270 R.I. Code R. 270-RICR-30-00-2.4

Current through December 3, 2024

Section 270-RICR-30-00-2.4 - Recruit Conduct

A. Obedience to Rules and Regulations

1. Academy Recruits shall obey the Rules and Regulations of the Rhode Island Municipal Police Training Academy and any amendment or additions thereto. A violation of these Rules and Regulations, or of any Academy policy, may be sufficient cause for disciplinary action. Ignorance of these Rules and Regulations shall not be considered a justification for any such violation.

B. Courtesy

1. Basic Training recruits are preparing for careers in an environment demanding discipline and manners. Therefore, certain aspects of professional courtesy and bearing will be stressed during the training period.

2. Recruits shall at all times be courteous and respectful to members of the Academy staff, instructors, fellow recruits, and members of the public.

C. Conduct Unbecoming

1. Recruits of the Academy shall conduct themselves at all times, both inside and outside of the Academy, in such a manner as to reflect most favorably on the Rhode Island Municipal Police Training Academy and their sponsoring agency. Conduct unbecoming in a recruit shall include any conduct that brings or may bring the Academy into disrepute or reflects discredit upon the recruit or impairs the operation or efficiency of the Rhode Island Municipal Police Training Academy or the recruit.

2. Any recruit who commits any act that can be considered conduct unbecoming a police professional while a member of the basic training class, inside or outside of the Academy, may be removed from the Academy. Where appropriate, recruits are also subject to applicable criminal and civil penalties.

D. Conduct

1. Recruits shall maintain a level of moral conduct in their personal and business affairs that is in keeping with the highest ethical standards of the law enforcement profession. Recruits shall not participate in any incident involving moral turpitude that impairs their ability to perform as Academy recruits or causes the Academy or their sponsoring agency to be brought into disrepute.

E. Insubordination

1. Insubordination or disrespect towards superior authority at the Academy is strictly prohibited. Insubordination is defined as a failure to recognize the authority of any superior by disrespect or by disputing a superior's order.

F. Harassment and Discrimination

1. Recruits shall not engage in conduct which has the effect of discriminating or harassing other individuals because of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, religious belief, age, gender, gender identity, politics or similar personal characteristics.

G. Reporting Harassment and Discrimination

1. In the event that a recruit feels that he/she has been the victim of a sexually harassing act, or other harassing or discriminatory act, or violence at the Academy, he/she shall immediately make a complaint through either the Assistant Director of Operations or the Basic Training Coordinator, or directly to the Executive Director of the Academy concerning the incident. Failure to report an incident immediately will not preclude a recruit from pursuing a complaint. In such cases the chain of command need not be followed to initiate such a complaint.

H. Personal Appearance

1. Recruits shall be neat, clean, and well groomed and present a professional appearance at all times while at the Academy.

2. Recruits will adhere to acceptable standards of good personal hygiene and appearance. Mandatory showering is required following physical fitness, use of force, and aquatics training.

3. General Hair Regulations

a. Male and Female Staff Members and Instructors

(1) The length and/or bulk of the hair shall not be excessive or present a ragged, unkempt or extreme appearance.

(2) Hair may not be worn in multiple ponytails, or in a Mohawk style.

(3) The length or bulk of the hair shall not interfere with the proper wearing of any police headgear, or impede the training process.

b. Male and Female Recruits

(1) The length and/or bulk of the hair shall not be excessive or present a ragged, unkempt or extreme appearance.

(2) Hair may not be worn in multiple braids, ponytails, cornrows, or in a Mohawk style.

(3) The length or bulk of the hair shall not interfere with the proper wearing of any police headgear, or impede the training process.

4. Hair Regulations - Males

a. Hair shall be neat and well trimmed. Hair should not touch the collar or eyebrows and should not cover any part of the ear.

b. Sideburns should be neatly trimmed and tapered and will not extend below the top of the ear lobe.

c. The face shall be clean-shaven. Beards and mustaches are prohibited.

5. Hair Regulations - Females

a. Hair shall be either cut so that it does not touch the collar of the shirt, or worn up in a twist or bun above the collar of the shirt. All hairstyles must be such as to stay in place and not hang over the eyes.

6. Jewelry

a. Recruits are allowed to wear wristwatches, wedding bands, and Medic Alert IDs. Wristwatches must be removed during the Physical Training tests, Use of Force tests, and Agility Tests.

b. Female recruits are allowed to wear stud earrings only; however they must be removed during all physical fitness activities and tests.

c. Female recruits are allowed to wear engagement rings; however they do so at their own risk.

d. Religious emblems may be worn, but most be concealed under the uniform. Any recruit that chooses to wear one does so at his/her own risk.

7. Make-up

a. The use of make-up by recruits is not allowed without permission of the Academy Staff. Only clear fingernail and toenail polish is allowed.

I. Wearing of the Academy Uniform

1. The designated uniform shall be worn while at the Academy and for all visits outside the Academy, unless otherwise specified. Recruits shall be well groomed with uniforms that are clean, pressed and creased properly. Shoes and belts shall be highly polished. The Academy uniform will consist of the following:

a. Academy-approved shirt - buttoned and tucked into trousers

b. Academy-approved trousers

c. Department duty belt

d. Black or navy blue socks

e. Black shoes or boots

f. Dark blue tie

g. Cap

h. A nameplate - centered above the left pocket

i. Bullet-proof vest - worn under uniform shirt and under PT shirt

j. Academy jacket (Shell) - over any winter jacket or departmental jacket

k. Class and squad leaders will wear the proper chevron on the collars of their uniforms

2. Use or misuse of the Academy uniform in any manner other than as directed by the Executive Director, Academy staff or instructional staff will result in disciplinary action.

3. Physical Fitness Uniforms

a. Two (2) basic t-shirts

b. Two (2) running shorts

c. One (1) pair basic sweatpants

d. One (1) basic sweatshirt

e. Plain white athletic socks

f. Two (2) pair sneakers, running and court preferred

g. Black watch cap and black gloves, for winter training only

J. Inspections

1. Personal inspections will be held most mornings during basic training. Recruits, all training areas, and classrooms shall be available for inspection at any time.

2. Any member of the Academy Staff or any member of the Rhode Island Police Officers Commission on Standards and Training may conduct his/her inspection without prior notice.

3. Recruits are responsible for the following during inspections:

a. Uniform

b. Appearance

c. Training areas under the recruits' control

K. Absence/Tardiness

1. Recruits are required to be in attendance at the Academy at all scheduled classroom hours and training exercises, unless they are excused by the Executive Director or Academy Staff.

2. Recruits may not hold any outside employment or attend any other school that will conflict with the required hours at the Academy.

3. Any recruit who knows he/she will be late reporting to the Academy must notify a member of the Academy staff. The recruit's present location and estimated time of arrival must be indicated.

4. In either case of absence or tardiness, the recruit must notify their respective sponsoring agency. All missed work shall be made up.

L. Notification of Illness or Injury

1. Sickness, illness or injury during training must be reported immediately to Academy Staff. Arrangements will be made for transportation to a medical facility or hospital, as required. A written report will be submitted by the recruit to Academy Staff for any injury or sickness as soon as practicable.

2. A recruit who is not able to report to the Academy because of illness or injury is eligible to use his/her two-day sick leave.

a. Medical recommendation for recruit Academy participation;

b. Date of expected return to training;

c. Notations on limited participation, all medications or physical therapy prescribed and follow up medical recommendations.

M. Fictitious Illness or Injury Report

1. Recruits shall not feign illness or injury, falsely report themselves ill or injured, or otherwise deceive or attempt to deceive any staff member of the Academy as to the condition of their health.

N. Emergencies

1. Emergency leave may be granted for sudden and unanticipated emergencies occurring within the recruit's immediate family at the discretion of the Executive Director with the approval of the Chair of the Rhode Island Police Officers Commission on Standards and Training.

2. In the event of a death in a recruit's immediate family (spouse, child, parent, sibling, father-in-law, mother-in-law, grandparent), the recruit shall be entitled to three days bereavement leave. The Executive Director may grant such additional leave as necessary.

3. Requests involving any extenuating circumstances that would not be covered under "immediate family" may be granted at the discretion of the Executive Director and with approval of the Chair of the Rhode Island Police Officers Commission on Standards and Training.

4. Only sick leave, court subpoenas or emergency leave (death in family/extenuating circumstances) can be used as reasons for absence during the Academy training period. All such requests shall be made through the recruits sponsoring department in writing and approved with permission of the Executive Director, or his/her designee.

O. Rest Period/Meals

1. In order to maintain professional decorum and reduce recruit class impact on the CCRI community and all other training facilities, recruits shall east lunch and dinner and take break periods in the designated areas on and off campus. Breaks are given at the discretion of the instructor.

2. While on campus, recruits are required to eat lunch, dinner and spend all break periods in the CCRI cafeteria, unless directed otherwise by Academy staff.

a. Talking will not be allowed until all recruits are seated. Recruits will sit together as a group in the cafeteria during meals and breaks. All recruits shall conduct themselves in a proper manner while in the cafeteria. Loud or boisterous talking or disruption of any sort will not be tolerated. Only low conversation is permitted.

P. Use of Tobacco and Gum

1. Recruits are prohibited from smoking and chewing tobacco products at all times while attending the Academy.

2. Recruits will not chew gum while attending the Academy

Q. Use of Alcohol at the Academy

1. A recruit who drinks or possesses, or is found to be in any degree impaired or under the influence of intoxicating beverages at the Training Academy; will be dismissed from the Academy, unless the Recruit has the permission of the Executive Director or their designee as part of an approved police training course.

R. Use of Drugs

1. A recruit who possesses, uses, sells or transfers any illegal drug, controlled substance or unauthorized prescription will be dismissed from the Academy. A recruit who is found to be in any degree impaired or under the influence of drugs will be dismissed from the Academy.

2. Prescription drugs and medicines must be in original container with appropriate patient, doctor, and dosage information intact. Recruits will take the drug as needed in accordance with prescribed dosage. Any recruit required to take a regulated drug prescribed by a physician will report this in writing to the Academy staff. Over-the-counter, non-prescription medication may be taken as needed.

S. Jurisdiction

1. If a Recruit has police powers, he/she should be cognizant of these powers at all times. Recruits should be guided by State laws regarding jurisdictional authority and their department's regulations.

T. Handling of Weapons

1. Firearms

a. All Recruits shall attend the Firearms preparation course (classroom) prior to engaging in any firearms training programs during the Basic Training Program. Recruits shall maintain proper professional decorum at all times when in possession of their firearm. There will be zero tolerance for any behavior that could create a safety hazard.

b. In all Academy firearm programs, safety shall be considered a paramount element of the training process. All safety code violations shall be reported to Academy staff and documented by a recruit officer and staff member on an incident report.

c. Recruits shall not possess a loaded firearm unless it is safe to do so. This regulation relates to training at the range and is at the command of Academy Range Staff. Recruits shall not be in possession of live ammunition unless authorized by Academy Staff.

d. If at any time a recruit is asked to surrender their weapon, they shall do so immediately to the Academy staff member.

e. While at the firing range, all Recruits are required to wear safety glasses and ear protection. Failure to do so will result in immediate removal from the firing range. Incidents shall be documented in the recruits file.

f. A recruit shall not successfully complete any further Academy course of study if they are considered unsafe to possess a firearm by Academy staff.

g. The Executive Director may dismiss any recruit officer who is considered by the firearms, officer survival or shotgun instructors a danger to him/her self and/or others on the firing range.

h. It is mandatory for all instructors and recruits to wear body armor / ballistic vests when participating in firearm programs and training.

2. No live Oleoresin Capsicum (O.C.) or other chemical weapons are allowed in the possession of a recruit at any time unless authorized by the Academy Staff.

3. Recruits shall not be in possession of any other weapons unless authorized by Academy Staff. Weapons shall not be left unattended in a vehicle on or off campus.

U. Gifts and Gratuities

1. Recruits will not solicit funds to buy gifts for instructors or any member of the Academy staff.

V. Soliciting Personal Advancement

1. Recruits shall not solicit the intervention or influence of persons outside the Academy for the purpose of obtaining advancement or to avoid discipline for themselves or any other recruit. Any such attempt shall be considered equivalent to insubordination and shall be treated accordingly.

W. Gambling

1. No recruit at the Academy shall participate in any form of gambling while at the Academy.

X. Relations with Other Recruits

1. Recruits shall never behave disrespectfully or use threatening or insulting language toward any other employee. Recruits shall not offer violence against, nor strike or attempt to strike any other recruit.

2. In their dealings with others at the Academy, all recruits shall act in a professional, respectful manner befitting individuals who share the common goal of safeguarding lives in the public interest.

3. A recruit who engages in any sexual activity at the Academy, or attempts to engage in an act of a sexual nature, including, but not limited to, any consensual sexual relationship, any lewd, lascivious, or indecent act or offense, or indecent exposure, will be discharged from the Academy.

Y. Marking or Altering Academy Notices

1. Each recruit shall check the bulletin board on a regular basis for directives, notices, schedules, and announcements.

2. Recruits shall not remove, mark, alter, mar, or deface any printed or written notice, schedule, or announcement posted on any bulletin board or blackboard maintained by the Academy.

3. Recruits are allowed to post official Law Enforcement and Academy related material on the bulletin board with the permission of Academy Staff.

4. All notices of a personal nature and/or of a derogatory character regarding any recruit are strictly prohibited.

Z. Operation of Training Vehicles

1. Department training vehicles will be issued by the sponsoring agencies and shall be used for official training or training related purposes only. The type and condition shall be representative of the vehicles recruits would be expected to operate in the field. Personal use of the training vehicles by recruits is prohibited, unless authorized by sponsoring department.

2. All recruit officers will operate training vehicles in a responsible and professional manner and will comply with all applicable traffic laws. Operators and passengers will utilize seat belts at all times. The speed limit shall be obeyed at all times, on and off site.

3. A Recruit may not operate a training vehicle if their ability to safely operate the motor vehicle is impaired. Loss or suspension of any driving license shall be reported immediately.

4. All accidents involving training vehicles shall be reported immediately to Academy Staff and the respecting sponsoring agency. A training vehicle damaged or found to be inoperable or unsafe while operated by a recruit shall be reported to Academy staff immediately.

5. Recruits shall not use training vehicle emergency equipment at any time unless authorized by instructional staff or under emergency circumstances.

AA. Violations

1. Violations of these Rules and Regulations or of any policy, procedure, directive, order, or command given lawfully by superior authority, may be grounds for disciplinary action. The Director or his/her designee will determine appropriate disciplinary action.

2. Recruits who observe or who have knowledge of violations of laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, or official orders on the part of another recruit shall immediately report such incidents to Academy staff.

3. The following actions may be taken depending on the level of severity of the violation:

a. An entry into the Recruit Assessment System.

b. A written reprimand (Incident Report); copied to sponsoring agency.

c. Suspension from Basic Training pending a Rhode Island Police Officers Commission on Standards and Training hearing.

d. Expulsion from Basic Training pending a Rhode Island Police Officers Commission on Standards and Training hearing.

BB. Bearing

1. Recruits shall be courteous, respectful and will maintain a professional military bearing at all times while at the Academy.

CC. Saluting

1. Salutes shall be rendered to all Academy Staff members and Adjunct Instructors of the Academy, regardless of whether the recruit is in uniform or plain clothes. Recruits shall also render a salute when reporting to, addressing, or being addressed by sworn police officers regardless of rank. All recruits will render all salutes as prescribed within the outlined procedures of the Academy's professional courtesy and saluting policy.

DD. Addressing Recruits

1. Recruits will be addressed by "RECRUIT (LAST NAME)" or by his/her last name. The use of vulgar, obscene, profane, humiliating, racially, ethnically, or sexually degrading language to refer to a male or female recruit, directly or indirectly, is strictly prohibited.

EE. Reporting

1. When Recruits report to or make an inquiry of an Academy staff member at an office location, the following procedure shall be followed:

a. RECRUITS shall knock three times (3x) at the entrance to the office and await a response.

b. If no response, wait thirty (30) seconds and knock again.

c. If still no response, leave and return at a later time.

d. When there is a response, such as "come in" or "enter," step inside, render a salute, and then state:

(1) "Sir/Ma'am, RECRUIT (LAST NAME) requests to speak with (RANK AND NAME OF STAFF MEMBER), regarding (NATURE OF BUSINESS)."; OR

(2) "Sir/Ma'am, RECRUIT (LAST NAME) reporting as directed."

2. Recruits shall answer all questions and complete his/her statement with "Sir" or "Ma'am". Recruits shall not leave the area to which they reported until dismissed by the Academy Staff member.

FF. Personal Vehicles

1. Recruits shall park their private vehicles in the designated parking area at the Academy. All vehicles shall be properly registered, inspected, and contain proof of registration and insurance.

2. Recruits shall not leave any law enforcement materials, equipment, or books in plain view when parked on or off campus. Recruits shall never leave weapons unattended in their vehicles while parked on or off campus.

3. Any damage to a recruit's private vehicle on or off campus during training for the Academy shall be immediately reported to Academy Staff.

GG. Visitors

1. Visits from persons not directly connected with the Academy are prohibited. Academy Staff must approve any exception. Unauthorized personnel will not be permitted free access to the Academy. Recruits shall not engage themselves in conversations with instructors/personnel who may be attending or instructing at the Academy or here on other business.

HH. Telephone Usage

1. Only telephone calls of an emergency nature will be accepted for recruits at the Academy.

2. Recruits will be permitted to use personal cell phones only in the event of an emergency or with prior approval from the Basic Training Officer or his/her designee.

3. If a recruit is authorized to have a cell phone on them, the ring tone must be silenced or placed on "vibrate" while at the Academy.

270 R.I. Code R. 270-RICR-30-00-2.4