301 Direct Orders (Issued 05-15-2008)FRIDLEY POLICE DATE OF ISSUE NUMBER:
GENERAL ORDER May 15, 2008 301
SUBJECT: REVISION DATE SECTION:
Direct Orders May 15, 2008 Yellow
I. PURPOSE
Since every police department operates within a continually changing
environment it follows logically that policies cannot be written to cover all
possible contingencies. It is therefore necessary and desirable that the definition
and scope of Direct Orders be outlined.
II. SPECIFICS
A. A Direct Order is a communication between a supervisor and one or more
subordinates under their control.
B. A Direct Order is limited to those subordinates with whom the supervisor
has had direct communication, and it is a direction to perform or refrain
from certain acts.
C. It is the responsibility of the supervisor to assure its clarity and to ascertain
that it has been understood by the subordinate(s).
D. A Direct Order shall not conflict with Statutory Law, or the General
Orders of the Police Department, or a special or direct order issued by a
higher authority; however, in any other case notwithstanding, willful
noncompliance with a direct order, unless it is known by the subordinate
to conflict factually and substantively with one of the four aforementioned
cases shall constitute insubordination. If it is so known by a subordinate it
shall be their duty to advise the supervisor of the fact at the time the order
is issued.
E. A memo directing a subordinate to perform or refrain from an activity
shall constitute a Direct Order.
F. A Direct Order may be issued to comply with a general order, special
order or memorandum.
G. The knowledgeable issue of an unlawful Direct Order shall constitute
“Breach of Authority.”
H. In those areas not circumscribed by Statutory Law, the General Orders of
the Police Department, a Special Order, or a Direct Order issued by a
higher authority, a Direct Order may be issued and justification for such
orders shall be afforded by the supervisor’s rank, experience, judgment,
training, and education.