CHAIN OF COMMAND
CHAIN OF COMMAND
The chain of command is the relationship of juniors and seniors within an organization. An effective chain of command is essential for Sheriff's Office to carry out its assigned mission. Good leadership supports an effective chain of command and vice versa; neither works well without the other. The chain of command serves several purposes in the accomplishment of the Sheriff’s Office mission. It defines responsibilities and identifies accountability. Properly used, it provides direction and smooth communications and ensures efficiency.
RESPONSIBILITY
Responsibility requires that an individual be accountable for the performance of assigned tasks within an organization. By defining responsibilities, the chain of command lets its personnel know what their responsibilities are and what they are expected to do. The Sheriff expects its personnel to set good examples for their peers and subordinates by doing their jobs quickly, correctly, and neatly. The Sheriff expects its personnel to instill a sense of pride in others to improve the efficiency of the command.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Every person in a chain of command is accountable to someone for performance and personal actions. Accountability is the ability of personnel to report, explain, or justify every action taken. They do this through two types of accountability; performance accountability and professional growth accountability.
Performance accountability means you must answer to seniors in the chain of command for the way in which you carry out an assigned task or the lack there of.
Professional growth accountability means you must answer to senior personnel for your personal behavior and professional appearance or the lack there of.
DIRECTION
The chain of command provides direction in the assignment of duties. All personnel of the chain of command know their specific duties. Seniors assign these duties, and juniors should carry them out to the best of their ability.
COMMUNICATION
The chain of command provides for smooth, rapid, and effective communication. Each person in the chain of command needs to clearly understand his/her status within that chain. Seniors should pass information down the chain of command about matters that may affect juniors. Juniors should pass information up the chain of command about problems that exist. In this way, communication flows in both directions.
FEEDBACK LOOP
"The People First and Foremost"
FEDERAL LEVEL
STATE LEVEL
COUNTY LEVEL
OFFICE LEVEL
2021-01-01 Sheriff Operations Oversight Model.pdfNOTE: For those situations having the same rank and not by position, the following criteria will establish the chain of command:
According to Date of Rank, or;
By length of active Service in Law Enforcement, when dates of rank are the same, or;
By length of total active Service with the Sheriff's Office, when 1 and 2 are the same, or;
By date of birth when 1, 2, and 3 are the same, older is more senior.
