VIPD Disciplinary Policy and Procedure Vocabulary

Flashcards defining key terms and disciplinary offense categories from the Virgin Islands Police Department Disciplinary Policy and Matrix Appendix.

Days

Calendar days, with the provision that if the last day of any mentioned time period falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, the time period shall be extended to the next day.

Direct Report

An employee who is managed by and reports to someone else immediately up the chain of command in the organizational structure.

Relieved from Duty

An administrative action designed as a temporary release from performing one's assigned duties as imposed by a superior.

Discipline

A documented action taken to correct, train, remediate, or penalize an employee for policy violations or misconduct.

Misfeasance

The wrongful performance of a normally lawful act; the wrongful and injurious exercise of lawful authority.

Malfeasance

Actions by department personnel that intentionally violate policy, rules, regulations, and/or laws.

Nonfeasance

Failure to perform an act that is required by law.

Positive Reinforcement

Engagements seeking voluntary compliance with established policies, procedures, and orders through mediation, training, mentoring, and recognition of officers' positive actions.

Progressive Discipline

The process of establishing and handling conduct that fails to meet structured performance expectations in order to assist employees in improving behavioral issues.

Written Reprimand

A formal notice issued by a supervisor putting an employee on notice about poor behavior, establishing mandated corrections, and specifying penalties for reoccurring behavior.

Demotion

A disciplinary measure stepping an employee down to the next lowest rank, applicable only to an employee holding the rank of Police Corporal or above.

Dismissal

Termination from the department made in cases including extreme misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance of duty.

Category A Offenses

Minor violations or disregard of departmental policies that do not involve misuse/abuse of authority or ethics and have minimal or no adverse impact on public safety and the professional image of the department.

Category B Offenses

Offenses that are serious in dynamics and disregard policies, such as the misuse of authority or ethics, posing potential clear, serious adverse impact on public safety or the professional image of the department.

Category C Offenses

More serious policy or rule violations involving a misuse/abuse of authority, an ethical offense, or posing the potential for a major adverse impact on public safety or professional image.

Category D Offenses

Non-correctable offenses, including crimes and violations of public trust, untruthfulness, ethical offenses, or felonious conduct, for which dismissal is the required penalty regardless of prior work record.