> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://dpssop.equinoxroleplay.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # 1.1 - Law Enforcement Code of Ethics & Conduct > Professional, ethical, and conduct standards applicable to DPS personnel. ## 1.1.1 - Purpose & Scope Members of the San Andreas Department of Public Safety (DPS) are entrusted with significant authority and are expected to maintain the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, impartiality, and accountability. This Code applies to all sworn DPS personnel, including officers assigned to the Los Santos Police Department (LSPD), San Andreas State Police (SAST), and any other authorized DPS division. Civilian personnel shall comply with the conduct standards relevant to their assignments and access. All personnel are responsible for understanding and following this Code, applicable Department policies, San Andreas law, and Equinox Roleplay server rules. ## 1.1.2 - Law Enforcement Code of Ethics As a Law Enforcement Officer, I recognize that my authority is a public trust and that my conduct reflects upon the Department and the community I serve. I therefore commit to the following: * **Uphold the Law:** Enforce the law fairly and impartially while respecting constitutional rights, due process, and individual freedoms. * **Maintain Integrity:** Demonstrate honesty, professionalism, and ethical conduct both on and off duty. * **Exercise Sound Judgment:** Use discretion, restraint, and reasonable decision-making when exercising police authority. * **Respect the Public:** Treat all individuals with dignity and respect, regardless of personal differences, criminal history, or behavior. * **Accept Accountability:** Take responsibility for my actions, decisions, official duties, and the authority entrusted to me. * **Protect Public Trust:** Act in a manner that maintains confidence in the Department and encourages fellow officers to uphold these same standards. ## 1.1.3 - Standards of Professional Conduct All DPS personnel shall comply with the following standards, as applicable to their duties: 1. **Professionalism & Conduct:** Members shall maintain a professional demeanor both on and off duty. While on duty, personnel shall remain calm under stress or provocation, communicate respectfully, avoid abusive, degrading, or unnecessarily confrontational language, and maintain professionalism during public interactions and radio communications. Off-duty personnel shall avoid conduct that seriously discredits the Department, exercise discretion when discussing departmental matters on social media, and shall not improperly invoke their law enforcement status or authority for personal benefit. Off-duty personnel should not represent themselves as acting in an official law enforcement capacity unless authorized or reasonably necessary for immediate safety. 2. **Honesty & Integrity:** Officers shall not knowingly falsify reports, evidence, charges, testimony, or official statements. Fabricating probable cause, concealing material facts, or intentionally misleading an investigation is strictly prohibited. Honest mistakes shall be corrected when discovered. 3. **Corruption & Personal Gain:** Bribery, favoritism, improper gratuities, obstruction of justice, and the use of Department authority, equipment, or information for personal benefit are prohibited. 4. **Impartial Enforcement:** Enforcement decisions shall be based on lawful justification, not personal bias, friendships, disagreements, retaliation, or outside influence. Significant conflicts of interest shall be disclosed to a supervisor when practicable. 5. **Abuse of Authority:** Officers shall not misuse their position to intimidate, harass, threaten, unlawfully detain, search, arrest, or otherwise deprive individuals of their rights. All enforcement actions must have appropriate legal justification. 6. **Confidentiality:** Department records, MDT information, evidence, investigations, personnel records, and restricted materials shall only be accessed or disclosed for legitimate, authorized purposes. Confidentiality obligations continue off duty. 7. **Use of Force:** All force must comply with the Department's Full Use of Force Policy. Force shall never be used as punishment or retaliation. Officers shall employ de-escalation when safe and feasible and discontinue force when no longer justified. 8. **Duty to Intervene & Report:** Officers shall reasonably intervene when witnessing clearly unlawful or excessive conduct and report serious misconduct through authorized supervisory channels. Retaliation against individuals reporting misconduct in good faith is prohibited. 9. **Reports & Evidence:** All official documentation shall accurately reflect the facts of an incident. Evidence must be properly collected, preserved, and documented in accordance with Department procedures. 10. **Chain of Command:** Personnel shall respect the established chain of command and comply with lawful supervisory orders. Officers shall not knowingly carry out clearly unlawful orders or orders requiring serious policy violations. 11. **Conduct Between Members:** Harassment, deliberate humiliation, insubordination, retaliation, and intentional interference with fellow personnel are prohibited. Professional disagreements shall be handled through appropriate channels. 12. **Roleplay Integrity:** Department authority shall never be used to exploit server mechanics, obtain unauthorized OOC advantages, engage in metagaming, or retaliate over out-of-character disagreements. 13. **Fitness for Duty:** Personnel shall report for duty capable of safely performing their assigned responsibilities. Reporting for duty while impaired by alcohol, illegal drugs, or other substances that compromise safe performance is prohibited. 14. **Unlawful Conduct & Criminal Associations:** Members shall not engage in criminal conduct or knowingly maintain associations that compromise departmental integrity, except when reasonably necessary for authorized investigative duties. Any criminal investigation or law enforcement contact involving a member as a suspect shall be promptly reported to Command Staff. 15. **Complaints & Internal Investigations:** Personnel shall cooperate truthfully with authorized internal investigations and administrative reviews. Interfering with investigations, concealing misconduct, or retaliating against complainants or cooperating witnesses is prohibited. 16. **Workplace Conduct & Teamwork:** Members shall maintain a professional, harassment-free working environment, support reasonable teamwork and mentorship, and resolve workplace disputes through appropriate supervisory or administrative channels. 17. **Vehicle Operations:** Personnel shall operate Department vehicles with due regard for public safety and comply with applicable vehicle and pursuit policies. ## 1.1.4 - Supervisory Responsibility Supervisors are expected to lead by example, provide guidance, address reported misconduct, ensure compliance with Department policy, and refer serious violations to the appropriate command or investigative authority. Supervisors shall not knowingly overlook misconduct, conceal violations, or provide preferential treatment based on rank, friendship, or departmental assignment. ## 1.1.5 - Accountability & Disciplinary Action Every member is personally responsible for their conduct. Rank, seniority, supervisory direction, or another officer's participation does not automatically excuse misconduct. Violations of this Code may result in corrective or disciplinary action under the Department Accountability Program (DAPS) and applicable disciplinary procedures. Depending on the severity and circumstances, action may include: * Verbal or written counseling. * Mandatory retraining or corrective action. * Formal disciplinary documentation. * Temporary suspension or restriction of duties. * Removal from specialized assignments. * Demotion or termination from the Department. * Referral for applicable criminal or judicial proceedings. Disciplinary decisions shall consider the seriousness of the violation, intent, resulting harm, prior disciplinary history, and any relevant aggravating or mitigating circumstances. ## 1.1.6 - Member Acknowledgment All DPS personnel are expected to understand, uphold, and comply with this Code of Ethics & Conduct throughout their service. Membership in the Department of Public Safety is a privilege that carries significant responsibility. Failure to uphold these standards may result in administrative or disciplinary action. **Professionalism, integrity, accountability, and respect are requirements of service within DPS.** This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.