San Leandro Municipal Code Art. 7 Duty Responsibility

Members of the department shall always be subject to duty, including even those periods normally considered to be off-duty hours or rest days. In an emergency or under any unusual circumstances, a Command or Supervisory member may order a member to report for duty or remain on duty.

(a) Duty Calls for Emergencies and Unusual Circumstances. Members off duty shall report for duty immediately upon receipt of and in compliance with the directions given them at the time of notification.

(b) Reporting Without Notification. Members shall report without notification in the event of a major disaster, or any other emergency wherein it would reasonably be expected that the department would require the additional services of all members. If in doubt, members shall call the department to report their readiness and state their location.

All members shall report for duty at the time and place, in the attire, and with the equipment specified by departmental orders or the orders of a Superior in rank, unless their absence is authorized by competent authority.

All members shall remain at their assigned duties until the completion of their tour of duty; or until officially dismissed by someone superior in rank.

Members shall remain awake, alert, and productive during the time they are on duty.

(a) Member's Responsibility. It shall be the member's responsibility to notify their supervisor if they become overly fatigued or ill while on duty. Said supervisor shall evaluate the member's reported distress and take measures appropriate to the situation.

Members may suspend their duties, circumstances permitting, for a lunch period of authorized duration, unless otherwise directed by their Supervisor. Members may also suspend their duties, circumstances permitting, for refreshments for not more than fifteen minutes; once during the first half of their tour of duty, and once during the last half of their tour of duty. Such lunch and refreshment periods shall be subject to the inspection of a supervisor.

(a) Discretion Regarding Meal/Refreshment Breaks. Members shall take meal and refreshment breaks in accordance with department procedures, and shall avoid congregating in such numbers, or under such circumstances as would tend to suggest to the public an inattentiveness to duty.

Members on duty, or when officially on call, shall be directly available by normal means of communications; or shall keep their office, headquarters, or Superior Officer informed of the means by which they may be reached when they are not immediately available.

(a) Radio Communications. Members assigned to duties which normally maintain ongoing radio contact with headquarters shall not leave their vehicle or post without first advising headquarters of their location and intentions and receiving permission to do so, unless the urgency of the task precludes such prior notification.

Any member who observes, or has called to their attention, any situation wherein the department should take action, shall, as soon as is practical, notify department headquarters. They shall give their name, rank, the facts of the situation, and what action, if any, the member is taking.

(a) Off-Duty Officers Performing Police Service. Officers off duty shall perform necessary police services whenever and wherever they are aware of a serious criminal offense or a present threat to life (830.1 Penal Code).

All members shall respond appropriately and without unnecessary delay to all calls for police or police-related assistance from the public or other officers or employees. While emergency calls take precedence, all calls shall be answered as soon as practicable, consistent with normal safety precautions.

(a) Regard for Public Safety During Emergency Response. Although a member may be directed to, or may decide, based on the circumstances, to respond in an emergency mode under red lights and siren, said member shall respond with all due regard and caution for the safety of themselves, and other motorists and pedestrians (§21056 California Vehicle Code).

All members of the department shall keep themselves readily available to the public at all times when on duty, except when concealment is a necessary police tactic or purpose.

Every member who is injured, whether on or off duty, or who becomes ill, shall promptly make such reports, or cause such reports to be made, as are required by Civil Service Regulations and department directives of instructions. In the case of serious illness or injury, such reports shall be made as soon as is practicable. (Reference Civil Service Rule XI - Section 2E and Department Policy 1009.)

No member shall be absent from their assigned duties without authorized leave. "Absence without leave," is herein defined as a willful failure of a member to appear for or remain on duty at the date, time, and place specified by the member's Supervisor to the Commanding Officer of the Unit to which the absent member is assigned.

All members shall maintain themselves in such physical condition and such mental attitude as will allow them to cope effectively with their assigned duties.

(a) Standards and Evaluations. Members shall submit to such testing as may be prescribed by the department to measure and evaluate their physical and mental fitness for duty, and shall adhere to such fitness standards as may be adopted by the department.

General or persistent incompetency shall be grounds for dismissal. Incompetence as herein used shall mean that the members lack adequate ability, knowledge, or fitness to satisfactorily perform the duties which are within the scope of the member's employment.

(a) Incompetency may be evidenced by continued substandard performance of duty or the inability to meet and maintain performance standards following reasonable remedial or corrective measures instituted by the department.

(b) Incompetency shall specifically include the inability or failure to assimilate and/or apply the laws, ordinances, and legal concepts which form the framework within which the peace officer functions.

General or persistent inefficiency shall be grounds for disciplinary action. Inefficiency as used herein shall mean that the member's performance of work results in performance lower than that which is typically expected of a similar employee in a similar position.

Members, while in uniform, or on duty, shall not enter restaurants, taverns, theaters, or other public places, except in performance of duty or while on authorized rest breaks. Meals taken in public places should be eaten within the time limit defined in these Rules, and in public view.

An officer on duty as a patrol officer shall stay within the general confines of their assigned area. They shall not leave their assigned area without authorization, except when assigned or ordered in pursuit of official duty.

It shall be the duty of all officers of the department when assigned to or assuming control at a crime scene, to keep the premises or area secure from intrusion by unauthorized persons and maintain it without change in appearance or character; to obtain witnesses for interview; and where lawful and practical, to arrest the responsible person or persons.