GENERAL ORDERS POLICE DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: LAW ENFORCEMENT ROLE & AUTHORITY
TITLE: POLICY MANUAL
EFFECTIVE DATE: AUGUST 31, 2025
REVISION DATE:
ACCREDITATION: ALABAMA ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE (AACOP)
APPROVAL: CHIEF
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POLICY MANUAL
103.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The manual of the Police Department is hereby established and shall be referred to as the Policy Manual or the manual. The manual is a statement of the current policies, procedures, rules and guidelines of this department. All members are to conform to the provisions of this manual.
All prior and existing manuals, orders and regulations that are in conflict with this manual are rescinded, except to the extent that portions of existing manuals, orders and other regulations that have not been included herein shall remain in effect where they do not conflict with the provisions of this manual.
103.2 POLICY
Except where otherwise expressly stated, the provisions of this manual shall be considered as guidelines. It is recognized that the work of law enforcement is not always predictable and that circumstances may arise that warrant departure from these guidelines. It is the intent of this manual to be viewed from an objective standard, taking into consideration the sound discretion entrusted to members of this department under the circumstances reasonably available at the time of any incident.
103.2.1 DISCLAIMER
The provisions contained in the Policy Manual are not intended to create an employment contract nor any employment rights or entitlements. The policies contained within this manual are for the internal use of the Police Department and shall not be construed to create a higher standard or duty of care for civil or criminal liability against the City, its officials or department members. Violations of any provision of any policy contained within this manual shall only form the basis for administrative action, training or discipline. The Police Department reserves the right to revise any policy content, in whole or in part.
103.3 AUTHORITY
The Chief of Police shall be considered the ultimate authority for the content and adoption of the provisions of this manual and shall ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws. The Chief of Police or the authorized designee is authorized to issue Administrative Orders, which shall modify those provisions of the manual to which they pertain. Administrative Orders shall remain in effect until such time as they may be permanently incorporated into the manual.
103.4 DEFINITIONS
The following words and terms shall have these assigned meanings throughout the Policy Manual, unless it is apparent from the content that they have a different meaning:
CITY - The City of Lineville.
SUPPORT STAFF - Employees and volunteers who are not sworn peace officers.
EMPLOYEE - Any person employed by the Department.
MANUAL - The Police Department Policy Manual.
MAY - Indicates a permissive, discretionary or conditional action.
MEMBER - Any person employed or appointed by the Police Department, including:
FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME EMPLOYEES
SWORN PEACE OFFICERS (Ala. Code § 36-21-60)
RESERVE, AUXILLARY OFFICERS
SUPPORT STAFF EMPLOYEES
VOLUNTEERS - N/A
OFFICER - Those employees, regardless of rank, who are sworn peace officer employees of the Police Department.
ON-DUTY - A member's status during the period when he/she is actually engaged in the performance of his/her assigned duties.
ORDER - A written or verbal instruction issued by a superior.
APOSTC - Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission (Ala. Code § 36-21-40 et seq.)
RANK - The title of the classification held by an officer.
SHALL OR WILL - Indicates a mandatory action.
SHOULD - Indicates a generally required or expected action, absent a rational basis for failing to conform.
SUPERVISOR - A person in a position of authority that may include responsibility for hiring, transfer, suspension, promotion, discharge, assignment, reward or discipline of other department members, directing the work of other members or having the authority to adjust grievances. The supervisory exercise of authority may not be merely routine or clerical in nature but requires the use of independent judgment.
The term "supervisor" may also include any person (e.g., officer-in-charge, lead or senior worker) given responsibility for the direction of the work of others without regard to a formal job title, rank or compensation.
When there is only one department member on-duty, that person may also be the supervisor, except when circumstances reasonably require the notification or involvement of the member's off-duty supervisor or an on-call supervisor.
103.5 ISSUING THE POLICY MANUAL
An electronic version of the Policy Manual will be made available to all members on the department network for viewing and printing. No changes shall be made to the manual without authorization from the Chief of Police or the authorized designee.
Each member shall acknowledge that he/she has been provided access to and has had the opportunity to review the Policy Manual and Administrative Orders. Members shall seek clarification as needed from an appropriate supervisor for any provisions that they do not fully understand.
103.6 PERIODIC REVIEW OF THE POLICY MANUAL
The Chief of Police will ensure that the Policy Manual is periodically reviewed and updated as necessary.
103.7 REVISIONS TO POLICIES
All revisions to the Policy Manual will be provided to each member on or before the date the policy becomes effective. Each member will be required to acknowledge that he/she has reviewed the revisions and shall seek clarification from an appropriate supervisor as needed.
Members are responsible for keeping abreast of all Policy Manual revisions.
Every supervisor will ensure that members under his/her command are aware of any Policy Manual revision.
All department members suggesting revision of the contents of the Policy Manual shall forward their written suggestions to their supervisors, who will consider the recommendations and forward them to the command staff as appropriate.
These policies and operating procedures are not designed to cover every possible scenario or situation in society, but rather to define standard operating procedures for members of the Police Department. These guidelines are subject to past, present and future judicial review. These guidelines can be amended and or repealed by the Chief of Police as necessary. The policies and procedures herein provided supersede all previous policies and orders.
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