
Avoid favoritism and remain impartial. If you have a brain, you have a bias. Reduce your bias by changing your environment.
Investigations should involve careful observation, patience, and strategic decision making, rather than rushing in.
Requirement: Typically required for Corporal and above.
Purpose: This form informs your Regional Command of your interest in taking on additional responsibilities.
Submitting a Letter of Intent demonstrates your willingness to advance and helps Regional Command assess your readiness for more significant roles.
> Answer any questions they may have.
Paperwork is crucial for record keeping, accountability, and legal compliance.
All paperwork must be accurate, completed, and submitted on time (i.e., no more than 30 minutes after a scene)
Deputies must follow proper procedures for submission and storage.
Sensitive information must be handled with confidentiality
If you accidentally bill the wrong person by putting in the incorrect character ID on their ID card, you must open a staff ticket in the main discord for correction.
During the storm window, the last 30 minutes before server restart, all on-duty lawmen are required to attend the briefing.
The purpose of it is to ensure all deputies are aligned, informed, and prepared for ongoing events that may continue after a storm window. No active crimes should occur during this time, so deputies should prioritize attendance.
If you see crime during storm time, clip it and ship it.
Join the Briefing Room (VC). It’s for efficiency and allows for discussion without scuffs or disruptions.
During the briefing, main topics and problems in each town or region are discussed by the higher up of each town, including ongoing situations, operational concerns, or updates that affect the Department. Though, anyone is allowed to share something that may be missed.
Attendance and participation in storm window briefings are mandatory for all on-duty lawmen. Failure to attend without prior notice or valid reason may result in disciplinary action, such as verbal warnings.