In September the Madison Police Department started posting policies for review on their website. Now they have posted a policy on how procedures will be reviewed annually, every other year or every three years. In reading this policy, I do have some suggestions and comments, but what do you think?
CODE OF CONDUCT
The Code of Conduct is based on the values of the Madison Police Department (MPD) and thus it is anticipated that little change will be necessary. Any member of the MPD may recommend a change to the Code of Conduct. The changes must be in writing and show the edits from the most current edition of the Code of Conduct. The written request should be directed to the Assistant Chief of Support and Community Outreach.
It shall be the responsibility of the Assistant Chief of Support and Community Outreach on the behalf of the Chief, to follow-up on any proposal, and to complete any needed action.
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
All SOPs shall be subject to regular review. The Administrative Assistant to the Chief will initiate the process no later than November 1 of each year. SOPs due for review will be sent to a lead Captain (generally the process owner) to conduct the review. Any revisions to the SOP are due back the Chief’s office by December 31 of that year.
By February 1 of the following year, the SOP revision process shall be completed, with the posting of the most current SOP, and date of revision to the current departmental reference site.
SOPs will be reviewed annually, every other year, or every three years:
Annual Review
- Active Shooter Incidents
- Arrest, Incarceration & Bail – Adults
- Arrest, Incarceration & Bail – Youth
- Barricaded Person Incidents
- Canine Use
- CFS Dispatch Guidelines
- Civil Actions Against Department Employees
- Crime Scene Response
- Critical Incident Stress Management
- Deadly Force – Use of
- De-Escalation
- Demonstrations & Assemblies
- Detox, JRC Jail and Probation and Parole Responses and Conveyances
- Digital Forensics
- Domestic Abuse
- Emergency Vehicle Operations Guidelines
- Enforcement of Immigration Laws
- Foot Pursuits
- General Duties and Expectations of Employees
- Handling of Confidential Informants (not available?)
- Handling of Evidence, Contraband, Found, or Lost Property
- Hostage Situation Incidents
- Identification Procedures
- Labor Disputes and Picketing
- Line of Duty, Life-Threatening Injury or Death of an Employee
- Major Case Investigations
- Mental Health Incidents and Crises
- Non-Deadly Force – Use of
- Notification of Commanding Officers
- Officer Involved Deaths and Other Critical Incidents
- PSIA Complaint Investigation
- PSIA Discipline Matrix
- PSIA Electronic Complaint File Management System
- Records Inspection and Release
- Response to Persons with Altered State of Mind
- Robberies in Progress and Silent Robbery Alarms
- Search Warrant Service
- Searches
- Sexual Assault Investigations
- Stop and Frisk
- Supervision and the Early Intervention System
- Threats of Targeted or Mass Casualty Violence
- Unmanned Aircraft Systems
- Use of Force Data Collection
- Video and Audio Surveillance
- Video Evidence Retrieval
Every other year
- Arson Investigations
- Back-Up
- Bomb Threats
- Court Overtime
- Guarding Prisoners
- Guidelines for Case Assignment and Management
- Hours Worked
- In-Car Video System
- Interactions with Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Individuals
- Interviews of Crime Victims
- Intoxicated and Incapacitated Persons
- Investigation of Cases Involving Officers as Victims of Serious Crimes
- Investigation of Incidents Involving Shots Fired
- Language Access Services
- Missing Child
- Mutual Aid Requests and Enforcement Action Out of Jurisdiction
- Naloxone – Narcan – Protocol
- Overtime Guidelines
- Overtime Protocols for Police Report Typists
- Patrol Leave Requests
- Patrol Staffing Hold Guidelines, Special Events and Assignment Scheduling
- Personal Appearance
- Police Weaponry
- Precautionary Measures and Significant Exposure to Infectious Pathogens
- Probation and Parole Searches
- Recording Suspect Interviews
- Reporting Procedure
- Restricted Duty
- Retail Theft
- Social Media – Investigative Use
- Social Media – Non-Investigative Use
- Social Media – Off Duty Use
- Special Events Team Extrication Team
- Special Events Team Grenadiers
- Special Events Team Medic Platoon
- SWAT Body Worn Cameras
- System Audits
- Third Party Database Use and Dissemination
- TIME System Use and Dissemination of Records
- Traffic Parking and Crash Investigation
- Uniform Standards
- Workplace Safety
Every three years
- Alder Notification
- Cellular Telephones – Use of
- Changes to Code of Conduct and Standard Operating Procedures
- City Owned Property – Use and Care
- City-County Building Access – Non- Business Hours
- Civilian Hiring Process
- Cold Case Review Team
- Community Rooms
- Custody of Newborn
- Departmental Awards and Recognition
- Dignitary Protection
- Donation of Vacation and Compensatory Time – Civilian Process
- Drug Recognition Expert
- Employee Assistance Program
- Funerals and Ceremonies of LEO
- HR218, LE Officer Safety Act – LEOSA – for Former Madison Police Officers
- Identification of MPD Employees
- Interns Application and Acceptance Process
- Landlord Tenant Unwanted Guest Criminal Trespass
- Life Threat Emergency at Facility Public Windows
- Lost and Abandoned Property
- Mendota Mental Health Institute Response
- Military Leave
- Mobile Data Computers – Use of
- Mounted Patrol Use
- MPD Locker Rooms
- News Media Relations
- Off-Duty Officer Responsibilities
- Outside Employment
- Personnel File Contents and the Process for Accessing these Records
- Police Motorcycles
- Police Vehicle Parking
- Political Activity
- Pre-Employment Candidate File
- Proficiency, Continuous Improvement and After Actions Reports
- Replacement of Lost, Stolen or Damaged Equipment
- Requesting Additions or Changes to Approved Uniform and Equipment Lists
- Sex Offender Notifications
- Soliciting and Receiving In-Kind or Cash Donations and Applying for Grant Funding
- Special Duty
- Stolen Vehicle Reporting Guidelines
- Telestaff Requirements
- Tours, Visitors, and Ride-Alongs
- Tuition Reimbursement and Educational Incentive
- U Visa Program Participation
- Uniform Accounts
- Update of Payroll Status for Promoted Employees
- Vehicle Escorts
- Vehicle Use, Assignment, and Maintenance
- WI Prescription Drug Monitoring
MID-YEAR ADJUSTMENTS
Any member of the MPD may recommend a change to any SOP or recommend creating a new SOP. The changes must be in writing and show the edits from the most current edition of the SOP. The written request should be directed to the Administrative Assistant to the Chief.
PROCESS FOR CHANGES
For potential changes, either at the annual review or per a recommendation, the SOP must have the edits visible on the current version. If the recommendations are for major substantive process changes, the drafts will be scheduled for a review at the Field or Support level. Final draft review will be sent to the Management Team in writing for feedback. Minor changes will only be reviewed with a draft showing mark-ups sent to the Management Team.
Once edits have completed the internal review process, public/community input on the changes will be solicited. Any input/feedback received will be shared with the Chief prior to final approval of the changes.
Changes that are time-sensitive may be implemented prior to the formal input process.
ADDED: Non-substantive changes to an SOP (such as edits to grammar, punctuation, or word usage) that do not havean operational impact are not required to go through the formal change process.
It shall be the responsibility of the Administrative Assistant to the Chief, acting as a delegate to Assistant Chief of Support and Community Outreach, to follow-up on any proposal, and to complete any needed action.
Nothing in the Code of Conduct or Standard Operating Procedures is intended to create an enforceable legal right or private right of action.
CURRENT POLICIES AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW
These are drafts of new or modified SOPs that have completed the internal MPD review process. Changes to existing SOPs are noted in each document. Please share any input or feedback on the changes by clicking the “Submit Suggestion” link above.
- Active Shooter/Killer Incidents
- Barricaded Person Incidents
- Changes to Code of Conduct and Standard Operating Procedures
- Hostage Situation Incidents
- Interactions with Youth
- LE Officer Safety Act (LEOSA) for Former Madison Police Officers
- Notification of Commanding Officers
- Records Inspection and Release
- Responses to Persons with Altered State of Mind
- U Visa Program Participation
MY THOUGHTS
- They should indicate what years the “every other year” and “every three years” are so people know when the policies will be reviewed.
- They should place a deadline on comments from the public on the website.
- Where do the public comments go? Where is the public discussion? PSRC? Council? Police and Fire Commission?
- The part about not going through the process if there are only grammar, punctuation, word usage takes the opportunity away for public input. Every policy should be reviewed as scheduled and available for comment.
- How did they come up with this schedule? What were the criteria used to determine how often the policies would be reviewed?
- There is no way for the public to initiate the review of a policy, only “any member of the MPD” may recommend a change. Seems like that should be extended to the public as well.
- There should be a way to sign up to get a notification when a new police is posted for review.
- What’d I miss?
Hopefully the policy will be in the report to the PSRC in January and we will be able to discuss at that point.
Remember, if you have thoughts on the new policies, you can submit comments through the website. Or, the email address there is acains@cityofmadison.com
