Council invited to give input on new Earle police policy and procedures manual
Council invited to give input on new Earle police policy and procedures manual
Captain reaches out to sheriff, city leaders for ideas
news@theeveningtimes.com
Earle City Council will have a chance to comment on a new policies and procedures manual for its police department.
Capt. John Couch told officials that the department’s current manual for officers was inadequate and badly in need of updating.
“The last policy book was two pages long,” Couch said. “This one here is more through and a little more in depth on what officers should do on a day to day basis. There are more rules to follow.”
Couch got a copy of the Crittenden County Sheriff’s Department manual and discussed it with Sheriff Mike Allen to get ideas on what needs to be included in the manual for Earle.
The county’s manual is chapters long and covers topics such as employee and training requirements; vacation, sick leave, and holidays; injury on the job; sexual harassment; drug policy; promotions and performance evaluation; offduty employment; racial profiling; use of deadly force; vehicle pursuit; forcible entry of private property; firearms policy; evidence collection and preservation; records and reports and arrest and detention.
“We’ve got policies for pretty much everything,” Allen said.
Couch said the new handbook will closely mirror the county’s manual for officers.
“All of those things are going to be in that policy book,” Couch said. “These policies are mainly the county’s policies. We’re just going to incorporate them for the Earle Police Department.”
Couch encouraged city officials to read the manual and jot down and questions they may have for the next council meeting.
“I’m not going to rush you,” Couch said. “But I would ask that you take this home and read it and go over it. Next council meeting I will ask to put this back on the agenda and if you have any questions or want some more clarity on something I will answer your questions.”
By Mark Randall
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