Policy Text
Policy
363Fremont Police Department
Interagency Communications for Cross-Border
Events
363.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
In an effort to enhance public safety and interagency communication, the Fremont Police
Department will utilize the Alameda County Interagency Communication guidelines during
incidents that cross jurisdictional boundaries.
363.2 DEFINITIONS
EBRCS: East Bay Regional Communications System is the radio communication system utilized
by most agencies within Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
Patch: The connection of two different radio channels onto one channel for the purpose of shared
transmissions.
PSAP: Public Safety Answering Point or dispatch center.
363.3 NOTIFICATIONS
When incidents have the potential to cross over into other agencies’ borders, notifications should
be made in a timely manner and before units enter if practical. Notifications should include at least
the nature of the incident, the number of officers involved, and the notifying agency should clearly
communicate whether or not they need assistance. If appropriate, the notifying agency should
provide contact information for the supervisor in charge of the event.
363.4 INITIATING AGENCY
The agency in control of a pursuit or other critical incident that crosses into another jurisdiction’s
boundaries will retain control of the incident until the Watch Commander requests that the agency
with immediate jurisdiction take control.
If both agencies agree, the initiating agency will transfer control of communications and the
incident to the agency with jurisdiction.
The Watch Commander from the agency with control will determine how to manage
communications from the options below.
363.5 RADIO COMMUNICATION OPTIONS
(a)Ask all participating agency units to turn to the controlling agency’s primary or
designated channel (if possible).
(b)(If participating units do not have access to the controlling agency’s channel, the
initiating agency should request a mutual aid channel from Alameda County Sheriffs
office.
1.Ask all participating units to move to the mutual aid channel.
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2.The initiating agency may patch their own channel to the mutual aid channel if
their units are not in the position to switch to the mutual aid channel.
(c)(If none of the other options are viable, agencies should remain on their own channel
and provide a face-to-face interface for communications at the street level, while the
dispatch centers will relay updates via phone to the other PSAP.
363.6 UNIFIED COMMAND
The controlling agency should establish and utilize unified command.
363.7 PLAIN SPEAK
When operating on another agency’s channel or on mutual aid channels use only plain speech
for their radio communications. Radio codes should be avoided to limit confusion.
Unit identifiers should include the agency name and an identifier assigned by the agency and
normally used by that unit to identify themselves, for instance, “Fremont PD 1X1” to easily identify
the units and the agency to which they belong.
363.8 TESTING
The county-wide testing schedule is outlined in Appendix A.
(a)Testing will occur on a monthly basis.
(b)Proctoring the test will rotate monthly to different agencies.
(c)Testing will include switching to a mutual aid channel and/or patching to a mutual aid
channel.
363.9 CONSIDERATIONS
(a)Some agencies identify their compass directions differently. Direction should be clearly
established using landmarks and/or street and nearest cross street. For example, units
traveling on Stevenson Bl would say “traveling on Stevenson Bl, from Paseo Padre
towards Fremont Bl.”
(b)When agencies are patched together on EBRCS and an officer needs help button is
pushed, the controlling agency will receive the transmission. If unable to identify the
operator, a roll call or similar tactic should be utilized to identify the officer in possible
distress.
(c)Switching channels during a pursuit may create an officer safety hazard; the timing of
the channel switch should be considered to avoid this hazard.
(d)Termination of pursuits rests with the controlling agency.
(e)Supervision of the pursuit likewise rests with the controlling agency.
(f)Considerations should be made by units operating in a non-standard uniform, including
civilian clothes with a vest and/or undercover attire not immediately identifiable to other
officers/deputies, to identify themselves as law enforcement:
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1.Any unit who participates in a pursuit in a non-standard uniform shall advise
dispatch of their own description, including physical descriptors and clothing
description. Dispatch shall relay this information to all channels participating in
the incident, and ensure this information is passed on to other agencies who
may be involved.
2.Officers/deputies in non-standard uniforms shall also advise dispatch of any
other information with regards to officer safety and identification, including
descriptions of other units in non-standard uniforms and a description of their
vehicle if using an unmarked unit.
363.10 APPENDIX A
(a)Testing the Interagency Communications plan will be done on the first Monday of each
month. If there is a federal holiday the testing will be on the 2nd Monday of the month.
(b)The proctor of the test will rotate on a monthly basis and will be in Alphabetical order
of agencies on the EBRCS system.
(c)The testing time will rotate each month, 0800, 2000 and