NEW ALBANY POLICE DEPARTMENT - New Albany, Ohio

5.3.23 Maintaining Department Property and Publications
Departmental personnel are responsible for the proper care and use of Department property and
equipment assigned to or used by them. Departmental personnel are prohibited from taking home
or using Departmental property not assigned to them or using Departmental property outside of
its intended use, unless a request to use such property has been approved by a supervisor or the
Chief of Police. Departmental personnel must also maintain and keep current all issued manuals,
references, and texts.
5.3.24 Neglect or Inattention to Duty
Employees shall not commit an act expressly forbidden or omit an act specifically required by the
laws of the State of Ohio, the ordinances of the City of New Albany, these Rules of Conduct, or
any other order, policy, procedure, or directive of the City of New Albany or the New Albany
Police Department. Employees shall not engage in activity or personal business which may result
in neglect or inattention to duty.
Employees shall remain awake while on duty. If the employee feels that he/she is unable to do
so, a supervisor should be notified to determine the proper course of action. Police employees
shall remain at their duty location except when carrying out other official details or when
authorized to leave by a supervisor.
5.3.25 Personal Correspondence
Departmental personnel are not to use the Police Department as their mailing address for
personal correspondence or to use the official letterhead for private correspondence.
5.3.26 Public Statements and Appearances
Departmental personnel are not to publicly criticize or ridicule the department, its policies, or
other personnel by speech, writing, or other expressions. Department personnel are not to
address public gatherings, appear on radio or television, prepare any articles for publication, act
as correspondents to a newspaper or a periodical, or release or divulge investigative information
or any other matters of the department in violation of Departmental directives and/or without the
approval of a supervisor or the Chief of Police.
5.3.27 Release of Police Information
Departmental supervisory personnel may release information to news media representatives only
on an impartial basis. All supervisory personnel initiating contact with the media will, without
delay, provide equal access of information to all members of the media. Supervisory personnel
will insure the accuracy of all information released. Information regarding ongoing investigations
will not be released except by the officer in charge of the investigation. All inquiries concerning
ongoing investigations will be directed to the officer in charge of the investigation. When in doubt
whether information may be released, refrain from releasing the information and refer inquiries to
a supervisor or the Chief of Police.
5.3.28 Reporting Arrests or Court Actions
Employees shall immediately report in writing to the Chief of Police any arrests or court action
where the employee is a defendant or plaintiff. This includes a personal civil proceeding that may
impair the employee’s ability to perform his/her assigned duties or brings disrespect to the Police
Department. An exception is when an employee is involved in a divorce and/or child support
proceeding, unless the proceeding has attached a criminal action (such as domestic violence
and/or Temporary Protection Order). Departmental personnel are to notify the Chief of Police in
writing when they initiate a lawsuit relating to their employment with the Police Department.
13