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ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE GENERAL ORDER Effective Date : May 29, 2025  Amends - GO 11.1.1 ( October 31, 2020 ) Number : 11.1.1 Distribution: All Personnel Review Month: October Reviewing Authority: IT / Communications Subject: Everbridge ™ This order consists of the following: 1. Purpose 2. Policy 3. Definitions 4. Procedures 1. Purpose The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines for the administration and use of the Everbridge ™ system. 2. Policy It will be the policy of the agency to utilize the Everbridge ™ system as a communication tool to alert agency members and citizens of critical situations or crime prevention information and to solicit their assistance. 3. Definitions A. Everbridge ™ – a platform for emergency and non -emergency messages to be sent by public safety officials . Messages will notify residents and businesses by telephone, ce llular phone, text message, and email regarding time sensitive general and emergency situations. B. Everbridge User – Agency employee approved by the Information Technology section responsible for agency application of the Everbridge ™ system. C. Everbridge Contact – any person /organization that has contact information (phone/email) in the Everbridge system. 4. Procedures A. Enrollment 1. The Orange County Emergency Alert Program (OC-Alert.net) will be responsible for c itizen enrollment to Everbridge. 2. Agency Members will have their agency phone numbers and agency email automatically enrolled by Information Technology. Agency members can add and update personal contact information in Everbridge by visiting OCSO Everbridge Login located on the home page of the portal. 3. Everbridge Users shall maintain the group contact list for which they are responsible . 11.1.1, Page 2 of 3 B. Notifications 1. Everbridge ™ can be used to provide urgent information pertaining to police, fire or health issues regarding public safety with the intent to protect lives and/or property of the citizens of Orange County. Although not limited to, it can be used for the following: a. Missing children and endangered adults b. Evacuations c. Neighborhood watch information d. Road closures e. Crime alerts specific to a geographic area f. Escaped prisoners g. Critical incidents 2. Non-emergency notifications The use of Everbridge ™, for non-emergency messages , will be coordinated and/or accomplished through the Orange County Office of Emergency Management , Monday through Friday between 0800 and 2000 hours and through the Communications Center on holidays and weekends. OCSO managers that need to send a non -emergency mass notification will forward their request to ocso.pio@ocsofl.com . The Strategic Communications section will approve the message and then forward the message to OC Alert administrat or at the Orange County Office of Emergency Management for distribution. 3. Emergency notifications The use of Everbridge ™ for all emergency messages will be coordinated and/or accomplished through the Communications Center . a. A Watch Commander or above shall approve emergency Everbridge ™ messages. Discretion must be used when activating the Everbridge ™ system, taking into consideration issues such as time of day, nature of incident and cost of utilizing the system. This will confirm the broadcast of a message to the public is proper and does not compromise an investigation. b. All emergency messages sent from 0700 -1900 hours, Monday through Friday will be accompanied with the sam e message being communicated to the OCPS Commu nications center . c. Cancellation of emergency messages will be coordinated through the Communications Center. 4. Prior to sending out a Everbridge ™ message an email wi ll be sent to Communications at SO-OS-CommSupervisorsASL@ocsofl.com containing the messaging being distributed and any instructions. 5. Message Suggested Formatting Opening: This is the Orange County Sheriff’s Office with either (1) an emergency or (2) a non -emergency community notification. Body: Message describing the alert and/or asking for information. Closing: Include any instructions and/or the appropriate telephone 11.1.1, Page 3 of 3 number for the message recipient to call with information , if appropriate . C. Orange County Public Schools ( OCPS ) Notifications The Orange County Sheriff's Office Communications Center will make notifications of potentially dangerous situations near an OCPS school by : 1. The appropriate radio channel to Any SRO(s) staffing a school in the vi cinity of a potential danger . 2. By the agreed upon PSAP Channel to the OCPS Communications Center to alert OCPS of potentially dangerous situations which may affect an OCPS School . D. Emergency Mass Public Notificatio ns 1. When directed by the Watch Commander or above, an emergency Everbridge ™ message will be sent by the Communications Center from Everbridge to a geographic area when law enforcement is looking for a suspect or otherwise determines there is a dangerous situat ion in that geographic area . 2. Mass Notification Message Suggested Formatting Body: “The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is notifying you that there is activity near ( area of the county followed by major intersections or other landmarks) which may p resent a danger . Please take the appropriate action.” E. System Administration