Policy Text
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
GO 510.01
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j. Code 939 – Ready to copy inf ormation confidential to officer.
C. INTER -AGENCY RADIO COMMUNICATION
1. When utilizing the Department radio for interagency communication personnel shall:
a. Notify SPD Communications prior to switching to an outside agency frequency (i.e. SSD,
EGPD, CHP, etc.).
b. Monitor the channel before transmitting routine traffic.
c. Use plain language when transmitting on an outside agency frequency.
d. Preface their unit identifiers with “Sac PD” (e.g. Sac PD Lincoln 10) .
2. Inter-agency radio communication shall not replace telephonic contact. Telephonic contact shall be
used when possible.
3. Dispatchers shall ensure operating channels and the Investigations channel are clear of emergency
traffic before transmitting a routine multi -channel broadcast.
4. When it becomes necessary to contact a particular outside agency employee for conversation or
information , SPD Communications shall verify if the employee is on duty, and re quest that the
employee switch to the appropriate SPD channel.
5. When officers need tactical or operational assistance from an outside agency, they shall advise
their supervisor of the nature of the request.
6. Radio traffic during emergency and tactical situations shall be on the channel of the department
from which it or iginated. These situations include, but are not limited to:
a. Pursuits .
b. Crimes in progress .
c. Supervisor discretion .
d. COMM L ink/Patch .
e.
f. Code 1000 (RAM tag activation).
7. Use of inter -agency radio channels shall be limited to mu tual law enforcement matters or
emergency situations.
8. For inter -agency involvement in a non -emergency joint field operation, a field supervisor from both
agencies shall determine which channel(s) will be utilized.
D. RADIO INTERFERENCE
1. When a supervisor detects radio interference, they shall evaluate whether or not it affects officer
safety or is disruptive to normal dispatching procedures.
2. If the radio interference is an officer safety issue,
E. LOSS OF RADIO COMMUNICATION
1. During loss of radio communication lasting longer than five (5) minutes or loss of radio
communication during an emergency
a. Field personnel shall:
(1) Immediately contact their field supervisor utilizing the supervisor's cellular telephone.
(2) Provide their locat ion, contact number, and stand by for further information.
(3) If the supervisor’s cellular phone number is not known , personnel shall obtain the number
from either their MDC or Communications and then contact the supervisor.
b. Field supervisors shall:
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
GO 510.01
Page 3 of 5
(1) Contact the Communications Division and provide their units’ status. Communications
Division personnel shall provide the field supervisor with information on calls pending.
(2) Make assignments of personnel on calls and advise Communications as to their
deploy ment of available resources.
c. On completion of an assignment, field personnel shall again contact their supervisor and
provide the disposition of the call, along with the information as listed in paragraph F1a above.
2. The Communications Center shall notify t he Records Division of the loss of communication, and
provide periodic updates (e.g. 30 minutes) of the status of the communication problem(s) until
service is fully restored.
F. CHANNELS OF OPERATION
1. The City is geographically divided into six (6) operationa l areas called districts. These districts are
divided into beats.
2. There are six (6) coverage groups, each corresponding to a respective district. Within each district
are several beats
a. District 1 Beats 1A, 1B, 1C North West
b. District 2 Beats 2A, 2B, 2C North East
c. District 3 Beats 3A, 3B, 3M Central/Downtown
d. District 4 Beats 4A, 4B, 4C South West
e. District 5 Beats 5A, 5B, 5C South East
f. District 6 Beats 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D , 6E East
3. The districts operate on a combination of two (2) to four (4) main operating channels depending on
operational needs, call volume and staffing.
a. CHANNEL 1 SP1
b. CHANNEL 3 SP3
c. CHANNEL 4 SP4
d. CHANNEL 6 SP6
4. The Department operates on several auxiliary and designated radio channels including but not
limited to:
a. CHANNEL 2 SP2 Code 8 channel
b. CHANNEL 5 SP5 Code 8 channel
c. CHANNEL 7 SP7 Code 8 and Special details
d. CHANNEL 8 SP8 Code 8 and Special details
e. WARRANTS RADIO SP RW1 Warrants Unit (Control 9)
5. When specialized units need emergency assistance, they shall switch to the main operating
channel closest to their location .
a. If that channel is not available, specialized units shall transmit on any available main channel.
b. Once the situation i s stabilized , specialized units shall switch to the main operating channel
closest to their location.
c. If specialized units have a non -emergency need for assistance, they should coordinate with the
district Sergeant for that geographic area (e.g. execution of search warrants