Inherent in the Department's organizational philosophy is that we understand and embrace the value of human diversity in our community and in our organization, as well as in society as a whole. This includes a sensitivity to the values and mores of different and varied cultural backgrounds of not only those persons who live in our community, but also of those persons who visit our community. Fundamental to this philosophy is the belief that we will respect the dignity and rights of the individual person and that we will treat all people in a fair and equitable manner without regard to race, nationality, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation and/or economic status. We will not tolerate discrimination in any form by any person against a fellow human being.

The Department has a responsibility to provide all employees with the best possible training, guidance and equipment whereby we can be successful in performing our assigned duties. Management / supervision must be administered fairly and consistently and should encourage autonomy among members of our Department. We, as employees, have an obligation to strive for excellence in our work, thereby setting the best example possible. This organizational philosophy should result in each of us sharing in the success or failure of Department activities.

Department Goals
The members of the Arroyo Grande Police Department have adopted the following goals to serve as the foundation for our operation.

• Police-Community Partnership
  Our Department recognizes that an attitude of shared citizenship responsibility, mutual respect, and cooperation between ourselves and the community is the key to effective law enforcement. We further recognize that community institutions are key partners with the Department in the creation of a safe, secure community. Community support for law enforcement is gained by a department which satisfies the needs of the community it serves and performs in a way that builds confidence and reflects the general value system of the constituents served.
  
  
• City Government
  Our Department recognizes that we are an integral component of the government structure of the City of Arroyo Grande. We also recognize that the City of Arroyo Grande is committed to providing superior service to the community in ways that are helpful, caring, and responsive. To this end, our Department will be responsive to decisions made by the City Council and the City's Administration, and we will work within City Government with a commitment to teamwork, mutual trust and honesty, and mutual support in attaining the City's goals.
  
  
• Criminal Justice System
  Our Department recognizes that we are an integral component of the Criminal Justice System. As such, we will cooperate and support those agencies that require our assistance and depend upon our support, whether they be a municipal, county, state and/or federal agency. The sharing of programs, experiences, and ideas with other agencies is considered part of our responsibility to the Criminal Justice System. The Arroyo Grande Police Department will serve as a model agency for law enforcement.
  
  
• Employee Development
  Our Department firmly believes that our employees are the organization's most important resource, and the value of each is both recognized and respected, as is the uniqueness that each employee brings to our Department. To this end, our Department has the desire to offer not only a pleasant and rewarding work environment, but also an environment which allows employees to grow both personally and professionally.
  
  
• Employee Reward and Compensation
  Our Department must strive to attract and maintain high quality personnel capable of working in the highly complex area of law enforcement. To accomplish this, it is imperative that we make every effort to adequately compensate our employees and offer compensation significant enough to attract top quality personnel to our Department. It is recognized that our profession is highly competitive and the compensation package offered is closely associated with the quality of personnel attracted to and maintained by our organization.

Organizational Values
We of the Arroyo Grande Police Department recognize our contribution to the quality of life and safe environment in our community through the provision of professional law enforcement services. We will meet the challenge of providing these services by basing our thoughts and actions on a recognized set of values that operate within the organization. We see these values, not as the dictate of one individual or group, but as a set of shared common beliefs, that contribute to the success of the Department. This structure of beliefs, these shared values, provide a common cause for all members of the Department. From these values we derive our procedure and action policies and, therefore, faithful adherence to these beliefs by all personnel is paramount. Therefore, we believe that the overall success of our organization as well as its individual employees, is achieved through our commitment to the following values.

• Service to our Community
  We value the opportunity to provide service in a manner which is fair, courteous, responsive, and effective. An attitude of respect for, and the protection of, the worth, dignity and rights of all we serve is the foundation of our Department. We are committed to working to improve the quality of life for our community.
  
  
• Integrity
  We value candor, honesty and ethical behavior in the members of our Department. We are committed to uphold our positions of trust by maintaining the highest ethical standards as set forth in the Code of Professional Conduct for California Peace Officers and the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics.
  
  
• Professionalism
  We value the spirit of professionalism, having a clear sense of commitment, perspective and direction. It is developed by creating an environment that encourages teamwork, innovation and constant evaluation of ourselves. The professional attitude is dedicated to quality, timeliness, and excellence in our service to our community.
  
  
• Responsibility - Accountability
  We have the need for the efficient use of our resources and openness of our Department by communication with our citizens. We will make maximum effective use of our resources and demonstrate fiscal responsibility. We will hold ourselves accountable for our actions, be willing to admit our mistakes and insure that our behavior earns the support and trust of all segments of our community.
  
  
• Excellence
  We value the spirit of being excellent, ensuring that we provide a superior level of service to our community and to our profession. We will demonstrate a firm belief in our abilities and in our intentions of being the best that we can be, that we do make a difference in both the operation of our Department and in providing for the quality of life to our community. In being excellent, we will be courageous carrying out our duties, not settling for anything less than our best, and we will exhibit a spirited, healthy competition. The spirit of excellence requires a dedicated commitment to be a driving force to constantly improve upon our organization as it proceeds into the future, not in resting upon the laurels of the past.
  
  
• Innovation
  We value the need for a proactive organization with a bias for action and which supports reasonable risk taking. We will strive to identify and address potential issues rather than reacting to their emergence. We will strive to recognize and take advantage of any opportunity that arises which will allow us to provide a more effective and/or efficient level of service to our community. We also accept that innovators have their share of failures.
  
  
• Pride in and Enjoyment of our Profession
  We believe our work to be a source of enjoyment and satisfaction. We take pride in our accomplishments, in our dedication to public service, and in being the best that we can be. We do not take ourselves so seriously that we fail to have some fun doing what we chose to do...serving the City of Arroyo Grande and the Law Enforcement Profession with the Arroyo Grande Police Department.

  This code is used by:
  

  • The Arroyo Grande Police Department
    Archived 8/13/2000