(A) A member shall be subject to any
applicable provision of the Revised Code and Administrative Code including, but
not limited to, Chapter 5503. of the Revised Code. A member shall also be
subject to all of the division's rules, adopted under section 111.15 of
the Revised Code and published in the rules and regulations of the division,
and all provisions of any applicable collective bargaining
agreement.
(B) Performance of duty
(1) A member shall carry
out all duties completely and without delay, evasion or neglect. Members shall
report for duty at the time and place specified or scheduled by their
supervisor, properly attired, and ready to assume on-duty status.
(2) A member shall
submit all required reports without delay and in accordance with directives
established by the superintendent.
(3) A member, while on
duty, shall not be absent from his/her district, post, section, unit, detail or
assignment without authorization and shall be available through usual
communication channels.
(4) Members who are off
duty shall keep their supervisor advised when they are not available for recall
to duty.
(5) Members who fail to
perform their duties because of an error in judgment, or otherwise fail to
satisfactorily perform a duty of which such member is capable, may be charged
with inefficiency. Unsatisfactory performance may be demonstrated by a lack of
job-related knowledge, an unwillingness or inability to perform assigned tasks,
failure to take required action, or failure to take appropriate action at any
time.
(6) Any member who at
any time becomes aware of another employee's impending or actual
violations of the rules and regulations, the directives of the superintendent,
or violations of any criminal or civil statutes, shall take immediate action to
prevent such violations and then report the violations to a supervisor as soon
as possible.
(C) Assistance to the
public
A member, while on duty, shall offer and render
appropriate assistance to anyone in need. Members shall not make unsolicited
endorsements regarding the use or procurement of a particular product or
service.
(D) Credentials: Use of official
identification
(1) A member, while off
duty, shall not wear any part of the uniform or convert to personal use any
issued equipment without the permission of the superintendent.
(2) A member shall not
permit any other person to use his/her badge, identification card or any other
part of the uniform or equipment assigned to the member.
(3) A member, while on
duty, shall provide proper identification to any person upon demand, including
name, badge number and/or unit number.
(E) False statement,
truthfulness
(1) A member shall not
make any false statement, verbal or written, or false claims concerning his/her
conduct or the conduct of others. A member shall not, nor attempt to, commit an
act of deception.
(2) A member shall not,
in any manner, cheat on, or tamper with, an examination, test, or measurement.
A member shall not, nor attempt to, obtain, furnish, or accept answers or
questions to examinations.
(3) A member shall not
feign illness or injury, falsely report illness or injury, or otherwise
deceive, or attempt to deceive, any official of the division as to the
condition of his/her health.
(F) Rewards, bribes, payment for
duty
(1) A member shall not
solicit or accept any reward, bribe, gratuity, gift of any nature, payment or
compensation for the performance of any duty for which a regular salary is
received.
(2) A member shall not
use or attempt to use his/her official position to secure anything of value
that would not ordinarily accrue to the member.
(3) Any member offered a
bribe shall report it immediately to a supervisor.
(4) Any member who is
offered or receives a reward, gift, or gratuity shall take immediate action to
return such item and shall report it immediately to a supervisor.
(G) Off-duty employment
(1) A member shall not
engage in any off-duty employment which hinders or interferes with the
performance of his/her duties. A member shall not engage in any off-duty
employment that represents a conflict of interest with the performance of
his/her duties.
(2) A member shall not
engage in off-duty employment unless such employment has been approved, in
writing, according to directives established by the
superintendent.
(3) A member shall not
use division equipment or supplies for any purpose in off-duty employment
unless authorized by the superintendent.
(H) Release and control of
information
(1) A member shall keep
in confidence any information acquired in the performance of his/her duties
when the release of such information might be embarrassing or damaging to any
person or the division. A member shall divulge such information only when
necessary to do so by reason of subpoena, or other court action, or upon the
lawful order of a supervisor.
(2) A member shall give
information to the news media in accordance with directives established by the
superintendent.
(I) Conduct unbecoming an
officer
A member may be charged with conduct unbecoming
an officer in the following situations:
(1) A member shall not
engage in any conduct, on or off duty, which could reasonably be expected to
adversely affect the public's respect, confidence, or trust for Ohio state
highway patrol troopers and/or the division; or which could reasonably expect
to bring discredit to the division and/or any of its members or
employees.
(2) For committing any
crime, offense or violation of the laws of the United States, the state of
Ohio, or any municipality.
(3) For any improper
on-duty association with any individual for purposes other than those necessary
for the performance of official duties.
(4) A member shall
perform his/her duties in a professional, courteous manner.
(5) A member shall not conduct personal business
on-duty.
(J) Sexual harassment and
discrimination
(1) No member shall
sexually harass any person. "Sexual harassment" is defined as the
unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or
physical conduct or contact, or innuendo of a sexual nature. No member shall,
by his/her actions, create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work
environment.
(2) A member shall not
make disparaging comments, statements, acts, or discriminate against any person
on the basis of age, sex, marital status, race, color, creed, national origin,
ancestry, religion, disability, political affiliation, military status or
sexual orientation and gender identity.
(K) Use of alcohol
(1) A member shall not
consume any kind of alcoholic beverage while on duty unless approved by the
superintendent or designee.
(2) A member shall not
report for duty or return to duty showing any evidence or effects of alcoholic
beverage consumption.
(L) Use of narcotics and controlled
substances
A member shall not use any narcotic or any other
controlled substance except as prescribed by a physician. The member shall
notify a supervisor, prior to reporting for duty or operating any division
equipment, that the member is taking a prescribed narcotic or controlled
substance. A member shall report any potential side effects that may affect
fitness for duty to a supervisor.
(M) Gambling
A member shall not indulge in any type of
gambling while on duty.
(N) Bail and bond,
prohibited
A member, while on duty, shall not undertake as
surety on bond, furnish bail, recommend bond or recommend an attorney for any
person.
(O) Court action
(1) Members shall
report, in writing, as soon as possible, to his/her supervisors, any court
action instituted against them.
(2) No member, while on
duty, shall appear as a witness in a court action, except when subpoenaed to
appear based on an action arising from his/her employment with the
division.
(P) Involvement in motor vehicle
crash
A member, while on duty, who is involved in a
motor vehicle crash shall report the crash to a supervisor immediately.
(Q) Personal financial
responsibility
A member shall pay all debts and obligations that
are his/her legal responsibility.
(R) Soliciting funds, raffles and
lotteries
A member, while on duty, shall not solicit funds
nor sell any tickets or memberships for any non-charity organization, function,
raffle or lottery.
(S) Appearance
A member, while on duty, shall maintain a neat,
well groomed appearance according to the written directives established by the
superintendent.
(T) Personal health and job related
injuries
(1) A member shall keep
physically fit and be in compliance with standards of the highway patrol health
and physical fitness program.
(2) A member may be
periodically examined by the patrol medical staff or other designated medical
or professional personnel to determine the member's level of physical or
psychological fitness.
(3) A member who
contracts any disease, illness, or injury that would affect the performance of
his/her duties shall report such fact to a supervisor as soon as
possible.
(4) A member who becomes
pregnant shall, as soon as possible, have the required divisional medical forms
completed by her attending physician and returned to a supervisor. The member
shall thereafter submit such additional completed medical forms as required to
evaluate such member's ability to continue her performance of
duty.
(U) Use of leaves
A member shall be entitled to all leaves
applicable to employees of the state of Ohio and all shall be governed by the
sections of the Ohio Revised Code, Administrative Code, or the current
collective bargaining agreement that may be applicable to such leaves.
(V) Response to resistance and
firearms
(1) A member shall only
use that force reasonable to effect an arrest, detention, or mission. A member
shall not infringe on the rights of an individual within his/her
control.
(2) A member shall
exercise care in handling, carrying, transporting, storing and using firearms
so as to avoid endangering any persons. A member shall only draw and display
his/her firearm in time of demonstrated need, for official inspection, or
during training, qualification, or cleaning.
(3) A member shall be
permitted to use division issued firearms in accordance with directives
established by the superintendent.
(4) A member, while off
duty, shall not carry a firearm issued by the division unless authorized by the
superintendent
(W) Evidence and recovered
property
A member shall carefully protect and preserve for
proper disposition any article of property recovered or turned over to him/her
after loss by its rightful owner, held as evidence, seized from a prisoner or
otherwise entrusted to his/her care. A member shall exercise diligence in
safeguarding vehicles, or property connected with a crash, or other incident,
in order that such property shall be returned to its rightful owner without
damage, loss or unnecessary delay. A member taking control of any such property
shall secure that property and report its recovery according to directives
established by the superintendent.
(X) Living quarters
(1) A member shall
establish living quarters in such location as is necessary for the discharge of
all regular duties and in compliance with applicable provisions of the current
collective bargaining agreement and/or directives established by the
superintendent.
(2) A member shall
immediately establish telephone service, by cellular or landline, upon
occupying living quarters and shall maintain such service to permit ready
contact concerning regular and emergency duties.
(3) A member shall
promptly answer or respond to any telephone call from the
division.
(Y) Compliance to orders
(1) A member shall
immediately and completely carry out the lawful orders of a supervisor, or
designated officer in charge, which pertain to the discharge of the
member's duties.
(2) A member shall
conform with, and abide by, all rules, regulations, orders and directives
established by the superintendent for the operation and administration of the
division.
(3) A member is
prohibited from using audio or video recording devices in the workplace unless
used in the member's normal job duties or as outlined in the collective
bargaining agreement.
(4) A member is
prohibited from soliciting, or arranging for, other individuals to engage in
recording any conversation, telephone calls, or other activities in the
workplace.
(Z) Loitering
Members shall not spend unreasonable amounts of
time, while on duty, at any public or private establishment or location, unless
acting in the official performance of his/her duties.
