107 – Rank Structure

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I.             Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to establish the rank structure and job description of positions in the HCSO.

II.           Policy

It is the policy of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office to provide a job description of each position. These job descriptions will have a documented review and revision, if applicable, conducted every four years and make them available to the agency.

III.          Rank Structure and Job Description

The order of rank in the Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) will be:

A.           Sheriff: The Sheriff is the chief executive officer of the Department. The Sheriff has final authority for determining HCSO policies together with full responsibility for the complete discharge of all duties imposed by law.

1. As chief executive officer, the Sheriff must officially sanction and approve any changes in structural organization of the HCSO before the changes may be put into effect. The detailed methods of directing and controlling specific functions of the HCSO, or of its commands, bureaus, and divisions may be developed by designated subordinate personnel, but the original direction and final approval and adoption of the guiding principles rests with the Sheriff.

2. The Sheriff will designate any position of command or responsibility for the administration of the HCSO.

B.           Chief Deputy: The position of chief deputy is appointed by the Sheriff and is subordinate in rank only to the Sheriff. Each chief deputy is the executive commander over the entirety of his or her designated operational area with complete authority superseded only by the authority of the Sheriff.

C.           Chief of Staff: The Chief of Staff is appointed by the Sheriff and is subordinate in rank only to the Sheriff. The Sheriff may, at any time, detail or relate specific administrative and executive duties to the Chief of Staff.

D.           Assistant Chief Deputy: The position of assistant chief deputy is appointed by the Sheriff and is subordinate in rank only to the Sheriff and chief deputy. The Sheriff may appoint an assistant chief deputy to assist with the executive duties of the chief deputy and administer certain commands within the HCSO.

E.            Major: Each major is appointed by the Sheriff and will be responsible for, and exercise command over, the functions of the bureau over which he or she is assigned. A major is subordinate to the Sheriff, the chief deputy, and the assistant chief deputy and is charged with the responsibility to establish and enforce a manual of procedures for the designated bureau that is not in conflict with the Department policies and is limited to procedures involving only the designated bureau. A major is responsible for the planning and conduct of various programs to maintain competent levels of performance of personnel assigned to his or her bureau. It is his or her duty to aid, advise, and cooperate with the Sheriff or his or her designee in general administrative matters and in determining matters of policy. The major may prescribe rules and regulations for the conduct of employees under his or her command that do not conflict with the general rules and regulations prescribed by the Sheriff or his or her designee.

F.            Captain: Each captain is selected by the promotions process and subject to the final approval of the Sheriff or his or her designee. A captain is the primary commander of a division and is designated as a secondary commander within his or her respective bureau. Captains supervise the activities of employees assigned to the division in accordance with the policies prescribed by the Sheriff, his or her designee, and major.

 G.  Detention Captain:  Each detention captain is selected by the promotions  process and subject to the final approval of the Sheriff or his or her designee.  A detention captain is the primary commander of a division within the Detention Command and is designated as a secondary commander within his or her respective bureau.  Detention Captains supervise the activities of employees assigned to the division in accordance with the policies prescribed by the Sheriff, his or her designee, and major.

H. Field Operations Night Commander: The Field Operations night commander is a designee appointed by the Sheriff responsible for the effective management of law enforcement activities within all patrol districts during the night watch. The night commander reports directly to the Patrol Bureau major. For full scope of the night commander’s responsibilities, reference HCSO Policy #121.

I.  Lieutenant: Each lieutenant is selected by the promotions process and subject to the final approval of the Sheriff or his or her designee. A lieutenant may be designated as a watch supervisor and is responsible for the entire operations of an assigned watch. The lieutenant will be directly responsible for the actions of personnel assigned to a designated division. The lieutenant has a duty to aid, advise, and cooperate with the respective bureau captain and major in general administrative matters and in determining matters of policy.

J. Detention Lieutenant: Each detention lieutenant is selected by the promotions process and subject to the final approval of the Sheriff or his or her designee. A detention lieutenant is assigned to the Detention Command and manages daily operations of his or her designated division or watch. The detention lieutenant will be directly responsible for the actions of personnel assigned to a designated division and has a duty to aid, advise, and cooperate with the respective bureau captain and major in general administrative matters and in determining matters of policy.

K.  Sergeant: Each sergeant is selected by the promotions process and subject to the final approval of the Sheriff or his or her designee. A sergeant is designated as an assistant watch supervisor and is responsible for the direct supervision of personnel assigned to his or her watch in the performance of their duties. The sergeant also assists the watch supervisor in the implementation of, and adherence to, all HCSO and bureau rules and regulations.

L.  Detention Sergeant: Each detention sergeant is selected by the promotions process and subject to the final approval of the Sheriff or his or her designee. A detention sergeant is assigned to the Detention Command and is designated as an assistant watch supervisor responsible for the direct supervision of personnel assigned to his or her watch in the performance of their duties. A detention sergeant also assists the watch supervisor in the implementation of, and adherence to, all HCSO and bureau rules and regulations.

M. Deputy: Each deputy is commissioned by the HCSO in compliance with applicable hiring policies and procedures and may be assigned to any command within the agency. Deputies are responsible for the enforcement of all local, state, and federal laws and ensuring compliance with all Departmental policies, bureau rules, and all other regulations.

N.  Detention Officer: A detention officer is assigned to the jail facilities under the Detention Command. The detention officer’s responsibilities include: booking inmates into jail, conducting classification interviews, operating computer terminals to input, verify, and obtain information, fingerprinting and photographing inmates, counseling and advising inmates on jail rules and procedures, and preparing related documentation.

O. Telecommunications Supervisor:  The Telecommunications Supervisor plans, organizes, coordinates, and supervises the work of Telecommunications Officer personnel and is directly accountable to the Lieutenant (Operations Commander). They will carry out all orders and assignments as directed.  Duties include, but are not limited to– responsibility for maintaining the efficient operations of 9-1-1 equipment and Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) equipment and all Emergency Dispatch operations during their tour of duty.  Coordinating basic law enforcement support services of federal, state and local agencies in order to attain the goals of the Division.  Issuance of directives, orders and assignments within their scope of authority and responsibility necessary for the purpose of attaining Division goals and objectives.  Notifying superiors of major crimes and emergency situations and carrying out logistical, administrative, maintenance, training, and other duties as directed—to include documentation, payroll, and disciplinary actions issued to subordinates.

P. Telecommunications Officer: The Telecommunications Officer is the Sheriff’s Office’s first point of contact for Harris County citizens and is directly responsible to their first line supervisor. Duties include, but are not limited to– receiving, processing, disseminating, and maintaining information on calls for service, teletypes, warrant, vehicle, and persons information, as well as information on disasters or other emergencies.  Referring incidents and information to other first responders and agencies as appropriate, assisting Telecommunications Supervisors in coordinating emergency responses and management, and briefing and supervising professional staff as directed.  Other routine and special assignments. They carry out their duties in an efficient manner in furtherance of the HCSO public safety mission while maintaining situational awareness in their assigned area of responsibility.

IV.          Special Positions

A.           Acting Sheriff and / or Chief Deputy: During the temporary absence of the Sheriff, the Chief Deputy will automatically assume all duties and responsibilities of the Sheriff. During the temporary absence of the Chief Deputy, an Assistant Chief Deputy will be designated to assume the duties and responsibilities of the Chief Deputy. During the temporary absence of both the Sheriff and the Chief Deputy, the Sheriff and / or Chief Deputy will designate the Assistant Chief Deputies to assume the duties and responsibilities of their respective positions. The Sheriff may specifically designate who will assume the duties and responsibilities of Sheriff in his or her absence at any time.

B.           Acting Bureau Major: During the temporary absence of a bureau major, the assistant chief deputy over the command will designate an alternate bureau commander to assume supervision of that bureau. The designee will continue to administer those additional duties and responsibilities as instructed and / or otherwise designated by a higher authority.

C.           Acting Authority: Deputies who are directed by the Sheriff or his or her designee to act in capacities above their existing rank will, for the necessary time, possess the authority of the rank to which they are temporarily assigned.

D.           Professional Staff Member: Certain administrative positions in the HCSO are filled by civilians appointed by the Sheriff. Any official authority attendant to a civilian position will be determined by the Sheriff commensurate with the responsibilities inherent in the position.

E.            Reserve Deputies: Reserve deputies are certified, trained volunteers who  provide supplemental support to the full-time, paid HCSO staff. Deputies who are members of the HCSO Reserves and hold supervisory rank will wear the uniform of a deputy without supervisor rank while they are working in their capacity as a peace officer for this agency in any uniformed role. Reserve deputies of any rank may not exercise any supervisory authority over regular deputies, unless previously authorized by the Sheriff or Chief Deputy.

V.           Division Heads

A person in charge of a division, regardless of rank, will be responsible for the command and supervision of the functions of the division to which he or she is assigned.

References

Department Policy

105 – Definitions

217 – Overtime

229 – Transfers

240 – Dress Code

248 – Supervisor-Subordinate Relational Disclosure

Revision

This policy has been revised on the below listed dates:

April 21, 2009    August 28, 2020

June 25, 2013                     November 13, 2013

October 6, 2015 June 1, 2024

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