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29.6 PRISONER TRANSPORTATION Page 1 of 7 EDGEWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDER # 29.6 PRISONER TRANSPORTATION Review Date: April 13, 2023 The purpose of this directive is to establish guidelines for the safe and expedient transport of arrested persons. This General Order consists of the following numbered sections: I. Scope II. General III. Transport Procedures IV. Juvenile Transport Procedures V. Transport of Sick, Disabled or Injured Persons VI. Escape of a Prisoner during Transport Inside & Outside Jurisdiction I. SCOPE Transportation of arrested persons shall be done without unnecessary delay and in such a manner as to ensure that adequate safety and security are provided the transporting officer, the person arrested and the general public. II. GENERAL A. A pers on arrested by an officer shall only be transported in an agency vehicle. B. If a passenger is accompanying the arresting officer the passenger shall ride only in the right front seat. C. A person arrested by an officer shall only be secured with app roved agency restraining devices. These devices shall be: 1. Metal handcuffs 2. Plastic “flex” cuffs 3. RIPP Restraint Device (leg securing device) D. Agency vehicles intended for use in transporting arrested persons shall be modified in order to minimize the opportunity for the prisoner to escape. Vehicles intended for prisoner transport shall have the following factory installed equipment dis abled prior to transporting arrestees: 1. Inside rear door handles 2. Rear door lock mechanisms 3. Rear window handles and/or disconnection of electrical window connections 29.6 PRISONER TRANSPORTATION Page 2 of 7 E. The rear passenger compartment of vehicles used on a routine basis to transport arrested persons shall be separated from the driver’s compartment by a barrier that allows constant visual contact between the officer and the arrestee. 1. Officers shall maintain constant visual contact of an arrestee during trans port. 2. Officers shall ensure that the visual barrier is kept free of all items such as hats, clipboards, etc., so that the officer does not lose sight of the arrestee during transport. 3. The rear view mirror of the vehicle shall be adjusted to enable the officer to maintain sight of the arrestee. 4. If the arrestee lies down on the rear seat the officer should order him/her to remain upright. If the arrestee continues to lie down because of intoxication, sleepiness or illness t he officer shall visually observe the arrestee by slowing or stopping the vehicle at regular intervals in locations safe from traffic so that routine observations can be made. F. If it becomes necessary for an officer to transport an arrestee in an agency vehicle not primarily used as a prisoner transport vehicle and not equipped with a safety barrier the following shall apply: 1. The arrestee shall be transported in the front seat of the vehicle and will be secured with the seat belt and shoulder harness 2. Arrested persons with a history of or displaying a propensity for violence shall be transported only in a vehicle equipped with a safety barrier G. A vehicle used to transport arrested persons shall be examined by its assign ed officer prior to the beginning of each work shift. The following vehicle inspections shall be conducted: 1. A check of the fuel level 2. A check of the vehicle tires 3. A check to ensure the emergency equipment is in place and operational 4. A search of the vehicle’s prisoner confinement area including under the front and rear seats for weapons and contraband H. Prior to and immediately after the transport of any arrested person the area of the vehicle in which the person is to b e or was confined shall be thoroughly checked for contraband, evidence and weapons. I. Arrestees shall be treated with dignity and respect during transportation. III. TRANSPORT PROCEDURES A. A search of a prisoner shall be conducted by the transport ing officer prior to him/her being placed in an agency vehicle. B. All personal property shall be removed from the arrestee prior to him/her being placed in the agency vehicle 1. All arrestee’s property shall be thoroughly inspected before it i s taken into the correctional facility and turned over to the corrections officers or taken into agency custody 29.6 PRISONER TRANSPORTATION Page 3 of 7 2. Evidence and weapons shall be secured in the officer’s vehicle until it can be submitted into evidence at the police station in accordance with agency policy C. Transporting officers shall not assume that a search by another officer is sufficient for safe transport of a prisoner. 1. All prisoners/arrestees being transported in agency vehicles will be searched by th e transporting officer prior to them being placed in the agency vehicle. 2. Prisoners transferred from another officer or agency shall be searched by the transporting officer prior to them being placed in the vehicle. D. All arrestees transported in agency vehicles shall be handcuffed or restrained. 1. Under no circumstances will an arrestee be secured to any portion of a transporting vehicle (excluding seatbelt usage). Every effort shall be made to seatbelt all arrestees unless seatbelting presents a danger to the arresting officer. It shall be noted in the incident report any time an arrestee is not seatbelted. 2. Unless the arr estee has a physical disability prohibiting same the arrestee shall be handcuffed behind his/her back 3. Physically and mentally disabled persons require special care