300.25 duties of the graveyard shift officer

1. Number: 300.25
SUBJECT: DUTIES OF THE GRAVEYARD SHIFT OFFICER Page: 1
Date: 02/7/95
Approved: Ryan Drabek, Director Revised: 6/12/12
I. PURPOSE
To outline the duties and responsibilities of the Animal Control Officer (ACO) assigned to
perform duties during the graveyard shift.
II. POLICY
OC Animal Care shall provide 24-hour service to its contract cities and the unincorporated
areas within our jurisdiction. The Graveyard Shift Officer (GSO) shall handle all calls by
priority and for which time allows. The GSO will perform all duties in a uniform that is in
conformity with Policy and Procedure 200.04, Dress Standards for Uniformed Personnel.
The GSO, unless classified as a Senior ACO (Sergeant) or higher, is not permitted to carry or
use conventional firearms or chemical capture equipment and is not authorized to use
euthanasia solution without specific approval from the Clinic Veterinarian and the Chief of
Field Services. Those ACOs assigned to the GSO shift must complete a comprehensive
training course in the proper administration of euthanasia solution prior to receiving approval
for usage. A Sergeant, with prior authorization to use conventional firearms, chemical capture
equipment and euthanasia solution, may use them as needed while performing GSO duties, in
compliance with current policies and procedures.
III. SCOPE
Applicable to all Field Operations personnel performing duties on the graveyard shift.
IV. FORMS
Not applicable.
V. REFERENCES
OC Animal Care Policy and Procedure 200.04
OC Animal Care Policy and Procedure 300.29
VI. DEFINITIONS
Not applicable.

2. Number: 300.25
SUBJECT: DUTIES OF THE GRAVEYARD SHIFT OFFICER Page: 2
Date: 02/7/95
Approved: Ryan Drabek, Director Revised: 6/12/12
VII. PROCEDURE
A. Standards of Performance on the GSO Shift
The GSO must:
1. Perform job duties effectively without direct supervision.
2. Demonstrate positive relations with the public.
3. Make sensible decisions in compliance with existing policies and procedures.
4. Make sensible decisions based on training and experience in dealing with
unusual and extraordinary incidents.
5. Practice safe working habits.
B. Selection
The GSO shall be selected in the following manner:
1. ACO’s are to indicate their interest in working as the GSO on the Shift
Preference sign-up sheet, which is posted prior to the schedule change.
2. Supervision will conduct discussions with the Chief of Field Services regarding
those indicating interest in working the graveyard shift and a selection will be
made.
3. When no ACO has expressed interest in the shift, the Chief of Field Services or
his/her designee will appoint a GSO.
C. Specific Tasks
1. The GSO will receive and initiate service requests from citizens and/or agencies
requesting a response from OC Animal Care. The GSO will answer both the
main dispatch line and the after hours emergency line when at OC Animal Care.
The emergency line recorder will be turned on, but will be personally answered
whenever possible. The after-hours cell phone is to be carried by the GSO for
off-site checking of answering machine messages. Messages are to be checked
every 30 minutes at minimum when the GSO is in the field. All messages on
the answering machine shall be returned by the GSO as soon as possible to
ensure the highest level of customer service. The GSO will respond to these
calls based on the following priority list:
a. Rabies suspect animals (bats, skunks, etc.).

3. Number: 300.25
SUBJECT: DUTIES OF THE GRAVEYARD SHIFT OFFICER Page: 3
Date: 02/7/95
Approved: Ryan Drabek, Director Revised: 6/12/12
b. Stray biting animals (at large or confined).
c. Loose livestock.
d. Injured/sick animals.
e. Vicious/aggressive or inherently dangerous animals.
f. Any request for assistance from a law enforcement or fire agency.
g. Animals creating property damage.
h. Live animals in the custody of agencies or the public.
i. Stray dogs.
j. Dead animals which pose a traffic hazard or those located on a street that
was too busy for a prior shift to handle.
k. Dead animals.
2. Calls from the public regarding noise nuisance complaints shall also be
answered or called back in a timely manner and the citizen advised to contact
the Operations Department during business hours. The GSO shall answer all
questions regarding the nuisance and barking dog program as requested by the
public to ensure the highest level of customer service.
3. Initiate Chameleon activities and Rabies Control Investigation Reports (Animal
Bite/Scratch Reports).
4. Maintain a Radio Journal that provides complete information, including all non-
routine calls. The Radio Journal shall be maintained in accordance with P&P
300.29, Radio Journal.
5. The GSO will correctly file all follow-up investigations and calls for re-file for
the appropriate shift and area.
6. Complete all applicable Chameleon records.
7. The GSO ACO is only to be used to cover breaks for the PM DSO as a last
resort as the GSO officer provides additional coverage in the field on the PM
shift.
8. The GSO shall contact the appropriate Watch Commander immediately in the
case of accident or injury. All appropriate paperwork shall be completed.
9. Perform other duties and activities as assigned by Field Services supervision.
D. Injured Domestic Animals Transported to Emergency Clinics by a Citizen
Upon delivery of the animal by a citizen/agency from a contract city or unincorporated
County area to a veterinary clinic, the GSO will authorize treatment and respond to the
clinic to initiate required paperwork as set forth in P&P 200.20, Initiation of an Animal
Treatment Record.

4. Number: 300.25
SUBJECT: DUTIES OF THE GRAVEYARD SHIFT OFFICER Page: 4
Date: 02/7/95
Approved: Ryan Drabek, Director Revised: 6/12/12
The GSO will advise the early AM ACO of any animals currently at an outside
emergency clinic. It will be the responsibility of the early AM ACO to transport all
medically stable animals back to OC Animal Care for further treatment. Should there
be no coverage on the early AM shift; the GSO will contact the AM Watch Commander
to advise what animal(s) need transport and their current location.