Policy Text
Field Services Page 1 of 6 04/02 (REV 4/08)
Patrol Units -- Response to Calls
The purpose of this Order is to o utline Field Services policy f or response to dispatched
calls for service.
I. Policy
Due to the infinite variables i nvolved in many calls for servic e, the guidelines for
the number of field resources to be committed offer basic param eters, not
definite rules.
II. Priority System for Service Calls
All priority 1, 2, 3, and 4 serv ice calls are dispatched as soo n as possible and to
available units.
A. Priority "1" – There is a p resent or imminent danger to life that
necessitates an imme diate response.
B. Priority "2" – In-progre ss or just occurred event that requi res medical
attention or poses a signific ant threat to public safety. Prio rity 2 events
call for an expedient response.
C. Priority "3" – Just occurred ma jor felony where no medical a ttention is
needed and the suspect is no longer p resent; an in-progress pro perty
crime that poses no significan t danger to human life; or a situ ation that is
liable to escalate. Timely respons e would likely lead to the a pprehension
of the suspect(s).
D. Priority "4" – An event tha t is occurring now, but does not pose an
immediate threat or hazard; repor t of a major crime that is no longer
occurring but requires a timely r esponse to preserve evidence; or outside
agency assistance that does not r equire an immediate response.
E. Priority "5" – An event tha t is not posing an immediate thre at to lives or
property; call for citizen assist ance; or a report call for a “ cold” crime that is
no longer occurring and does not requi re an immediate response.
F. Priority "6" – CSI events
Field Services Page 2 of 6 04/02 (REV 4/08) G. Priority "7" – Prisoner transport (TS)
H. Priority "9" – An event tha t is self initiated or “on-viewed ” by a field unit; or
general information events.
III. Response to Service Calls
A. Two Officer Calls - A minimum of two officers shall respond to the below
listed calls. If a single-office r unit is the only available u nit, the dispatcher
shall assign that unit and advis e by voice that attempts will b e made to
locate another unit for cover.
1. All in-progress felonies.
2. All in-progress misdemeanors.
3. All radio priority "1-3" events.
4. Some priority 4 and 5 ev ents based on circumstances.
5. Field initiated crime suppre ssion activities and the officer involved
has not been heard from for a peri od of five (5) minutes and th e
dispatcher is unable to cont act him/her, or when other
circumstances indicate that assi stance is needed, the dispatche r
will notify the patrol supervisor and will di spatch another off icer to
check the welfare of the first officer.
B. One Officer Calls - Unless av ailable information indicates t hat additional
officers will be needed, generally , only one officer should res pond to the
following types of calls for service:
1. Some priority 4 and 5 events:
a. Attempt contact/locate/pick-up.
b. Meet the citizen.
c. Hazardous conditions (non-lethal).
d. Store security with a non-violent suspect in custody.
e. Misdemeanors, which have ju st occurred. (Note: additional
units may be assigned to che ck the surrounding areas).
2. Injured persons and/or vehicl e collisions pending arrival an d
evaluation of incident by the officer.
Field Services Page 3 of 6 04/02 (REV 4/08) C. Field resources may be freed from an assigned call for vario us reasons,
including but not limited to:
1. To cover another unit.
2. To handle a higher priority call.
3. An officer request for other field initiated activity.
a. The call is to be held for the original unit unless the new
activity involves a booking or an inordinate delay.
4. At the request of the field supervisor or watch commander.
IV. Back-up
Back-up requests for other than t he above listed calls may be i nitiated by the
patrol officer, subject to the following guidelines:
A. Exercise discretion and good judgment to ensure adequate bac k-up is
alerted and excessive back-up is not unnecessarily committed.
B. Advise the communication c enter of the nature and extent of the problem
and the expected need for additional units.
C. Cancel unneeded back-up as soon as possible.
D. Back-up units should clear t he call and return to patrol dut ies as soon as
possible if no longer needed.
V. Dispatching Units Outside/In side Their Assigned Districts
A. Report calls will generally be dispatched to the patrol divi sion where the
victim/complainant is located, r egardless of where the crime or incident
occurred.
1. If during the initial invest igation a crime scene is determi ned, an
officer from the division in wh ich the crime occurred will be
dispatched to locate and secure the scene, identify any witness es,
process the scene for evidenc e and complete supplemental
reports.
2. Once the report is complete the primary deputy will turn in the