Seattle Police Manual

5.090 – Operations Bureau-General Personnel Matters

Effective Date: 8/18/2003

I. Duty Hours

A. Watch Hours

1. First Watch

a. Early Squads: 0300 hrs.-to-1200 hrs.

b. Late Squads: 0330 hrs.-to-1230 hrs.

2. Second Watch

a. Early Squads: 1100 hrs.-to-2000 hrs.

b. Late Squads: 1130 hrs.-to-2030 hrs.

3. Third Watch

a. Early Squads: 1900 hrs.-to-0400 hrs.

b. Late Squads 1930 hrs.-to-0430 hrs.

B. Specialty Unit Hours

1. Anti-Crime Teams

a. 1900 hrs.-to-0300 hrs.

2. Community Police Team

a. 1000 hrs.-to-1800 hrs.

3. Special Patrol Unit

a. Day Shift: 1000hrs.-to-1800 hrs.

b. Night Shift: 1900 hrs.-to-0300 hrs.

4. Special Deployment

a. 0800 hrs.-to-1600 hrs.

5. Seattle Center Detail

a. Day Shift: 0930 hrs.-to-1800 hrs.

b. Night Shift: 1730 hrs.-to-0130 hrs.

6. Traffic Unit

a. #1 Motorcycles 0700 hrs.-to-1500 hrs.

b. #2 Motorcycles 1000 hrs.-to-1800 hrs.

c. AM Cars 0630 hrs.-to-1430 hrs.

d. PM Cars 1300 hrs.-to-2100 hrs.

e. DUI Squad 2000 hrs.-to-0400 hrs.

7. Canine Unit

a. Narcotics Dog: 1600 hrs.-to-2300 hrs.

b. #1: 2000 hrs.-to-0300 hrs.

c. #2: 2100 hrs._to-0400 hrs.

d. #3: 2200 hrs.-to-0500 hrs.

8. Mounted Unit

a. 1000 hrs.-to-1800 hrs.

9. Harbor Patrol

a. Day Shift: 0700 hrs.-to-1500 hrs.

b. Swing Shift: 1500 hrs.-to-2300 hrs.

c. Night Shift: 2300 hrs.-to-0700 hrs.

10. Parking Enforcement Unit

a. #1: 0630 hrs.-to-1500 hrs.

b. #2: 0800 hrs.-to-1630 hrs.

c. #3: 0900 hrs.-to-1730 hrs.

d. #4: 0945 hrs.-to-1815 hrs.

e. #5: 1430 hrs.-to-2300 hrs.

EXCEPTION: Modification to these hours may be made by a Captain upon approval from the Operations Bureau Chief.

C. Responsibilities

1. Watch Lieutenant will report to duty at least thirty minutes prior to the first roll call of their watch.

2. Sector Sergeants will report for duty fifteen minutes prior to the start of their roll call.

3. Officers will report for duty, fully equipped and prepared, at the start of their watch.

NOTE: Officers not arriving on time or in the proper uniform will be subject to corrective action, unless excused.

4. Station personnel will report for duty as ordered by the Precinct Captain.

5. Other personnel will report for duty as directed by the appropriate captain.

6. Officers who cannot report for duty at their assigned time will

a. Contact their seargeant before the start of the watch.

b. Explain the situation; and

c. Provide an estimated time of arrival.

7. Shift change will occur as near as possible to the above times. If this is not possible

a. The Sector Sergeant will notify radio.

b. Explain why the on-coming watch cannot relieve the previous watch.

8. Officers shall remain on duty for the entire assigned watch unless excused by a sergeant.

II. Roll Call Responsibilities

A. Patrol Officer

1. Watch start hours are also roll call start hours.

2. Take notes during roll call.

B. Sergeants

1. Record those officers not present when their names are called.

a. Place the word "late" on the roll call sheet.

b. Mark officers reporting to roll call out of uniform "late" on the roll call sheet.

2. Obtain and document explanations for tardiness .

a. Forward explanations to the Watch Lieutenant.

3. Provide information on criminal activity.

4. Conduct formal roll call training no less than monthly. This training should be documented on the Staff Distribution report.

C. Lieutenant

1. Conduct roll call during formal inspections.

2. Address roll calls as needed.

III. Inspections

1. The sergeant will assemble the watch.

a. Give command of "At close interval, fall in."

b. Determine the number of ranks needed.

(1) Space ranks six feet apart, if possible.

c. Plainclothes officers should be separate on the left end of the formation.

d. Sergeants should be separate on the right end of the formation.

2. Once the ranks are assembled, the sergeant will:

a. Give the command "At close interval, dress right dress."

b. Officers:

(1) Place the heel of the left hand on the left hip at the belt line; and

(2) Extend the left elbow out to the left and

(3) Look to the right to help dress the line of officers.

c. Check the dress and cover of the formation.

d. Return to the position of attention.

(1) Give the command "Officers Ready, front."

(2) Bring your hand smartly down the trouser seam, and re-cup your fingers. Turn your eyes to the front.

3. Place the ranks at ease.

a. Keep the right foot in place while at ease

4. Call the watch to attention when the inspecting officer enters the room.

5. The sergeant will face the inspecting officer.

a. Render a hand salute and say, “The watch is ready for inspection."

b. The inspecting officer will return the salute; this begins the inspection.

6. Follow the inspecting officer through the ranks.

7. Place the ranks not being inspected "At ease."

a. Call the rank to” Attention" as the inspecting officer approaches

b. Place the rank just inspected "At ease."

8. On completion of the inspection, call the ranks to attention.

9. The inspecting officer may address or dismiss the watch.

a. The ranks may be placed "At ease," if addressed.

b. Call the watch to "Attention" on completion of the inspecting officer's address.

10. The sergeant will exchange salutes with the inspecting officer.

11. The inspector commanding officer will issue the command to dismiss the watch.

12. Dismiss the watch.

a. Give the command of "Fall out" after the inspecting officer has left the area.

IV. Assignments

A. Staffing Assignments

1. On-duty strength requirements will vary from precinct to precinct.

a. Requirements depend on the total resources available.

b. Patrol deployment software defines the guidelines.

c. The Operations Bureau Chief determines the minimum on-duty strength requirements.

2. Distribution of personnel between precincts is determined by the Operations Bureau Chief.

a. Precinct Captains will keep the Operations Bureau Chief informed on precinct staffing needs.

3. The Precinct Captain distributes staffing resources among the three watches.

a. The Operations Bureau Chief provides the staffing guidelines.

4. The Watch Lieutenant distributes resources among the sectors.

a. The Precinct Captain provides the sector staffing guidelines.

b. The Watch Lieutenant will provide the beat staffing guidelines.

5. The Sector Sergeant will distribute resources among the beats.

B. Car Beat Assignments

1. Patrol deployment software is used to determine the number of various units needed.

a. Adjustment of resources may be needed to meet staffing or operational needs.

2. The Operations Bureau Chief determines the number of two- officer units in each sector.

a. The Watch Lieutenant will ensure the number of allowed units is not exceeded without justification during routine operations, and report significant variations to the Precinct Captain.

3. If the watch falls below minimum strength:

a. Assign one-officer units to two officer beats; and

b. The number of two-officer units will remain consistent with Patrol deployment software, unless operational priorities dictate otherwise.

C. Foot and Bicycle Beat Assignments

1. The Operations Bureau Chief determines the number of foot/bicycle assignments.

a. Assignments are made as resources permit.

2. Precinct Captains may assign a combination car/foot or car/bicycle beat.

D. Plainclothes Assignments

1. Watch Lieutenants may assign plainclothes units to resolve a specific problem.

a. Assignments will normally be six days or less.

b. Assignments longer then six days require approval from the Operations Bureau Chief.

V. Transfer Requests

A. Within Operations Bureau

1. Submit a memo to your sergeant.

a. The individual's chain of command indicates approval or disapproval.

2. Forward memorandum to the requested precinct.

a. The receiving chain of command indicates approval or disapproval.

3. All transfers are determined by the needs of the Operations Bureau.

4. The Operations Bureau Chief will make the final decision regarding transfers.