218.00 HONOR GUARD/HIGHLAND GUARD
Refer:
- DIR 210.30 Timekeeping and Overtime
- DIR 240.10 Line of Duty Death
- PPA Labor contract Article 43, Overtime
POLICY (218.00)
The Bureau will maintain an Honor Guard and Highland Guard as a unit to provide ceremonial duties at police funerals, parades, and events requiring official participation of a ceremonial nature.
PROCEDURE (218.00)
The Honor Guard and Highland Guard participate on request in police and fire related events such as funerals, memorials and ceremonies. The Honor Guard and Highland Guard participate in other community-oriented events such as parades that are positive police/community contacts. The two Guards may perform separately or in combination if appropriate.
Non-police or community related events, such as religious or private organization requests, are generally discouraged. The exceptions are made upon the approval of the Operations Branch chief and/or Chief of Police. In those events, the requesting organization may be charged for costs relating to that event.
Honor Guard/Highland Guard Commander Responsibilities
a. The Honor Guard/Highland Guard Commander will make appropriate notifications as outlined in DIR 240.10.
1. The Honor Guard/Highland Guard Commander will approve all requests for Honor Guard and/or Highland Guard participation. The Honor Guard/Highland Guard Commander will be appointed by, and liaison with, the Operations Branch chief for approval of overtime, travel, or adjusted shift time.
a) Requests for the Highland Guard will be made through the Highland Guard command officer, to be designated by the Operations Branch chief.
b) Requests for the Honor Guard will be made through the Honor Guard command officer, to be designated by the Operations Branch chief.
c) Requests should include:
1) Date, time.
2) Type of request (funeral, sister city event, parade etc.).
3) Payroll status (overtime, straight time, adjusted shift).
4) Names of officers and RU.
d) The Honor Guard/Highland Guard Commander will forward notification of approved requests to the officers, his/her RU managers, Fiscal, and the appropriate Guard command officers.
2. The Honor Guard/Highland Guard Commander may authorize unit participation in events within a one-day (10 hour shift) travel time by motor vehicle to adjoining states.
3. All Honor Guard/Highland Guard participation exceeding the one-day travel time must have the approval of the Operations Branch chief.
4. No overtime will be authorized for travel outside this one-day travel area. Officers will, however, be relieved from duty for the equivalent time necessary to travel to and from the event site and must have the approval of the Operations Branch chief.
5. The Honor Guard/Highland Guard Commander may approve requests for participation in official Bureau functions or requests from outside the Bureau of an official nature. The Operations Branch chief must approve requests for participation of the Honor Guard or Highland Guard in non-police/fire events.
6. The supervisor for the Honor Guard and /or Highland Guard will collect all overtime slips immediately upon completion of event. The overtime slips will be reviewed and forwarded to the Honor Guard/ Highland Guard Commander for approval and forwarded to Fiscal Services.
7. The Honor Guard/Highland Guard Commander or designee will maintain a record of Honor Guard/Highland Guard events and track overtime and shift adjustments. The Honor Guard/Highland Guard Commander or designee will prepare a quarterly report of those events for the Chief of Police’s Office liaison for approval and forwarding to the Operations Branch chief.
Selection Criteria (218.00)
a. A position announcement will be posted through Personnel Division as open positions occur.
b. Eligible candidates will be interviewed and evaluated by the Honor Guard/ Highland Guard Commander and a minimum of two Guard supervisors.
c. A written recommendation will be sent to the Chief of Police’s Office liaison and forwarded to the Operations Branch chief for approval.
Training (218.00)
a. Overtime is not authorized for Honor Guard or Highland Guard training.
b. The Honor Guard and Highland Guard will maintain a high degree of proficiency and professionalism. The unit will train on a regular basis. The Honor Guard/Highland Guard Commander will determine the training schedule.