Public Safety and Institutional Assurance
Indiana University Police Department
Chapter 1 - Organization and Administration
Sub-Chapter - 1.1 - Agency Organization
1.1.5 Command Protocol
Effective Date:
7/30/2021
Revised Date:
7/30/2021
Rescinds:
1.1.5 – 6/09/2020
Number of Pages:
4
IACLEA Standard: 1.1.5
Page | 1
Purpose
To outline command protocol, unity of command, and the chain of command.
Definitions
Unity of command – refers to the concept that everyone in the organization is accountable to
only one supervisor at any given time.
Chain of command – defines the organizational hierarchy, upward and downward lines of
communication, and of whom permissions/approvals must be decided.
Order – for this directive refers to a command or mandate to perform a given task.
Organizational component – is any organizational entity (i.e., unit, division) that is staffed
on a full-time basis to provide a specific function.
Procedure
During normal operations (1.1.5 a)
During normal operations of each division, all employees will adhere to the chains of command
as outlined in this order. The following establishes command protocol and provides for
uninterrupted leadership:
• In situations involving personnel of different functions engaged in a single operation, the
ranking supervisor present from the organizational component responsible for the event
may assume command of the event.
• Longest tenured officer is established first by rank and second by aggregate time served in
rank on a regularly assigned basis.
During the absence of senior command staff (1.1.5 b)
The division chief of police will appoint a deputy chief of police during periods of scheduled
absences.
• If the division chief is not able to appoint an acting division chief of police, the next highest
and available ranking officer is designated to serve as the acting division chief of police.
The Superintendent for Public Safety, or the Deputy Superintendent for Public Safety, has the
authority to designate command and authority in any situation as needed.
Protocol
Each organizational component is under the direct command of a single supervisor. There are
circumstances in which supervisors will assume command over subordinates outside their
organizational component, including but not limited to:
