Chapter 8 - Personnel
Policy 800: SMCCCD Employee Handbook
800.1 POLICY
It shall be the policy of SMCCCD DPS that unless otherwise described, the directives of the Employee Handbook shall supersede all content of this Manual.
Policy 801: SMCCCD Board Policies and Procedures
801.1 SMCCCD BOARD POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
The following hyperlink will bring you to the San Mateo County Community College District Board Policies & Procedure, and shall supersede all content of this Manual
SMCCCD Board Policies and Procedures
Policy 802: SMCCCD Board Policies and Procedures
802.1 CSEA AGREEMENT
It shall be the policy of SMCCCD DPS that unless otherwise described, the CSEA Agreement shall supersede all content of this Manual.
District SharePoint Public Downloads
CSEA Successor Contract 2022-2025 Page 61
Policy 803: Seat Belts
803.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This policy establishes guidelines for the use of seat belts. This policy will apply to all members operating or riding in department vehicles (Vehicle Code § 27315.5).
803.2 POLICY
It is the policy of the San Mateo County Community College District - Department of Public Safety that members use safety and child restraint systems to reduce the possibility of death or injury in a motor vehicle collision.
803.3 WEARING OF SAFETY RESTRAINTS
All members shall wear properly adjusted safety restraints when operating or riding in a seat equipped with restraints, in any vehicle owned, leased or rented by this department while on- or off-duty, or in any privately owned vehicle while on-duty. The member driving such a vehicle shall ensure that all other occupants, including non-members, are also properly restrained. Exceptions to the requirement to wear safety restraints may be made only in exceptional situations where, due to unusual circumstances, wearing a seat belt would endanger the member or the public. Members must be prepared to justify any deviation from this requirement.
803.4 INOPERABLE SEAT BELTS
Department vehicles shall not be operated when the seat belt in the driver's position is inoperable. Persons shall not be transported in a seat in which the seat belt is inoperable. Department vehicle seat belts shall not be modified, removed, deactivated or altered in any way, except by the vehicle maintenance and repair staff, who shall do so only with the express authorization of the Chief/Director of Public Safety. Members who discover an inoperable restraint system shall report the defect to the appropriate supervisor. Prompt action will be taken to replace or repair the system.
803.5 VEHICLE AIRBAGS
In all vehicles equipped with airbag restraint systems, the system will not be tampered with or deactivated. All equipment installed in vehicles equipped with airbags will be installed as per the vehicle manufacturer specifications to avoid the danger of interfering with the effective deployment of the airbag device.
Policy 804: Body Armor
804.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
Practical safety measures should be used to reduce the risks and hazards associated with public safety work. The Department provides soft body armor for officers upon request in an effort to improve safety.
804.2 POLICY
It is the policy of the San Mateo County Community College District - Department of Public Safety to maximize officer safety through the use of body armor in combination with prescribed safety procedures. While body armor provides a significant level of protection, it is not a substitute for the observance of officer safety procedures.
804.3 ISSUANCE OF BODY ARMOR
The Command Staff supervisor shall ensure that body armor is issued to all officers when the officer begins service at the San Mateo County Community College District - Department of Public Safety and that, when issued, the body armor meets or exceeds the standards of the National Institute of Justice.
The Command Staff supervisor shall establish a body armor replacement schedule and ensure that replacement body armor is issued pursuant to the schedule or whenever the body armor becomes worn or damaged to the point that its effectiveness or functionality has been compromised.
804.3.1 USE OF SOFT BODY ARMOR
Generally, the use of body armor is required subject to the following:
- Officers shall only wear agency-approved body armor.
- Officers shall wear body armor anytime they are in a situation that requires the use of body armor.
804.3.2 CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF SOFT BODY ARMOR
Soft body armor should never be stored for any period of time in an area where environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, light, humidity) are not reasonably controlled (e.g., normal ambient room temperature/humidity conditions), such as in automobiles or automobile trunks.
Soft body armor should be cared for and cleaned pursuant to the manufacturer's care instructions provided with the soft body armor. The instructions can be found on labels located on the external surface of each ballistic panel. The carrier should also have a label that contains care instructions. Failure to follow these instructions may damage the ballistic performance capabilities of the armor. If care instructions for the soft body armor cannot be located, contact the manufacturer to request care instructions.
Soft body armor should not be exposed to any cleaning agents or methods not specifically recommended by the manufacturer, as noted on the armor panel label.
Soft body armor should be replaced in accordance with the manufacturer's recommended replacement schedule.