Policy Manual

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The Lower Merion Police Department's policy manual is a living document that is subject to constant change. New laws, court decisions, new methodologies and other factors dictate the need for continual review, initiating revisions where necessary and appropriate. Our policies continue to meet the standards of both The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) and The Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (PLEAC). This ensures that our policy manual is current and that we are committed to best practices.

It is recognized that no set of policies and procedures, no matter how complete, can hope to address all the situations that may be encountered. This policy manual serves as a guideline, and should be employed with sound reason, judgment and discretion.

Our full policy manual contains information on staffing levels, deployment, response tactics, and other items which are considered to be law enforcement sensitive. Releasing such information could put officers and the general public at risk. Therefore, some policies have been redacted and others simply not-published.

The policies most often requested, and which offer transparency to our daily operations, are available below for the public’s review.

0	Table of Contents
0.0.0	Table of Contents

1	Mission, Philosophy and Values
1.1.1	Mission Statement
1.1.2	Ethics
1.1.3	Principles
1.1.4	Organizational Chart
1.1.5	Organizational Structure

2	Conduct
2.1.1	Standards of Conduct
2.1.2	Duties and Responsibilities

Digital

3	Policies
3.1	Command
3.1.1	Written Orders
3.1.2	Order of Command
3.2	Internal Processes
3.2.1	Unlawful or Improper Bias in Public Safety
3.2.2	Internal Discipline Procedure
3.2.3	Gratuities
3.2.4	Department Recognition Awards / Commendations
3.2.5	Goals and Objectives
3.2.6	Duty to Intervene
3.3	Personnel
3.3.1	Oath of Office
3.3.2	Equal Employment Opportunity Plan
3.3.3	Township Administrative Policies
3.3.4	Recruitment and Promotion
3.3.5	Social Media Policy
3.3.6	Substance Abuse Program
3.3.7	Assignment of Personnel
3.3.8	Personnel File/Employee Access to Personnel File
3.3.9	Employee Development Program
3.3.10	Limits of Authority/MPOETC & Departmental Identification Cards
3.3.11	Timesheets/Daily Attendance Records/Recording Payroll Information
3.3.12	Address Change and Related Information
3.3.13	Employee Wellness
3.3.14	Tuition Assistance
3.3.15	Secondary Employment/Extra Duty Details
3.3.16	Line of Duty Death/Serious Injury
3.3.17	Military Leave and Reintegration
3.3.18	Fraternization/Nepotism/Personal Relationships
3.4	Paid Leave (Section Not Published - Administrative Staffing)
3.4.1	Vacations Holidays and DO40 Hours
3.4.2	Sick Leave/Light Duty
3.4.3	On Duty Injury
3.4.4	Bereavement Leave
3.4.5	Late Reporting for Duty
3.5	Prisoner
3.5.1	Prisoner Custody and Transport
3.5.2	Cell and Temporary Holding Area
3.5.3	Prisoner Meals
3.5.4	Strip & Body Cavity Searches
3.5.5	Live Scan
3.6	Patrol Administration
3.6.1	Shift Change (Not Published - Administrative Staffing)
3.6.2	Beat Boundaries and Assignments (Not Published - Administrative Staffing)
3.6.3	Supervisor's Shift Report
3.6.4	Court Hearings
3.6.5	Supplemental Foot Patrol
3.7	Traffic Enforcement
3.7.1	Vehicle Pursuits (Public Information)
3.7.2	Crash Investigations/Serious Traffic Incidents
3.7.3	DUI Incidents
3.7.4	Traffic Enforcement
3.7.5	Inventory Search
3.7.6	Abandoned Vehicle
3.7.7	Sobriety Check Point
3.8	Arrests
3.8.1	Arrests with/without a Warrant
3.8.2	Search & Seizure without a Warrant
3.8.3	Retail Theft
3.8.4	Execution of the Criminal Process/Legal Process Recording Procedure
3.8.5	Warrant Service
3.8.6	Interviews and Interrogation
3.8.7	Off-Duty On-View Arrests
3.8.8	Foot Pursuits
3.8.9	Handling of Juveniles
3.8.10	Sequential Photo Array / Line Ups
3.9	Domestic Disputes and Special Victims
3.9.1	Domestic Disputes, Issuance of PFAs, PFA Violations and Child Custody
3.9.2	Persons with Mental Health Issues
3.9.3	Missing Persons/Amber Alert
3.9.4	Victim Services Program
3.9.5	Child Abuse
3.9.6	Notification of Sexually Violent Offender
3.9.7	Sexual Assault Investigations (Not Published - Procedurally Sensitive)
3.10	Calls for Service
3.10.1	Alarm Activations
3.10.2	Ambulance Service
3.10.3	Animal Incidents/Dog Law Enforcement
3.10.4	Winter Storms
3.11	Recording Information
3.11.1	Written Statements
3.11.2	Recording Information
3.12	Investigatory Stops
3.12.1	Investigatory Detention/Stop
3.12.2	Consent Searches
3.12.3	Mobile Fingerprint Identification Unit
3.13	Critical Incidents (Section Not Published - Tactical)
3.13.1	Emergency Plan
3.13.2	Yellow/Red Alert
3.13.3	Hostage/Barricaded Subject Incidents
3.13.4	Critical Incident Stress Debriefing
3.13.5	Unusual Occurrences and Special Operations
3.13.6	Continuity of Operations Plan
3.14	Evidence
3.14.1	Evidence and Property Control
3.14.2	Digital Photo Evidence Collection
3.15	Weapons
3.15.1	Use of Force and & Use of Force Review Process
3.15.2	Use, Care and Security of Firearms/Flying Armed on Duty
3.15.3	Taser/Extended Range Impact Devices/Less Lethal Weapons (Not Published - Tactical)
3.15.4	Patrol Rifle (Not Published - Tactical)
3.15.5	Off Duty Weapons (Not Published - Tactical)
3.15.6	Noise/Flash Diversionary Devices (Not Published - Tactical)
3.16	Training
3.16.1	Training
3.16.2	Field Training Officer Program
3.16.3	Training for Non-Sworn Personnel
3.17	Administrative
3.17.1	Records & Release of Police Information
3.17.2	Records Retention
3.17.3	Expungement Orders
3.17.4	Media Relations
3.17.5	Public Safety Building
3.17.6	Cash Fund Accountability
3.17.7	Policy Rescinded
3.17.8	J-NET User Role and Access
3.17.9	Office Equipment and Supplies
3.17.10	Telephone Systems
3.17.11	Traffic, Non-Traffic, and Traf-O-Teria Citations
3.17.12	Employee Parking
3.17.13	Daily Bulletins
3.17.14	Traf-O-Teria/Mail Pick-Up/Delivery
3.17.15	Recommendation Process
3.17.16	Locker Rooms
3.17.17	Computer and Electronic Systems
3.17.18	Digital Media Protection
3.18	Specialized Units
3.18.1	Emergency Response Team
3.18.2	Bicycle Patrol
3.18.3	Canine Patrol
3.18.4	Investigations Unit
3.19	Service
3.19.1	Homeless
3.19.2	Archived Policy
3.19.3	Blackboard Connect Mass Notification System
3.19.4	Vacant House Program
3.19.5	Residential Lock for Life Program (Not Published - Procedurally Sensitive)
3.19.6	Ride - Along Programs
3.19.7	Lockout Complaints
3.19.8	Temporary No Parking Signs
3.19.9	Medication Disposal Box
3.19.10	Law Enforcement Treatment Initiative
3.20	Communications
3.20.1	Communications Center
3.20.2	N.C.I.C. Entry/Removal of Stolen Vehicles
3.20.3	Title and Policy Not Published - Tactical
3.20.4	24-Hour Toll Free Service/Language Line
3.20.5	Aviation Complaints
3.21	Equipment
3.21.1	Police Vehicle/Equipment Use
3.21.2	Mobile Data Computers
3.21.3	Uniform and Personal Appearance/Care of Equipment/Body Armor
3.21.4	Radio Care and Maintenance
3.21.5	Automated External Defibrillators
3.21.6	Water Rescue
3.21.7	Medical Supplies
3.21.8	Purchasing Equipment or Services
3.21.9	Restitution for Damaged Equipment
3.21.10	Automatic License Plate Readers
3.21.11	Naloxone
3.21.12	Mobile Video Recorders (In-Car and Body-Worn Camera Equipment)
3.21.13	Unmanned Aircraft System
4	Civil Service
4.1.1	Civil Service Rules and Regulations
5	Code of Discipline
5.1.1	Code of Discipline

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