Policy Text
Page 1 of 6 General Order 9-4 (10/18/23)
RESPONSE TO ALARMS
RICHMOND POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
Subject: RESPONSE TO ALARMS
Chapter
9 Number
4 Pages
6
References:
CALEA: 81.2.12
VA State Code: §18.2 -212, §18.2 -461
City Code: § 10-53
Related Orders:
07-15 Effective Date: 10/18 /2023
Revised By: Review
Prv. Rev. Date : 06/07/2019
Chief of Police:
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this directive is to outline a plan to be followed for responding to and handling
security alarms.
II. SUMMARY OF CHANGE
This policy is due for review. Section VI sub-paragraph F, located on the drive, has
been outdated since 2007 and is no longer used. City Code §34-68a is outdated and has
been omitted from the policy. The addition of 3SI tracking has been added to the policy.
The specific changes are noted in bold italicized text throughout the document .
III. POLICY
Officers shall proceed with extreme caution when answering any alarm call. Officers shall be
aware that alarms can be activated in several ways, and the nature of the alarm may determine
the type of response. Officers shall follow the procedures outlined in this policy to enhance
arrest possibilities of suspects and observe proper precautions for the safety of officers,
employees, and bystanders .
IV. ACCOUNTABILITY STATEMENT
All employees are expected to fully comply with the guidelines and timelines outlined in this
general order. Failure to comply will result in appropriate corrective action. Responsibility
rests with the Division Commander to ensure that any violations of policy are investigated and
proper 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 creating a higher safety standard or case in an evidentiary
sense concerning 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.
Page 2 of 6 General Order 9-4 (10/18/23)
RESPONSE TO ALARMS V. DEFINITIONS
A. FALSE ALARM – any alarm signal communicated to the Department of Emergency
Communications (DEC) which is not in response to an actual or threatened hazard.
1. False alarms shall include negligently or accidentally activated signals; signals
that are activated as the result of faulty, malfunctioning, or improperly installed or
maintained equipment; and signals that are purposefully activated to summon
police and/or fire personnel in non-emergency situations.
2. False alarms shall not include signals that are activated by unusually severe
weather conditions or other causes that are identified and determined, after
evaluation by DEC, Chief of Fire, or the Chief of Police, as applicable, to be
beyond the control of the owner or the user of an alarm system.
B. DELIBERATE FALSE ALARMS – Any person who intentionally or deliberately an d
without cause activates an alarm system in a non-emergency situation and by such
action causes an emergency response to be made by the Police Department, Fire, and
Emergency Services Departments, either or both, shall be deemed guilty of a Class I
Misdemeanor. (Virginia State Codes §18.2-212 and 18.2 -461)
C. FINANCIAL INSTITUTION – A business that provides financial services for its
clients or members to accept and manage deposits and make loans. These businesses
operate primarily, but not exclusively, as banks or credit unions. Check cashing
establishments, insurance companies, mortgage loans, and investment fund businesses
are not considered financial institutions .
D.
VI. PROCEDURE
A. DEC Responsibilities for Alarms: [CALEA 81.2.12]
1. Upon receiving an alarm by direct interface with the CAD system or the 911
phone system, DEC shall dispatch Police, Fire, or EMS officers to respond
according to the priority appropriate to the circumstances and nature of the alarm.
If the alarm company advises that they have confirmed that a crime has occurred,
the Communications Officer shall treat the event as a robbery or burglary, assign
a minimum of two patrol units and notify a field supervisor.
2. When a financial institution robbery alarm is received, DEC will simulcast the call
on all police channels. All police units responding to the alarm will advise the
communications officer of their response and the location they are responding from .
3. If the robbery or burglary notification is received by telephone, DEC shall, if
possible, obtain a complete description of the suspect(s) along with as much
additional information as possible, including whether the suspect(s) is still at the
Page 3 of 6 General Order 9-4 (10/18/23)
RESPONSE TO ALARMS scene, their direction and mode of travel if they have left the location and a
complete description of any vehicle(s) involved. In the case of a burglary, the
responding officers shall instruct the radio operator to have
NOTE: During “in -progress” incidents, DEC personnel shall remain on the line with
the resident or business representative until verification of Richmond Police Officers on
the scene is received.
4.
5. If DEC is subsequently notified that the alarm is false, the Communications
Officer will change it to a non-emergency (code 2) response, and the responding
units will be advised that one