This policy is established and implemented in compliance with the Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board. This policy defines conduct unbecoming a peace officer and supplements the ethical standards contained in the Saint Paul Police department manual, cites of which have been included for your reference.
Policy:
Law enforcement effectiveness depends upon community respect and confidence. Conduct which detracts from this respect and confidence is detrimental to the public interest and should be prohibited. The policy of this department is to investigate circumstances suggesting an officer has engaged in unbecoming conduct, and impose disciplinary action when appropriate.
Scope:
This policy applies to all officers of this agency engaged in official duties, whether within or outside of the territorial jurisdiction of this agency. Unless otherwise noted, this policy also applies to off duty conduct as well. Conduct not mentioned under a specific general order, but which violates a general principle is prohibited.
This policy is organized into eight principles governing conduct unbecoming an officer. Each principle is followed by the rationale explaining the principle and cites where related ethical standards are located in the Saint Paul Police department manual.
Principle One:
Peace officers shall conduct themselves, whether on or off duty, in accordance with the Constitution of the United States, the Minnesota Constitution, and all applicable laws, ordinances and rules enacted or established pursuant to legal authority.
Rationale: Peace officers conduct their duties pursuant to a grant of limited authority from the community. Therefore, officers must understand the laws defining the scope of their enforcement powers. Peace officers may only act in accordance with the powers granted to them. (General Orders: 120.00, 121.00, 150.02, 150.03, 170.01, 408.01, 409.00, 409.08, 418.00, 439.16)
|
120.00 |
Law Enforcement Code of Ethics |
|
121.00 |
Oath of Office |
|
150.02 |
Conduct Unbecoming an Officer |
|
150.03 |
Respect for Constitutional Rights |
|
170.01 |
Police Action Based on Legal Justification |
|
408.01 |
Arrest Defined |
|
409.00 |
Arrest Procedures |
|
409.08 |
Physical Searches |
|
418.00 |
Informants |
|
439.16 |
Investigations -- Constitutional Compliance |
Principle Two:
Peace officers shall refrain from any conduct in an official capacity that detracts from the publics faith in the integrity of the criminal justice system.
Rationale: Community cooperation with the police is a product of its trust that officers will act honestly and with impartiality. The peace officer, as the publics initial contact with the criminal justice system, must act in a manner that instills such trust. (General Orders: 120.00, 150.03, 150.05, 150.07, 160.01, 160.04, 230.07, 230.09, 230.12 (6), 230.12 (18))
|
120.00 |
Law Enforcement Code of Ethics |
|
150.03 |
Respect for Constitutional Rights |
|
150.05 |
Integrity |
|
150.07 |
Compliance with Lawful Orders |
|
160.01 |
General Provisions |
|
160.04 |
Equality of Enforcement |
|
230.07 |
Immediate Disciplinary Procedures |
|
230.09 |
Employees Duty to Report Misconduct |
|
230.12 (6) |
Civil Service Rules -- Discipline |
|
230.12 (18) |
Civil Service Rules -- Discipline |
Principle Three:
Peace officers shall perform their duties and apply the law impartially and without prejudice or discrimination. Peace officers shall not engage in bias profiling as part of the decision-making process while engaged in the course of their duties. An officer's decision to apply the law shall not be based upon race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, disability, sexual orientation or age.
Rationale: Law enforcement effectiveness requires public trust and confidence. Diverse communities must have faith in the fairness and impartiality of their police. Peace officers must refrain from fostering disharmony in their communities based upon diversity, and perform their duties without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, disability, sexual orientation or age. (General Orders: 160.01; 160.02; 160.03; 160.04; 230.20 (3))
|
160.01 |
General Provisions |
|
160.02 |
Individual Dignity |
|
160.03 |
Role of the Individual Officer |
|
160.04 |
Equality of Enforcement |
|
230.20 (3) |
Department Rules of Conduct |
Principle Four:
Peace officers shall not, whether on or off duty, exhibit any conduct which discredits themselves or their department or otherwise impairs their ability or that of other officers or the department to provide law enforcement services to the community.
Rationale: A peace officers ability to perform his or her duties is dependent upon the respect and confidence communities have for the officer and law enforcement officers in general. Peace officers must conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the integrity and trustworthiness expected of them by the public. (120.00; 121.00; 150.02; 150.08; 218.00; 219.00; 230.12; 230.20; 230.30; 307.00; 376.00)
|
120.00 |
Law Enforcement Code of Ethics |
|
121.00 |
Oath of Office |
|
150.02 |
Conduct Unbecoming an Officer |
|
150.08 |
Use of Intoxicants |
|
218.00 |
Workplace Conduct Policy (Harassment) |
|
219.00 |
Harassment Reporting |
|
230.12 |
Civil Service Rules -- Discipline |
|
230.20 |
Department Rules of Conduct |
|
230.30 |
Drug and Alcohol Screening |
|
307.00 |
Special Investigations Unit (S.I.U.) |
|
376.00 |
Automated Pawn System (APS) |
Principle Five:
Peace officers shall treat all members of the public courteously and with respect.
Rationale: Peace officers are the most visible form of local government. Therefore, peace officers must make a positive impression when interacting with the public and each other. (150.06; 160.02; 160.07; 190.02; 230.12 (5), 230.12 (16), 230.12 (20); 304.00)
|
150.06 |
Courtesy |
|
160.02 |
Individual Dignity |
|
160.07 |
Interpersonal Communication |
|
190.02 |
Violator Contact |
|
230.12 (5) |
Civil Service Rules -- Discipline |
|
230.12 (16) |
Civil Service Rules -- Discipline |
|
230.12 (20) |
Civil Service Rules -- Discipline |
|
304.00 |
Internal Affairs Unit |
Principle Six:
Peace officers shall not compromise their integrity, or that of their department or profession, by accepting, giving or soliciting any gratuity which could be reasonably interpreted as capable of influencing their official acts or judgments, or by using their status as a peace officer for personal, commercial, or political gain.
Rationale: For a community to have faith in its peace officers, officers must avoid conduct that does or could cast doubt upon the impartiality of the individual officer or the department. (120.00; 150.02; 150.05; 203.00; 216.00; 230.12 (6), 230.12 (9); 230.12 (16); 230.20 (1), 230.20 (23), 230.20 (26), 230.20 (29); 438.16)
|
120.00 |
Law Enforcement Code of Ethics |
|
150.02 |
Conduct Unbecoming an Officer |
|
150.05 |
Integrity |
|
203.00 |
Police Department ID Cards |
|
230.12 (6) |
Civil Service Rules -- Discipline |
|
230.12 (9) |
Civil Service Rules -- Discipline |
|
230.12 (16) |
Civil Service Rules -- Discipline |
|
230.20 (1) |
Department Rules of Conduct |
|
230.20 (23) |
Department Rules of Conduct |
|
230.20 (26) |
Department Rules of Conduct |
|
230.20 (29) |
Department Rules of Conduct |
|
438.16 |
Labor Relations |
This section does not prohibit officers from expressing their views on existing, proposed or pending criminal justice legislation in their official capacity.
None of these rules shall prevent officers from engaging in the free expression of political speech in their capacitates as private citizens, or the rights of police fraternal or labor organizations to endorse political candidates or express views on political issues or other matters of public concern.
Principle Seven:
Peace officers shall not compromise their integrity, or that of their department or profession, by taking or attempting to influence actions when a conflict of interest exists.
Rationale: For the public to maintain its faith in the integrity and impartiality of peace officers and their departments, officers must avoid taking or influencing official actions where the officers actions would or could conflict with the officers appropriate responsibilities. (120.00; 150.05; 150.11; 180.12; 180.20; 180.21; 230.12 (16); 231.00)
|
120.00 |
Law Enforcement Code of Ethics |
|
150.05 |
Integrity |
|
150.11 |
Outside Employment |
|
180.12 |
On-Duty, Outside of City, Fully Responsible |
|
180.20 |
Off-Duty, Within City, Fully Responsible |
|
180.21 |
Off-Duty, Outside of City, Limited Police Authority |
|
230.12 (16) |
Civil Service Rules -- Discipline |
|
231.00 |
Off-Duty Employment |
Principle Eight:
Peace officers shall observe the confidentiality of information available to them due to their status as peace officers.
Rationale: Peace officers are entrusted with vast amounts of private and personal information, or access thereto. Peace officers must maintain the confidentiality of such information to protect the privacy of the subjects of that information, and to maintain public faith in the officers and departments commitment to preserving such confidences. (230.20 (16); 230.20 (17); 230.20 (18); 235.00; 418.00)
|
230.20 (16) |
Department Rules of Conduct |
|
230.20 (17) |
Department Rules of Conduct |
|
230.20 (18) |
Department Rules of Conduct |
|
235.00 |
Data Practices |
|
418.00 |
Informants |
Application: Any disciplinary actions arising from violations of this policy shall be investigated in accordance with Minnesota Statute 626.89, Peace Officer Discipline Procedures Act and the law enforcement agency's policy on allegations of misconduct as required by POST Board Rules, Minnesota . Rules pt. 6700.2000 to 6700.2600.
Revised April 13, 2012