GENERAL ORDERS LINCOLN POLICE DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: EQUIPMENT
TITLE: DEPARTMENT OWNED PROPERTY
EFFECTIVE DATE: JUNE 1, 2025
REVISION DATE:
ACCREDITATION: ALABAMA ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE (AACOP)
APPROVAL: CHIEF DARREN E. BRITTON
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DEPARTMENT OWNED PROPERTY
700.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This policy addresses the care of department-owned property and the role of the Department when personal property, the property of another person or entity or department-owned property is damaged or lost.
700.2 POLICY
The Lincoln Police Department will ensure that members are issued appropriate property and equipment necessary for the member’s job function. The department will take steps to minimize the cost associated with maintaining department property, including personal property authorized for use in the member’s duties.
700.3 DEPARTMENT-ISSUED PROPERTY
The Professional Services supervisor should document all property and equipment issued by the Department in the appropriate file at the time of issuance. Receipt of issued items shall be acknowledged by the receiving member’s signature. Upon separation from the Department, all issued property and equipment shall be returned. Documentation of the return shall be acknowledged by the signature of a supervisor.
700.3.1 MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES
Members shall be responsible for the safekeeping, serviceable condition, proper care, proper use and replacement of department property that has been assigned or entrusted to them.
(a) Members shall promptly report, through their chain of command, any loss, damage to, or unserviceable condition of any department-issued property or equipment.
(b) The use of damaged or unserviceable property should be discontinued as soon as practicable, and the item replaced with a comparable item as soon as available.
(c) Except when otherwise directed by a supervisor or when exigent circumstances exist, department-issued property shall only be used by those to whom it was assigned. Use should be limited to official purposes and in the capacity for which it was designed.
(d) Department-issued property shall not be thrown away, sold, traded, donated, destroyed or otherwise disposed of without prior approval.
(e) Members should obtain a supervisor’s approval before any attempt to repair damaged or unserviceable property, unless the repair is of a minor or temporary nature.
700.4 PERSONAL PROPERTY
Carrying and/or using personal property or equipment on-duty requires prior written approval by the Chief of Police or his or her designee. The member should submit a request that includes a description of the property and the reason and length of time it will be used. Personal property of the type routinely carried by persons who are not performing law enforcement duties, and that is not a weapon, is excluded from this requirement.
The Department will not replace or repair items (e.g., jewelry, expensive watches) that are not reasonably required as part of work.
700.4.1 FILING CLAIMS FOR PERSONAL PROPERTY
A member requesting reimbursement for damage to, or loss of, personal property must submit the request in writing to the member's immediate supervisor. The supervisor may require a separate written report.
Upon review by command staff and a finding that no misconduct or negligence was involved, repair or replacement may be recommended by the Chief of Police, who will then forward the claim to the City department responsible for issuing payments.
700.5 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY OF ANOTHER PERSON OR ENTITY
Members who intentionally or unintentionally damage or cause to be damaged the real or personal property of another person or entity while performing any law enforcement function shall promptly report the damage through his/her chain of command.
700.5.1 DAMAGE BY PERSONNEL OF ANOTHER AGENCY
Personnel from another agency may intentionally or unintentionally cause damage to the real or personal property of the City of Lincoln or of another person while performing their duties within the jurisdiction of this department. The department member present or the member responsible for the property is responsible for reporting the damage as follows:
(a) A verbal report shall be made to the member's immediate supervisor as soon as circumstances permit.
(b) A written report shall be submitted before the member goes off-duty or as otherwise directed by the supervisor.
700.6 SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES
The supervisor receiving a report that property, including personal property authorized for use, has been damaged should conduct an investigation and direct a memo to the Chief of Police or his or her designee. The memo should include the result of the investigation and whether reasonable care was taken to prevent the loss, damage or unserviceable condition.
Cases where the supervisor has reason to believe that misconduct or negligence was involved in the loss, damage or unserviceable condition of property should be handled in accordance with the Standards of Conduct and Personnel Complaints policies.
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 Lincoln 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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