Applicable To:  All sworn employees

Approval Authority:  Chief George N. Turner

Signature:  Signed by GNT

Date Signed:  9/8/11

1.               PURPOSE

To establish the specific duties and responsibilities for employees appointed to the position of Senior Police Officer (SPO).

2.               POLICY

The Chief of Police shall appoint Senior Police Officers to provide recruit training, to field train new officers, to assist supervisors in the field, and to provide peer counseling and guidance for the watch.

3.               RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1              The Field Operations Division (FOD) commander shall manage the assignments of SPO’s under his or her command.

3.2              The section commander shall coordinate administrative duties between the SPO’s assigned to their zone.

3.3              The unit commander shall ensure that the SPO’s workload is managed properly and efficiently.

3.4              The unit supervisor shall direct and instruct SPO’s under his or her supervision in their duties.

3.5              Senior Police Officers are responsible for performing the same duties as police officers with additional duties as specified below.  Senior Police Officers are not part of the supervisory chain of command.

4.               ACTION

4.1              Duties of Senior Police Officer

4.1.1           Senior Police Officers perform active law enforcement duties in the field and shall handle calls for service on the same basis as patrol officers.  However, when appropriate or necessary, the Senior Police Officer shall:

1.    Serve as Field Training Officers (FTO).

2.    Train police recruits or fulfill specific training responsibilities.

3.    Provide informal peer counseling and guidance.

 

4.    Assist the sector sergeant or other supervisors with administrative work.

5.    Investigate and process Class D-Larceny reports.

6.    Perform other duties and assignments as prescribed by the Chief of Police.

4.1.2           Generally, Senior Police Officers shall serve as beat officers assigned to a sector “Umbrella” Unit in addition to specific duties listed in section 4.1.1.

4.1.3           In situations where both a Senior Police Officer and a police officer are present, such as at a crime scene or an accident, the Senior Police Officer shall be the lead officer, regardless of length of service.

4.1.4           Senior Police Officers are not supervisors.  They shall not perform duties, which require supervisory authority, such as signing other officers' reports or keeping time records.

4.2              Uniform Insignia

4.2.1           Officers assigned to the position of Senior Police Officer shall wear the same uniform as prescribed for their assignment, except that they shall wear a single silver chevron on each sleeve, 1/2 inch below the police shoulder patch.

4.3              Assignments

4.3.1           Assignments of Senior Police Officers shall be made as the needs of the Department dictate.  Employees accepting appointment shall be subject to, and can expect, reassignment.

4.3.2           The job of Senior Police Officer is a rank-in-position assignment; therefore, its benefits are not transferable unless the employee is transferred to a qualifying assignment for the specific purpose of filling a Senior Police Officer vacancy.

4.3.3           Newly appointed SPO’s shall be assigned proportionately across all zones and watches in FOD at the discretion of the FOD commander, and based on personnel allocation needs.

4.3.4           Generally, as SPO positions become vacant in other Divisions, they shall be reassigned to FOD to be filled in the zones. This does not preclude the assignment of SPO’s to other Divisions at the discretion of the Chief of Police.

4.4              Removal from Position

4.4.1           Senior Police Officers that are removed from, or relinquish, their position shall return to their former rank of police officer.

4.4.2           The Chief of Police may remove an officer from the position of Senior Police Officer with or without cause.

4.4.3           To increase transfer opportunities, or for any other personal reason, an officer may voluntarily relinquish the position of Senior Police Officer without prejudice.

5.               DEFINITIONS

5.1              Rank-in-position:  Compensation is awarded to employees for specific work performed.

5.2              Qualifying assignment:  A Departmental assignment so designated by the Chief of Police due to the special skills, expertise, knowledge, or abilities required for that assignment.  These assignments may include, but are not limited to: the Atlanta Police Training Academy, the Executive Protection Unit, the SWAT Unit, the Hit-and-Run Unit, the Background and Recruitment Unit or other Specialized Units.

6.               CANCELLATIONS

                  APD.SOP.2110 Duties of Senior Police officers, effective July 1, 2005

7.               REFERENCES

                  City Code of Atlanta 98-32

                  APD.SOP.2100 Appointment to Investigator or Senior Patrol Officer