Current through all regulations passed and filed through September 16, 2024
(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.
