G1.1.6 Obeying Lawful Orders
Chapter: Chapter 01: Organization and Administration
Sub-Chapter: 1.1 - Agency Organization
Effective Date: 07/16/2020
Revised Date: 05/05/2023
Rescinds: G1.1.6 – 7/30/2021
Purpose
To require employees to obey lawful orders from a supervisor and establish procedures for when a conflicting order is received.
General Order
The Indiana University Police Department (IUPD) personnel are required to obey any lawful order of a supervisor, even when conveyed by another employee, regardless of rank. If a conflicting order is received, the employee will bring the conflict to the attention of the supervisor for clarification and resolution.
Obeying Lawful Orders
All personnel will promptly obey any lawful order of a supervisor, including any order relayed from a supervisor by an employee of the same or lesser rank. Personnel will not obey any order that is unlawful or requires that an unlawful act be committed. If in doubt as to the legality of an order, personnel will request clarification of the order. If an order is perceived as unlawful, it is the receiving employee’s responsibility to justify why the order was challenged. Unlawful orders will be reported through the chain of command.
In the event of conflicting orders, the most recent order given will be followed unless retracted or modified. Personnel receiving conflicting orders will inform the supervisor giving the most recent order of the conflict. The supervisor is responsible for either resolving the conflict or clarifying that the lawful order is intended to supersede the previous lawful order. The supervisor giving the most recent order and who is advised of the conflict will notify the supervisor who issued the original order indicating the action taken and the justification.
Failure to comply with a lawful order is a serious breach of organizational discipline. Any employee who willfully disobeys or disregards a direct order, verbal or written, of a supervisor will be considered insubordinate and the employee will be subject to the applicable Indiana University formal corrective action process.