OAR 259-030-0005: The Director of the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training

This rule is adopted to further define the Department's existing express and implied statutory and Board-delegated authorities to ensure the safety and security of the Oregon Public Safety Academy; the Department itself; all persons visiting or present on Department facilities, grounds, or curtilage; and any training conducted by the Department. The Director is the head of the Department and is responsible for its administration as a state agency and for the safe operation of the Oregon Public Safety Academy, a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week, residential training facility. This rule further defines the Director’s role and authorities as the head of the Department. (1) The Director of the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (Department) shall be appointed by and hold office at the pleasure of the Governor pursuant to the provisions of ORS 181A.385. (2) Authorities and Duties: (a) The Director, with the approval of the Governor and after consulting the Board on Public Safety Standards and Training (Board) for advice, shall organize and reorganize the Department in the manner the Director considers necessary to conduct the work of the Department properly. (b) With the approval of the Governor, the Director may appoint a Deputy Director. (c) The Director shall be responsible to the Governor for the administration and management of the Department and the operation of the Oregon Public Safety Academy, including taking any reasonable actions the Director deems necessary to ensure the safety and security of Department staff, students, visitors, facilities, grounds, and training. (d) In the Director’s absence, or to carry out the duties described in this rule, the Director may appoint one or more designees and may delegate specific duties and authorities to them. (3) The Director's duties for administration and management of the agency and operation of the Oregon Public Safety Academy include, but are not limited to: (a) Implementing and administering policies, procedures, and directives addressing safety, security, or operations as deemed necessary by the Director, the Department, or the Board, including any temporary emergency measures that the Director deems necessary; (b) Authorizing or restricting the use, possession, or storage of any equipment, vehicles, or weapons within the Department’s buildings, facilities, grounds, or curtilage, including but not limited to equipment, vehicles, or weapons used during any training conducted by the Department or on Department grounds; (c) Authorizing, restricting, or conditioning any person’s access, in whole or in part, to the Department’s buildings, facilities, grounds, or curtilage or to any training conducted by the Department; and (d) Authorizing or establishing procedures regarding the suspension of training or closure, continued operation, or modified operation of the Oregon Public Safety Academy during emergencies or adverse weather conditions. This recognizes that the Department, acting through the Director, may establish and administer different protocols than other state agencies to address and mitigate circumstances that may result in students returning to their homes or agencies across the state, potentially creating greater risk than remaining at the Academy. (4) Policies, procedures, and directives issued pursuant to this rule must be provided in writing, but do not require prior notice before implementation. (5) Unless otherwise specified in a policy, procedure, or directive implemented pursuant to this rule, any policy, procedure, or directive implemented pursuant to this rule applies to all property and training facilities owned or operated by the Department and to any training conducted or administered by the Department, regardless of location.