200-08 Conduct and Authority Flashcards
Officers, regardless of rank or assignment, while in the state of Texas are required to take____, ____ and ____ police actin with respect to violations of the law coming to their attention. Officers shall adhere to this policy, whether they are on or off duty, unless ____
1) prompt, effective, and appropriate
2) doing so would compromise the safety of an employee or citizen
Employees are held accountable for the manner in which they exercise the ____ of their office or position
authority
____ and ____ shall dictate the actions of all employees along with the boundaries of authority provided by federal, state, and local law, and the policies and procedures of the Houston Police Department.
Reasonableness and sound judgment
Certain provisions of this General Order may not be applicable in undercover police assignments specifically authorized by supervisors in accordance with divisional standard operating procedures. However, in determining such applicability, officers shall be strictly accountable for justifying ____
their actions
(Violations of this policy may result in discipline up to and including indefinite suspension.)
Employees shall exhibit professional conduct at all times and shall not engage in any activity,
including unlawful activity, that would…
degrade or bring disrespect to the employee or the department.
Employees shall not communicate in any manner, directly or indirectly, any information that…
may delay an arrest or enable persons guilty of criminal acts to escape arrest or punishment,
dispose of property or goods obtained illegally, or destroy evidence of unlawful activity.
Employees shall not join, participate with, or frequent any organization that…
advocates, incites, or supports criminal acts or criminal conspiracies.
Employees shall not knowingly commence or maintain a relationship with or associate with…
convicted criminals or any person who is under criminal investigation, indictment, arrest, or
incarceration by any criminal justice agency, excluding traffic or municipal ordinance violations.
Employees shall avoid regular or continuous association with any person possessing a…
notorious reputation in the community
Exceptions to the above restrictions (people employees shall avoid) are limited to…
employees performing their official duties or unavoidable family relationships.
Employees shall respect the rights of individuals and shall not engage in…
discrimination, oppression, or favoritism whether by language, act, or act of omission.
Employees shall maintain a civil and impartial attitude towards both…
complainants and violators
Employees shall be courteous, civil, and respectful to all department employees and citizens,
and shall not use…
threatening or insulting language
Employees shall not engage in any form of speech likely to be construed as…
a racial or religious slur or joke
When neither law nor policy provides clear guidance regarding a particular situation, employees shall…
exercise discretion in choosing the appropriate action
Employees shall make decisions based on ____ and ____
sound judgment and the principles set forth in policies and procedures of the department
Discretion shall be exercised in such a manner that employees can reasonably assume that upon review their conduct shall be judged…
sound and reasonable by their supervisors
Employee conduct shall always be consistent with…
the department’s mission, values, ethics, guiding principles, and any instructions given by the employee’s supervisors.
Employees are expected to exercise sound judgment at all times. Employees’ behavior shall be
limited to conduct that is reasonable and prudent. No employee shall commit any act on or off
duty in an official or private capacity that…
may bring reproach, discredit, or embarrassment to the department.
If an employee has a personal interest, direct or indirect, financial or otherwise, in any decision
pending before such employee or a body or group of which the employee is a member, the
employee shall ____.
If such employee is in attendance at such meeting, he or she shall ____
1) not participate in the consideration of the matter
2) publicly disclose a conflict of interest to the body or group prior to any determination of the matter.
An employee shall not negotiate for or accept future employment or extra employment with any ____that has a substantial interest in any proposed ordinance or decision within such person’s area of responsibility and upon which the employee ____
1) person, firm, association, or corporation
2) may or shall act or make a recommendation
Employees shall not perform any action that may disrupt the performance of ____ of employees of the department or that tends to interfere with or subvert the reasonable supervision or proper discipline of ____
1) official duties or obligations
2) employees of the department
Employees shall ____ with cases assigned to others. Employees shall ____ with the work or operations of any unit in the department or the work or operations of ____.
1) not interfere
2) not interfere
3) other government agencies
Employees against whom a complaint has been made shall not…
attempt, directly or indirectly, by threat, appeal, persuasion, or payment of money or other consideration to secure the abandonment or withdrawal of the complaint, charges, or allegations.
When directed by a ____ to make a statement or furnish materials relevant to a department investigation, employees shall comply with the directive.
competent authority
All department personnel shall cooperate fully with any authorized persons conducting audits of…
department operations or activities
Employees shall neither publicly nor at internal official meetings criticize or ridicule the department or…
any of its policies, City officials, or other employees by speech, writing, or other expression that is defamatory, obscene, or unlawful, or that undermines the effectiveness of the department, interferes with the maintenance of discipline, or is made with reckless disregard for truth or falsity.
Employees acting as an agent of or representing the department in any way shall not ____. Employees shall not seek personal publicity either directly or indirectly in the course of their employment.
give testimonials or permit their names or photographs to be used for commercial advertising purposes
A uniformed officer shall neither acknowledge nor show recognition of another police officer in
civilian clothes unless…
that officer first addresses the uniformed officer
In order to maintain a unified and productive working environment and in keeping with the spirit of state Civil Service Law, the ____ is prohibited.
surreptitious audio or video recording of employees by other employees
(This section does not apply when the recording is done pursuant to the Texas Local Government Code or when conducted as part of a criminal investigation.