Mission and Values

PHILOSOPHY AND VALUES STATEMENT

The philosophy of an organization embodies the guiding principles and beliefs under which the members of the organization strive to achieve their mission, goals, and objectives. The philosophy of the men and women of the Sandy Township Police Department may be summarized as follows:

We believe the men and women of the Sandy Township Police Department are its most valuable asset and the essential ingredient to effectively and efficiently accomplish the police mission.

We believe in the equitable, fair and impartial application of laws and ordinances without regard to race, color, creed, sex, or station in life, and in treating all individuals with tolerance, compassion and the dignity we would expect if found in similar circumstances.

We believe in the preservation of basic human rights and the maintenance of individual human dignity under the rule and spirit of law, which dictates that the ends do not always justify the means and that punishment is not the function of the police.

We believe in providing quality, empathetic, responsive and professional service to the citizens and visitors of our community. Additionally, we believe the citizens of have endowed Sandy Township us with a public trust. We will honor that trust by holding ourselves to the highest standards of professional police conduct, wholly subscribing to the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics established by the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

We believe in the decentralization of authority downward within the organization of the Sandy Township Police Department concomitant with accountability and responsibility for actions taken or omitted.

We believe that proactive team management, open communication and employee input, prior to policy and procedure implementation, are the norm in the Sandy Township Police Department. Once decisions are made, we realize it is critical that everyone (including dissenters) work together toward achieving department goals.

We believe a written Policy, Rules and Regulations Manual is necessary to guide each member of this Department in the performance of their duties. However, rules cannot be written to cover all contingencies. Therefore, we believe all actions taken by Department personnel must be legal, professional, reasonable and consistent with the spirit and intent of this philosophy statement, the Constitution of the United States, the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the ordinances of the jurisdictions in which we serve.

We believe that crime and other community nuisances are social ills that we, as police personnel, are incapable of conquering alone. We believe our responsibility is to provide service, leadership, guidance and protection to our citizens, who in partnership with us, strive to make our community a safer and more pleasant place to live.

MISSION STATEMENT - COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING

We, the members of the Sandy Township Police Department, are committed to being responsive to our community in the delivery of quality police services. Recognizing our responsibility to maintain order, while affording dignity and respect to every individual, our mission is to improve the quality of life in our jurisdiction through a community partnership which promotes safe and secure neighborhoods and business districts.

We will enforce the laws of this Commonwealth and of the communities we serve and will endeavor to identify and reduce citizens’ concerns regarding criminal activity, neighborhood deterioration, and continual nuisances. We will closely interact with the community and local government agencies, and engage in crime prevention, criminal apprehension, and other activities which might reduce concerns in the community.

LAW ENFORCEMENT CODE OF ETHICS

As a Law Enforcement Officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception; the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the Constitutional rights of all men to liberty, equality and justice.

I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all; maintain courageous calm in the face of danger, scorn, or ridicule; develop self-restraint; and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others. Honest in thought and deed in both my personal and official life, I will be exemplary in obeying the laws of the land the regulations of my department. Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature or that is confided to me in my official capacity will be kept ever secret unless revelation is necessary in the performance of my duty.

I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, animosities, or friendships to influence my decisions. With no compromise for crime and with relentless prosecution of criminals, I will enforce the law courteously and appropriately without fear or favor, malice or ill will, never employing unnecessary force or violence and never accepting gratuities.

I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol or public faith, and I accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of the police service. I will constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself before God to my chosen profession – LAW ENFORCEMENT.

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