GGPDE_420_-_Mobile_Computer_Terminal_Use_2762652

Policy 420Garden Grove Police Department Policy Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2022/05/24, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Garden Grove Police DepartmentMobile Computer Terminal Use - 1Mobile Computer Terminal Use 420.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines for the proper access, use and application of the Mobile Computer Terminal (MCT) 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. 420.2 POLICY Garden Grove Police Department members using the MCT shall comply with all appropriate federal and state rules and regulations and shall use the MCT in a professional manner, in accordance with this policy. 420.3 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). 420.4 RESTRICTED ACCESS AND USE MCT use is subject to the Information Technology Use and Protected Information policies. Members shall not access the MCT system if they have not received prior authorization and the required training. Members shall immediately report unauthorized access or use of the MCT by another member to their supervisors or Division Lieutenants. Use of the MCT system to access law enforcement databases or transmit messages is restricted to official activities, business-related tasks and 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 his/her supervisor. Sending derogatory, defamatory, obscene, disrespectful, sexually suggestive, harassing or any other inappropriate messages on the MCT 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 MCT system unless directed to do so by a supervisor. Members are required to log off the MCT or secure the MCT when it is unattended. This added security measure will minimize the potential for unauthorized access or misuse. 420.4.1 USE WHILE DRIVING Use of the MCT 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. Garden Grove Police Department Policy Manual Mobile Computer Terminal Use Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2022/05/24, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Garden Grove Police DepartmentMobile Computer Terminal Use - 2Short 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. 420.5 DOCUMENTATION OF ACTIVITY Except as otherwise directed by the Division Lieutenant 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 MCT unless security or confidentiality prevents such broadcasting. MCT 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 MCT. 420.5.1 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 MCT 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 MCT when the vehicle is not in motion. 420.5.2 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 Division Lieutenant 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. 420.6 EQUIPMENT CONSIDERATIONS 420.6.1 MALFUNCTIONING MCT Whenever possible, members will not use vehicles with malfunctioning MCTs. Whenever members must drive a vehicle in which the MCT is not working, they shall notify Communications. It shall be the responsibility of the dispatcher to document all information that will then be transmitted verbally over the police radio. Garden Grove Police Department Policy Manual Mobile Computer Terminal Use Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2022/05/24, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Garden Grove Police DepartmentMobile Computer Terminal Use - 3420.6.2 BOMB CALLS When investigating reports of possible bombs, members should not communicate on their MCTs when in the evacuation area of a suspected explosive device. Radio frequency emitted by the MCT could cause some devices to detonate.