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423 - Duty Officer

423.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE

This Order establishes a method whereby a Sheriff’s Department Duty Officer will be available at all times, including weekends and holidays. The Duty Officer will be a ranking, sworn officer (Lieutenant or above) and shall be assigned on a rotating basis.

The intent of this Order to use of other Sheriff’s Department personnel to act as Duty Officers when necessary, with those personnel with a person of sufficient rank and authority to act in an overall capacity for the Sheriff’s Department.

423.2 POLICY

Personnel assigned to act as Sheriff’s Department Duty Officers shall have overall command of the Sheriff’s Department during their assignment. They shall have the authority to act in the Sheriff's name in all matters affecting the operations of the Sheriff’s Department, regardless of their regular Bureau or Divisional assignment. The following personnel will be required to act as Sheriff’s Department Duty Officer, on a rotating basis:

  • Undersheriff, Administration Bureau, School Resource Officer/College Response Bureau
  • Captain/Chief Deputy, Administration Bureau
  • Lieutenant, Administration Bureau
  • Lieutenant, Patrol Operations Bureau
  • Lieutenant, Civil Services Bureau
  • Lieutenant, Major Crimes Bureau
  • Lieutenant, Professional Standards Bureau
  • Lieutenant, Crisis Response

423.3 PROCEDURE

423.3.1 AVAILABILITY

Personnel assigned to be available as the Sheriff’s Department Duty Officer shall be available in accordance with the following schedule:

  • The weekend availability shall be from 1600 hours on Friday, to 0800 hours on the following Monday. That Duty Officer shall also be available on the following Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, after normal business hours, from 1600 hours that day, until 0800 hours the following day.
  • If a holiday falls on the Friday prior to the weekend assignment, the person assigned to be available that weekend shall be the Duty Officer for that holiday. His/her duty availability will begin at 0001 hours on that holiday.

423.3.2 SCHEDULE

It shall be the responsibility of the Administration Services Bureau Commander to prepare a yearly availability schedule of the Duty Officers. The duty schedule for an upcoming calendar year shall be completed and distributed no later than December 28 of the previous calendar year. The duty schedule may take into account any scheduled vacations approved prior to the start of the New Year. The schedule shall be distributed to all supervisory personnel and the Communications Section. The rotating duty schedule will be developed by using the following position placements:

  • Undersheriff, Administration Bureau, School Resource Officer/College Response Bureau
  • Captain/Chief Deputy, Administration Bureau
  • Lieutenant, Administration Bureau
  • Lieutenant, Patrol Operations Bureau
  • Lieutenant, Civil Services Bureau
  • Lieutenant, Major Crimes Bureau
  • Lieutenant, Professional Standards Bureau
  • Lieutenant, Crisis Response

423.3.3 NOTIFICATION

It is the responsibility of the on-duty Duty Officer to inform the Administration Bureau of any event, incident, or circumstance which is of significant concern to the Sheriff’s Department as outlined in our policy and procedures.

The Duty Officer shall make him/herself available at all times during his/her tour of duty for such notifications.

Duty Officers may exchange duty weeks or specific duty days with another rotating Duty Officer. If such an exchange is made, it is the responsibility of Duty Officer listed on the schedule to notify all supervisory personnel and the Communications Section of the exchange.

423.3.4 CHAIN OF COMMAND

Nothing in this Order is to be construed as usurping the authority of any Watch Commander, shift supervisor, or other person in charge of a unit. The Sheriff’s Department Chain of Command is, in descending order, as follows during the weekends, holidays, and after normal business hours.

  • Sheriff
  • Undersheriff
  • Captain/Chief Deputy
  • Lieutenant
  • Sergeant / Detective Sergeant
  • Corporal
  • Person in charge of a unit

423.3.5 RELIEF OF DUTY

Only the Sheriff or Undersheriff, or Captain as his/her designee, may relieve the Duty Officer of any duties imposed on him/her by this Order.

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