Policy Text
Policy
434Fremont Police Department
Mobile Digital Computer Use
434.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines for the proper access, use, and application of
the Mobile Digital Computer (MDC) 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 Communications Unit. See the
CJIS Access, Maintenance, and Security Policy for additional guidance.
434.2 POLICY
Fremont Police Department members using the MDC shall comply with all appropriate federal
and state rules and regulations and shall use the MDC in a professional manner, in accordance
with this policy.
434.3 MDC USE
The MDC shall be used for official police communications only. Profanity, suggestive remarks,
or messages that are of a sexual, racist, or offensive nature, or otherwise critical of any member
of the Department are strictly forbidden. MDC use is also subject to the Department Technology
Use Policy.
Messages may be reviewed by supervisors at anytime without prior notification. Employees
generating or transmitting messages not in compliance with this policy are subject to discipline.
All calls dispatched to patrol units should be communicated by voice and/or MDC unless otherwise
authorized by a supervisor.
434.4 POINT-TO-POINT COMPUTER MESSAGES
(a)The point-to-point message capability is used to send a business message from one
terminal to any other terminal, or group of terminals, within the CAD system. The
point-to-point messages become history in the computer log and can be retrieved by
doing an off-line search. Point-to-point messages can become part of the official court
records when they are included in a computer search of specific times needed for a
court case.
1.Point-to-point messages will be monitored to insure compliance with this policy.
2.Point-to-point messages will be saved for a period of one year, the same as
radio transmissions.
(b)When using the point-to-point message capability of the computer-aided dispatch
system or electronic mail on any departmental or city computer system, personnel
shall be governed by the ordinary and reasonable rules of good conduct and behavior,
and shall not commit any negligent, malicious or criminal act which may bring reproach
or discredit upon the Department or the City of Fremont.
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434.5 PRIVACY EXPECTATION
Members forfeit any expectation of privacy with regard to messages accessed, transmitted,
received or reviewed on any department technology system (see the Information Technology Use
Policy for additional guidance).
434.6 RESTRICTED ACCESS AND USE
MDC use is subject to the Information Technology Use, Protected Information, and CJIS Access,
Maintenance, and Security policies.
Members shall not access the MDC system if they have not received prior authorization and the
required training. Members shall immediately report unauthorized access or use of the MDC by
another member to their supervisors or Watch Commanders.
Use of the MDC 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 MDC 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 MDC system
unless directed to do so by a supervisor. Members are required to log off the MDC or secure
the MDC when it is unattended. This added security measure will minimize the potential for
unauthorized access or misuse.
434.6.1 USE WHILE DRIVING
Use of the MDC 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.
434.7 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 MDC unless security or confidentiality prevents such broadcasting.
MDC 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.
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(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 MDC.
434.7.1 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 MDC system.
Members responding to in-progress calls should advise changes in status over the radio to assist
other members responding