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Each employee of the Lamar County Sheriff's Office must be fully aware of the ethical and legal responsibilities of his or her position. As such, all must strive to live up to the highest possible standards of ethical and professional conduct in the performance of their duties.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Lamar County Sheriff's Office employees are official representatives of state and county government and are required and trusted to work within the law. Our powers and duties are conferred by law; with fundamental duties being to serve the community; to protect lives, property, and the innocent; to keep the peace; and to ensure the Constitutional Rights of all.
PERFORMANCE OF DUTIES:
Lamar County Sheriff's Office employees shall perform all duties impartially, without favor or ill will, and without regard to status, sex, race, religion, political belief, or aspiration. Everyone will be treated with equal courtesy, consideration, and dignity. Employees will never allow personal feelings or friendships to influence official conduct. The law will be enforced appropriately and courteously, striving to maintain maximum cooperation and support from the public. We will conduct ourselves in appearance and conduct in a manner as to inspire confidence and respect for the position of public trust that we hold.
DISCRETION:
Lamar County Sheriff's Office employees will use responsibly the discretion afforded them by the position they hold and will exercise it within the law. We will be guided by the principle of reasonableness, considering all surrounding circumstances in determining whether or not legal action will be taken or words of advice given.
USE OF FORCE:
Lamar County Sheriff's Office employees will use only such force in the discharge of their duties as is reasonably necessary and that is in conformance with agency Standard Operating Procedures. We will neither use unnecessary excessive force nor inflict unnecessary pain and suffering. We will never engage in cruel, degrading, or inhumane treatment of any person.
DUTY TO INTERVENE:
Lamar County Sheriff's Office employees have the duty to intervene whenever a violation of Constitutional Rights occurs in their presence, regardless of their rank or position, or the agency involved. We are reminded that an employee who has the duty to intervene and does not also violates the law, and as such, may be charged with a violation of civil rights. We may at times need to be our “brother's keeper”.
CONFIDENTIALITY:
Lamar County Sheriff's Office employees learn of many things that must be kept confidential and used only in the performance of official duties. We must follow the provisions of Georgia's Open Records Law, never forgetting that persons have a right to privacy and that information concerning them must only divulged according to applicable law.
INTEGRITY:
Lamar County Sheriff's Office employees will never engage in acts of corruption or bribery, and we will never tolerate other officers that do. Our integrity and trust must remain above reproach. Employees will avoid any conduct that appears to compromise integrity and may undercut the public confidence in the Lamar County Sheriff's Office. We will not accept any gifts or gratuities that may be interpreted as to influence how we go about doing our official duties. We will not accept private or special favors for performing our lawful duties, remembering that public respect must be earned and cannot be bought.
PROFESSIONAL COOPERATION:
Sheriff's Office employees will at all times cooperate with all lawful agencies and their representatives. We will fully assist them, according respect and consideration in all matters.
PERFORMANCE:
Lamar County Sheriff's Office employees have a personal responsibility for their own professional performance, always taking every opportunity to enhance their own level of competence and job knowledge. Employees must realize that the search for knowledge is never ending and that it should be pursued in the same manner.
OFF DUTY:
Lamar County Sheriff's Office employees will at all times conduct themselves in a manner that does not bring discredit or dishonor upon themselves, this agency, or to its employees. Our conduct while off duty must always be exemplary. We must maintain a position of respect within our community by always keeping our conduct beyond reproach.
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY:
Lamar County Sheriff's Office employees are responsible for their own behavior. They must conduct themselves in a manner that will reflect positively on themselves as well as this agency. Personal responsibilities include, but are not limited to complying with the law, performing lawful duties, abiding by agency policies and procedures, acting ethically and honestly, and never assisting others in violating any of the foregoing. We must never follow unlawful orders or instructions that we know to be violations of our own policies and procedures or the law.
BY ORDER OF:
SHERIFF LARRY WALLER
Issued 1-1-2009
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