Policy Text
Page 1 of 7 - General Order 6-7 (04/14/2022 )
EMERGENCY AND NON -EMERGENCY VEHICLE RESPONSE PROTOCOL
RICHMOND POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
Subject: EMERGENCY AND NON -EMERGENCY VEHICLE
RESPONSE PROTOCOL
Chapter
6 Number
7 # Pages
7
References:
CALEA: 41.2.1 a, 41.2.1b, 41.2.1c, 41.2.1d , 81.2.4g
Related Orders: N/A Effective Date: 04/14/2022
Revis ed By: CALEA Standard
Prv. Rev. Date: 02/10/21
Chief of Police :
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this directive is to establish a standard operating procedure for the safe
operation of police vehicles when responding to both emergency and non -emergency calls
for service.
II. SUMMARY OF CHANGE
This revision derives from a CALEA standard where Non -Emergency has been defined in
this policy. All changes are bold and italicized throughout this document.
III. POLICY
The Richmond Police Department’s responses to calls for servic e and for prescribing the
number of police units to be dispatched are based upon a number of factors. The number
of vehicles responding to a call for service and the response code will be determined by
departmental policy and controlled by the on-duty 911 Department of Emergency
Communications (DEC) Communications Officer s. It is also the policy of the Department
that field supervisors and superior officers have the authority to increase or decrease the
number of responding vehicle s.
When operating Dep artment vehicles under emergency response conditions, officers will
use lights and sirens . An officer’s primary responsibility when responding to an
emergency situation is the safety of the officer and the welfare of the general public.
Officers have a r esponsibility to respond to calls for service in accordance with the
Department’s General Orders and other written directives . Any indiscriminate or
uncontrolled police response to calls for service is neither prudent nor authorized.
Although officers are given qualified exemption s under state law from observing certain
traffic regulations in specific circumstances , they are required to drive with due regard for
the safety of all persons. (VA Code §46.2 -920)
III. ACCOUNTABILITY STATEMENT
All employees are e xpected to fully comply with the guidelines and timelines set forth in
this General Order. Responsibility rests with the Division Commander to ensure that any
Page 2 of 7 - General Order 6 -7 (04/14/2022)
EMERGENCY AND NON-EMERGENCY VEHICLE RESPONSE PROTOCOL
violations of policy are investigated and appropriate training, counseling and/or
disciplinary action is initiated.
This directive is for internal use only, and does not enlarge an employee’s civil liability
in any way. It should not be construed as the creation of a higher standard of safety or
care in an evidentiary sense, with respect to third party claims. Violation of this
directive, if proven, can only form the basis of a complaint by this Department, and then
only in a non-judicial administrative setting.
IV. DEFINITIONS
A. EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT – The lights and siren on a police vehicle.
B. EMERGENCY:
1. A condition deemed to exist only in a situation where there is an indication that
violence or injuries exist and will likely continue or worsen or where a need
prevails for immediate action toward the continued protection of life and
property. In addition, a serious felony that involves an actual or threatened
attack that an officer reasonably believes could or has resulted in death or
serious bodily injury (e.g. Aggravated Assault, Armed Robbery, Murder, etc.).
2. A situation in which the physical safety and well being of an individual
requesting or needing police assistance is directly jeopardized. In these
incidents, the p rimary, backup and supervising units will utilize both their lights
and siren to respond to the scene in an expedited manner.
C. NON -EMERGENCY: In situations where the officer is dispatched to a non-
priority call, he/she shall not use their emergency equipment when responding. If
in route to the call and it changes to a high priority call, the officer shall activate
their emergency equipment for a fast er response. [CALEA 41.2.1a]
D. MARKED UNIT – A police vehicle equipped with a police package (i.e.
conspicuous police markings, emergency lights and siren) and able to engage in radio
communications.
E. UNMARKED UNIT – A police vehicle able to engage in radio communications but
does not contain conspicuous police markings , emergency lights or siren.
F. UNMARKED, POLICE EQUIPPED UNIT – A police vehicle able to engage in
radio communications that is equipped with emergency lights and siren but does not
contain conspicuous police markings.
G. .
H.
.
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EMERGENCY AND NON-EMERGENCY VEHICLE RESPONSE PROTOCOL
V. PROCEDURE
A. Officers shall acknowledge radio assignments, give current location, verbally mark
and use the function key on the MDC when they arrive near
the scene of an incident.
B. Emergency Operation of Police Vehicles – (General ): [CALEA 41.2.1b]
1. Only a police vehicle equipped with a siren and emergency flashing lights will
be operated as