I. PURPOSE

To establish and maintain a personnel early warning system to aid in the identification of Department members who may benefit from agency intervention.

II. POLICY

It will be the responsibility of all Department supervisors to identify, evaluate, and assist Department members who exhibit signs of performance and/or stress related problems.

III. DEFINITIONS <35.1.9 a.>

1. Use of Force: Physical contact or action taken that is considered a defensive/offensive tactic beyond mere restraint.
2. Vehicle Pursuits: When an officer attempts a traffic stop by requesting or signaling for a motorist to stop, and the motorist fails to do so, maintaining or accelerating his speed and maneuvering his vehicle to elude the officer.
3. Vehicle Collisions: When a vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, road debris, or other stationary obstruction, such as a tree, pole or building.
4. Citizen Complaints: A preliminary examination based on the need for information. The information may be received from a known or unknown source within or outside the Department. Depending on the seriousness of the complaint and the nature of information developed, a citizen complaint may be upgraded to an internal investigation. 
5. Internal Affairs Investigations: An investigation generated as a result of serious allegations such as improper or excessive use of force, illegal conduct, breaches of an individual's civil rights, sexual harassment, etc. 
6. Firearm Discharges/Officer Involved Shootings: The firing of any firearm (intentional or accidental) other than during range practice, weapons qualification or competitive sporting event. 

IV. PROCEDURES

A. Early Warning Indicators

Intervention will be appropriate in circumstances that indicate a potential for negative consequences to the Department member, his/her co-workers, the Department, and/or the community. Data collection efforts will focus on the following indicators available through required reporting : <35.1.9 d.>

1. Use of force incidents in which physical strikes or higher force was used; 
2. Vehicle pursuits;
3. Vehicle collisions;
4. Citizen Complaints;
5. Internal affairs investigations; and
6. Officer involved shootings.

B. Supervisors' Responsibilities <35.1.9 f.>

1. First and second level supervisors will familiarize themselves with their subordinates and routinely observe their demeanor, appearance, and conduct.
2. Supervisors will remain alert for indications of behavioral changes or stressors that may affect a Department member's performance.
3. Supervisors will receive periodic training on recognizing potential problems or concerns and referring Department members for assistance. <22.2.6 h.><35.1.2><35.1.9 h.>
4. When supervisors perceive or determine that a Department member has problems or is causing problems, they will assess the situation and take appropriate action in accordance with this general order and the other policies and procedures of the Department, including referral to the City Employee Assistance Program or a police chaplain, informal counseling by a supervisor, and/or other remedial action. <35.1.9 f.><22.2.6 e.>
5. Documentation of action taken by supervisors as set forth in the preceding paragraph will be provided to the Professional Standards Supervisor through the chain of command as soon as possible. Serious situations may require immediate notification.
6. When requested to perform a review based on early warning indicators, supervisors will make their recommendations in writing and submit through the chain of command to the Professional Standards Supervisor.

C. Professional Standards Unit Responsibilities

1. The Professional Standards Supervisor will establish and maintain a system to collect, review, and analyze quantitative and qualitative data related to the early warning indicators listed in ¶A above. <35.1.9 c.>
2. Norms will be established for supervisory review of a Department member for a determination regarding the necessity for agency intervention.
3. Reports will be developed on a regular basis for all employees but will automatically be generated whenever an employee has exceeded the established threshold requiring supervisory review and intervention. The Department threshold is: <35.1.9 b.>
   1. Five (5) or more Uses of Force
   2. Two (2) of more Vehicle Pursuits
   3. Two (2) or more Vehicle Collisions
   4. Two (2) or more Citizen Complaints
   5. Two (2) or more Internal Affairs Investigations
   6. Two (2) or more Use of Force incidents per officer
4. When new data brings the early warning indicators to the level set for a supervisory review, the Professional Standards Supervisor will notify the Department member's immediate supervisor through the chain of command and request that the review be performed. </35.1.9 c.>
5. The Professional Standards Supervisor will conduct an annual review of all Department members' early warning indicators and will submit an analysis of trends to the Chief of Police. <35.1.9 e.>
6. The Professional Standards Supervisor will conduct an annual evaluation of the system and recommend any changes to the Chief of Police. <35.1.9 e.>

D. Remedial Action <35.1.9 g.>

When a review of a Department member's early warning indicators indicates that agency intervention is appropriate and/or when a supervisor makes such a determination as a result of routine observations, the Chief of Police or his designee may recommend:

1. Referral to the City Employee Assistance Program, a peer counselor, and/or a police chaplain; <35.1.9 h.>
2. Supervisory counseling;
3. Participation in an authorized remedial training program;
4. Disciplinary action; and/or
5. Temporary reassignment or transfer.

BY ORDER OF: 

Chris Watts
Chief of Police

References: City of Rock Hill Employee Handbook (Employee Assistance Program), General Order Chapter 22, Section #1.01 (Compensation, Benefits & Conditions of Work), General Order Chapter 22, Section #1.06 (Critical Incident Assistance Team), General Order Chapter 22, Section #1.07, and General Order Chapter 26, Section #1.01 (Recognition and Discipline)

<CALEA Standards: 35.1.9 a. thru f. and 22.2.6>