Mobile_Data_Terminal_Use

Policy 422CSU Police Department Systemwide Policy Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/08/24, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by CSU Police DepartmentMobile Data Terminal Use - 1Mobile Data Terminal Use 422.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines for the proper access, use, and application of the Mobile Data Terminal (MDT) system in order to ensure appropriate access to confidential records from local, state, and national law enforcement databases, and to ensure effective electronic communications between department members and the Communications Center. See the CJIS Access, Maintenance, and Security Policy for additional guidance. 422.2 POLICY CSU Police Department members using the MDT shall comply with all appropriate federal and state rules and regulations and shall use the MDT in a professional manner, in accordance with this policy. 422.3 PRIVACY EXPECTATION Members forfeit any expectation of privacy with regard to messages accessed, transmitted, received or reviewed on a MDT (see the Information Technology Use Policy for additional guidance). 422.4 RESTRICTED ACCESS AND USE MDT use is subject to the Information Technology Use, Protected Information, and CJIS Access, Maintenance, and Security policies. Members shall not access the MDT system if they have not received prior authorization and the required training. Members shall immediately report unauthorized access or use of the MDT by another member to their supervisors or Watch Commanders. Use of the MDT system to access law enforcement databases or transmit messages is restricted to official activities, business-related tasks, or communications that are directly related to the business, administration, or practices of the Department. In the event that a member has questions about sending a particular message or accessing a particular database, the member should seek prior approval from their supervisor. Sending derogatory, defamatory, obscene, disrespectful, sexually suggestive, harassing, or any other inappropriate messages on the MDT system is prohibited and may result in discipline. It is a violation of this policy to transmit a message or access a law enforcement database under another member's name or to use the password of another member to log in to the MDT system unless directed to do so by a supervisor. Members are required to log off the MDT or secure the MDT when it is unattended. This added security measure will minimize the potential for unauthorized access or misuse. CSU Police Department Systemwide Policy Manual Mobile Data Terminal Use Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/08/24, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by CSU Police DepartmentMobile Data Terminal Use - 2422.4.1 USE WHILE DRIVING Use of the MDT by the vehicle operator should be limited to times when the vehicle is stopped. Information that is required for immediate enforcement, investigative, tactical or safety needs should be transmitted over the radio. Short transmissions, such as a license plate check, are permitted if it reasonably appears that it can be done safely. In no case shall an operator attempt to send or review lengthy messages while the vehicle is in motion. 422.5 DOCUMENTATION OF ACTIVITY Except as otherwise directed by the Watch Commander or other department-established protocol, all calls for service assigned by a dispatcher should be communicated by voice over the police radio and electronically via the MDT unless security or confidentiality prevents such broadcasting. MDT and voice transmissions are used to document the member's daily activity. To ensure accuracy: (a)All contacts or activity shall be documented at the time of the contact. (b)Whenever the activity or contact is initiated by voice, it should be documented by a dispatcher. (c)Whenever the activity or contact is not initiated by voice, the member shall document it via the MDT. 422.5.1 STATUS CHANGES All changes in status (e.g., arrival at scene, meal periods, in service) will be transmitted over the police radio or through the MDT system. Members responding to in-progress calls should advise changes in status over the radio to assist other members responding to the same incident. Other changes in status can be made on the MDT when the vehicle is not in motion. 422.5.2 EMERGENCY ACTIVATION If there is an emergency activation and the member does not respond to a request for confirmation of the need for emergency assistance or confirms the need, available resources will be sent to assist in locating the member. If the location is known, the nearest available officer should respond in accordance with the Officer Response to Calls Policy. Members should ensure a field supervisor and the Watch Commander are notified of the incident without delay. Officers not responding to the emergency shall refrain from transmitting on the police radio until a no-further-assistance broadcast is made or if they are also handling an emergency. 422.6 EQUIPMENT CONSIDERATIONS CSU Police Department Systemwide Policy Manual Mobile Data Terminal Use Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/08/24, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by CSU Police DepartmentMobile Data Terminal Use - 3422.6.1 MALFUNCTIONING MDT Whenever possible, members will not use vehicles with malfunctioning MDTs. Whenever members must drive a vehicle in which the MDT is not working, they shall notify the Communications Center. It shall be the responsibility of the dispatcher to document all information that will then be transmitted verbally over the police radio. 422.6.2 BOMB CALLS When investigating reports of possible bombs, members should not communicate on their MDTs when in the evacuation area of a suspected explosive device. Radio frequency emitted by the MDT could cause some devices to deton