1. How do I find a specific SOP?
  2. Why do some SOPs have table of contents and other do not?
  3. Why do we have a new written directive system?
  4. Where did the Field Manual go?
  5. What happened to the Disciplinary Manual?
  6. Where are the work rules?
  7. What is the Update document?
  8. How often will I get an Updated CD?
  9. Will I still get a paper copy of the SOPs?
  10. Are the directives still on "Horizon"?
  11. What if I have questions or want to suggest improvements?

How do I find a specific SOP?

There are two ways to find what you are looking for:

  1. You can navigate through the table of contents for each chapter manually.
     
    1. Administration
    2. Personnel
    3. General Operations
    4. Field Operations
    5. Criminal Investigations
    6. Support Operation
    7. Special Orders
       
  2. You may use the search function on the CD or "Horizon" to locate keywords that will help you find the topic you are looking for.
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Why do some SOPs have a table of contents and others do not?

All the directives on this CD have been formatted using the original paper copy signed by Chief Pennington.  If a particular directive was three pages or less in length a table of contents was omitted.

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Why do we have a new written directive system?

After an extensive review of the written directive system in January of 2004, it was determined that the previous written directive system needed to be reorganized and condensed. Accordingly, all of the written directives within the Department were examined, updated, and changed into a new format and structure. For example, whereas in the previous written directive system there were five SOP's that dealt with training, under the new written directive system all of these training issues are in one SOP. In the new system, all the written directives are in one manual and easily accessible on a CD.

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Where did the Field Manual go?

The Field Manual was divided and updated into several SOPs.  Some information was deemed outdated and was removed entirely.  Other sections were incorporated throughout the SOPs in a manner that made the retrieval of information more understandable and straight forward.

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What happened to the Disciplinary Manual?

The disciplinary manual has not been modified significantly.  It has been changed from a manual to an SOP and is referenced as APD.SOP.2020 "Disciplinary Process"

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Where are the work rules?

They are now part of the ACTION section of APD.SOP.2010 "Work Rules". When the work rules were changed from a manual to an SOP the actual rule numbers did not change.    For instance, Work Rule 1.03 "Truthfulness was changed to 4.1.03 "Truthfulness" to reflect the ACTION section of the SOP.

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What is an Update document?

An Update document is a reference to the directives that have changed or been added to the written directive system over the course of the year.  While the Update link on the CD will be static until a new CD is issued it will be updated on "Horizon" as changes are made.

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How often will I get an updated CD?

As SOPs are written and updated throughout the year, each employee will receive and sign for a paper copy of the directive.  This process has not changed.  However, each employee will receive an new CD each January that includes all updated and new directives from the previous year. At that point you may discard the previous years CD and paper copies.

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Will I still get a paper copy of the SOPs?

The simple answer is "No".  There is no plan to mass produce the written directive system in paper format.  Each work site will have a complete hard copy set of the SOPs to be maintained by the work site in the same fashion that SOPs are updated presently.

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Are the directives still on "Horizon"?

The directives are still on the "Horizon" intranet site.  The format for "Horizon" is identical to the CD and vice-versa.  The only differences are the update pages and  search pages.  The Update pages will be continually updated and the search will be automated.

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What if I have a question or want to suggest improvements?

If you have questions you can contact the Planning and Research/Accreditation Unit via the "Contact Us" link on the Home Page of either the CD or "Horizon".

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Revised: 10/04/05.