12A - Command Authority, Succession and Protocol

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Policy & Procedure Page 1 of 4 Lexington Police Department Subject: Command Authority, Succession & Protocol Policy Number: 12AAccreditation Standards: Reference: 12.1.2; 12.1.3; 17.1.1 Effective Date: 3/11/13 New Revised Revision Dates: 1/24/19 By Order of: Mark J. Corr, Chief of Police GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS AND GUIDELINES In 1921 the Town of Lexington adopted M.G.L. Chapter 41, section 97 designating the Chief of Police as being in "immediate control" of the management, direction and supervision of the police department. The Chief shall use this authority to direct the resources of the organization toward the accomplishment of its goals and objectives. The chain of command shall serve as the principle means through which the organization will be managed. Consistent with this chain of command shall be a designated order of precedence for command authority. The establishment of command succession shall ensure that leadership and direction is available should the Chief of Police be incapacitated or otherwise unavailable to act. [12.1.2] In most routine situations, the chain of command will also identify the person responsible for the direction and control of an operation. However, some incidents require the cooperative efforts of officers from different divisions. In these instances, command protocol shall designate which officer shall have the command responsibility in the joint operation.