Full text of mayor's letter

All Columbia Borough Police,

This letter is to serve as a reminder to all Columbia Borough Police Officers of the conduct expected as an Officer of the Columbia Borough Police Department both on duty and off.

On duty Columbia Borough Police Officers are expected to treat all citizens they come in contact with in a courteous, helpful manner. “Yes Sir”, “No Sir”, “I will check on it and get back to you”, are acceptable comments. “What do you want me to do about it”, “That is your problem, not ours”, and “Your neighbor called, complaining” are examples of comments that are not acceptable.

Officers are expected to make follow-up contact with citizens who call the Police Department for assistance. If the follow-up cannot be made in a timely manner due to scheduling or vacation, officers are expected to forward the information to another officer for follow-up.

On duty Columbia Borough Police Officers are expected wear the prescribed uniforms, keep them neat and clean, and practice good personal grooming habits as a representative of Columbia Borough.

You are representative of Columbia Borough to residents and visitors alike. Your attitude and appearance reflect the image of Columbia Borough to those you come in contact with. It is expected that you enhance the image of Columbia Borough not degrade it.

Likewise, off duty Officers of the Columbia Borough Police Department are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner representative of the Columbia Borough Police Department.
Whether you like it or not, the public expects police officers to conduct themselves in an exemplary manner when off duty. For example, having a few beers is one thing, visible intoxication is another. Relaxing at the pub with a couple of friends is one thing, being drunk at a local establishment, party, or other event is unacceptable. Loud and boisterous noise is equally unacceptable and quite frankly, the public does not like to see this of their officers.
The following is a “CODE OF CONDUCT” that I have found and is an example of what is expected of an officer in Columbia Borough:

CODE OF CONDUCT

Honesty and integrity
1. It is of paramount importance that the public has faith in the honesty and integrity of police officers. Officers should therefore be open and truthful in their dealings; avoid being improperly beholden to any person or institution; and discharge their duties with integrity.
Fairness and impartiality
2. Police officers have a particular responsibility to act with fairness and impartiality in all their dealings with the public and their colleagues.
Politeness and tolerance
3. Officers should treat members of the public and colleagues with courtesy and respect, avoiding abusive or deriding attitudes or behavior. In particular, officers must avoid: favoritism of an individual or group; all forms of harassment, victimization or unreasonable discrimination; and overbearing conduct to a colleague, particularly to one junior in rank or service.
Use of force and abuse of authority
4. Officers must never knowingly use more force than is reasonable, nor should they abuse their authority.
Performance of duties
5. Officers should be conscientious and diligent in the performance of their duties. Officers should attend work promptly when rostered for duty. If absent through sickness or injury, they should avoid activities likely to retard their return to duty.
Lawful orders
6. The police service is a disciplined body. Unless there is good and sufficient cause to do otherwise, officers must obey all lawful orders and abide by the provisions of legislation applicable to the police. Officers should support their colleagues in the execution of their lawful duties, and oppose any improper behavior, reporting it where appropriate.
Confidentiality
7. Information which comes into the possession of the police should be treated as confidential. It should not be used for personal benefit and nor should it be divulged to other parties except in the proper course of police duty. Similarly, officers should respect, as confidential, information about force policy and operations unless authorized to disclose it in the course of their duties.
Criminal offences
8. Officers must report any proceedings for a criminal offence taken against them. Conviction of a criminal offence or the administration of a caution may of itself result in further action being taken.
Property
9. Officers must exercise reasonable care to prevent loss or damage to property (excluding their own personal property but including police property).
Sobriety
10. Drinking on duty is forbidden. Officers must exercise restraint in drinking while off duty.
Appearance
11. Unless on duties which dictate otherwise, officers should always be well turned out, clean and tidy while on duty in uniform or in plain clothes.
General conduct
12. Whether on or off duty, police officers should not behave in a way which is likely to bring discredit upon the police service.
Notes
(a) The primary duties of those who hold the office of police officer are the protection of life and property, the preservation of the peace, and the prevention and detection of criminal offences. To fulfill these duties they are granted extraordinary powers; the public and the police service therefore have the right to expect the highest standards of conduct from them.
(b) This Code sets out the principles which guide police officers' conduct. It does not seek to restrict officers' discretion: rather it aims to define the parameters of conduct within which that discretion should be exercised. However, it is important to note that any breach of the principles in this Code may result in action being taken by the organization, which, in serious cases, could involve dismissal.
(c) Police behavior, whether on or off duty, affects public confidence in the police service. Any conduct which brings or is likely to bring discredit to the police service may be the subject of sanction. Accordingly, any allegation of conduct which could, if proved, bring or be likely to bring discredit to the police service should be investigated in order to establish whether or not a breach of the Code has occurred and whether formal disciplinary action is appropriate. No investigation is required where the conduct, if proved, would not bring or would not be likely to bring, discredit to the police service.

Respectfully,




Leo S. Lutz, Mayor
Borough of Columbia

Events

Just a reminder
The Mount Bethel Cemetery Company will hold its Light Up the Night fund-raiser on Saturday,
The event will take place in the cemetery in the 600 block of Locust Street. The street will be block for the event. Proceeds from the event will go to the upkeep of the cemetery.
Events begin at 2 p.m. and run until dusk.
The events will include a craft, antique and art show and antique appraisals from 2 to 7 p.m. From 2 to 5 p.m. the Caretaker’s Cottage will have an open house. The VFW Band will play from 6-7 p.m. and throughout the event, food from local organizations will be available.

Authors and Artists show at Market
Columbia’s Market House will host an Artists and Authors Show from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 14.
Brett Nease from the Paranormal Activity Research Association will conduct tours of the dungeon.
There will also be entertainment for children featuring a magician and balloon twister.
For more information, call 684-5767.

Council recap

Mayor Leo Lutz said at Monday night’s borough council meeting, the letter he sent to the police department was to remind them about their responsibilities to the public.
What the mayor and the borough got was more than they bargained for. The police officer’s union filed an unfair labor practice charge with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board. A spokesman for the police union said it is one of three they have against the borough.
The union filed the charge because the borough did not discuss with them a code of conduct for officers, which they said was part of the letter.
Monday night, the mayor defended his letter.
“From time to time I get letters, phone calls or have sit down conversation with citizens about a member or the police department,” Lutz said.
When that happens, he addresses the complaints with the department.:
“We just listen to what people say and forget about it,” Lutz said.
Recently, the mayor had a complaint about the police department and said he sent the letter, dated Aug. 4, because there was nothing in writing about how the complaint was followed up.
Lutz said it is tough to meet with all the officers at one time, so he chose to write the letter.
He thought it was just to remind the officers how they are to act both on duty and off duty.
In the letter, Lutz reminded the officers they are to treat citizens in a courteous, helpful manner, citing a number of examples. The letter also speaks of how officers are to handle follow up calls and how they are to act on duty as well as off duty.
“To me, a reminder is a reminder, but their attorney objected to the letter,” Lutz said adding the police union through its attorney objected because they thought they would be punished or dismissed from their positions if they violate a code of conduct placed at the end of the four page letter.
“My job is to discuss the department with the citizens and remind them how they should conduct themselves,” Lutz said Monday night.
In the letter, Lutz writes, “you attitude and appearance reflect the image of Columbia Borough to those yo come in contact with. It is expected that you are to enhance the image of Columbia Borough and not degrade it.”
He also approached off duty issues as well.
“Whether you like it or not, the public expects police officers to conduct themselves in an exemplary manner when off duty,” Lutz writes.
“For example, having a few beers is one thing, visible intoxication is another, Relaxing at a pub with a couple of friends is one thing, being drunk at a local establishment, party, or other event is unacceptable,” Lutz wrote.
“Loud and boisterous noise is equally unacceptable and quite frankly, the public does not like to see this of their officers,” Lutz continued writing.
Lutz explained Monday night that the code of conduct, which was part of the letter to the department was an example of one he found used in London, England.
The code addressed the following issues.
• Honesty and integrity.
• Fairness and impartiality.
• Politeness and tolerance.
• Use of force and abuse of authority.
• Performance of duties.
• Lawful orders.
• Confidentiality.
• Criminal offenses.
• Property.
• Sobriety.
• Appearance.
• General conduct.
As a note to the code of conduct, Lutz wrote the “primary duties of those who hold the office of police officer are the protection of life and property, the preservation of the peace, and the prevention and detection of criminal offenses.”
“This code sets out the principles which guide police officers’ conduct and does not seek to restrict an officers’ discretion, rather it aims to define the parameters of conduct within which discretion should be exercised.”
In the final part, Lutz wrote that “police behavior, whether on or off duty, affects the public confidence in the police service. Any conduct, which brings or is likely to bring discredit to the police service may be subject to sanctions. Accordingly, any allegation of conduct, which could, if proved, bring, or be likely to bring discredit to the police service should be investigated in order to establish whether there was a beach of the code and if formal disciplinary action is appropriate.:”
There were no names of individual offers named in the letter.
“I did my job,” Lutz said.

Schedules

Thursday, Sept. 11
Tennis: Donegal at Columbia (4 p.m.)
J.H. Volleyball: Solanco at Columbia (4 p.m.)
Volleyball: ELCO at Columbia (6 p.m.)
Friday, Sept. 12
Football: Columbia at Daniel Boone (7 p.m.)
Sunday, Sept. 14
Midget Football: Columbia at Pequea Valley (1 p.m.)
Monday, Sept. 15
Tennis: Columbia at Manheim Central (4 p.m.)
J.V. Football: Octorara at Columbia (4 p.m.)
J.H. Volleyball: Lebanon at Columbia (4 p.m.)
Volleyball: Lebanon at Columbia (4 p.m.)
Tuesday, Sept. 16
J.H. Volleyball: Columbia at Christian School of York (4 p.m.)
Volleyball: Columbia at Christian School of York (5 p.m.)
Cross Country: Columbia, Garden Spot, Hempfield and Lancaster Mennonite at Solanco (4:15 p.m.)
Wednesday, Sept. 17
Tennis: Annville-Cleona at Columbia (4 p.m.)
7th-8th Grade Football: Columbia at Lincoln (4 p.m.)
Thursday, Sept. 18
Tennis: Columbia at Lancaster Mennonite (4 p.m.)
J.H. Football: Lancaster Catholic at Columbia (4 p.m.)
Volleyball: Columbia at L-S (6 p.m.)
Friday, Sept. 19
Football: L-S at Columbia (7 p.m.)

Who is Daniel Boone

Columbia closes its non-league schedule tomorrow night with perhaps the toughest team on their schedule.
No, its not Lancaster Catholic, rather the Daniel Boone Blazers who went deep[ into the District Three playoffs last season and a team the Tide dominated when they played a few years back.
Boone is 2-0 on the season with convincing opening wins over Donegal by a 40-0 score and Susquehannock last week by a 35-14 score.
The Blazers play in Division One of the Berks Inter-County League and have a number of key players back from a team that went 9-4 a year ago.
Coach Dave Bodolus is getting credit for turning the Boone program into a District Three Class AAA power. When the Tide played them before, Boone wasn’t that good and the Tide owns a two-game winning streak over the Blazers..
Leading the way for the Blazers will be quarterback Jon Monteiro, who threw for five touchdown passes against Donegal.
Monteiro’s favorite targets are Zach Keely, who is also an all-state defensive back and Mitchell Steed.
Monteiro is just a junior and in his first year as a starter.
It will be the last tune-up for the Crimson Tide, who starts league play next week against defending Section 3 co-champ Lampeter-Strasburg.
Like it has been all year, kickoff is 7 p.m. tomorrow night.

A fun three weeks

I wasn’t sure what to write about this week -- the CHS football team, the huge opening win by the Eagles, or the home stretch of the baseball season.
As I prepare for the long road trip tomorrow night to Daniel Boone, I just want to tell the CHS football team to hang in there. If you work hard in practice and listen to your coaches as they prepare the game plan, good things will happen.
Don’t want to say too much about the Eagles, who beat a hapless St. Louis team Sunday.
Here are my two cents on that win.
I was finally impressed that Andy Reid decided to throw the ball downfield. In the NFL, three things can happen -- a big play, a penalty or an incompletion. The Eagles had forget to throw the ball downfield for a while now.
The second with the big Monday night game coming up, I’m still trying to decided what anti-Dallas shirt to wear. I have two of them and both have something to say about TO.
Now to the point of this week’s column, the pennant race in the National League East.
As I write this, the Phils are 1.5 games back of the Mets. Taking two of three over the weekend from the Muts was good, but a sweep would have been better.
They are also three games out of the wild card, behind Milwaukee, which will attempt to make a withdrawal from the Bank this weekend during a four-game series.
The Phils are right there, despite some problems like the lack of production from Pat Burrell and Charlie’s continued managerial mistakes.
Each day when I come in, my first visit is to check the fan forum section of the Phillies’ web page. They are saying things about Charlie almost daily, which is what I said all long.
The guy is the worst manager in the game. If he knew how to manage, put the players in the right position and manage a pitching staff, the division race would be over.
Hopefully, when we make our final trip to the Bank at the end of the month, the game will mean something.

Odds and ends...

• Watched some college football over the weekend. Seems like the Erin Andrews look is in for sideline reporters.
You know, the blonde, good looking type.
• Best bit of the weekend was on the Fox pre-game show and it involved Frank Callendo’s picks and Michael Strahan.
• The Patriots will be an average team without tom Brady.
• Who is the favorite in the AFC now that the Big Two, New England and Indy are 0-1.
• And this comment about Brett Farve. His two touchdown passes on Sunday were typical. Get a little pressure and just throw the ball up for grabs and hope someone from m team catches it.
• The game of the year in high school football is tomorrow night when Central hosts Catholic. Both are 1-1.
Both have eyes on a long season and both could get that if they don’t get a lot of players banged up for the start of the league season next week.