Policy Text
Roll Call Training Bulletin
Produced by: Captain Adam Green , South Comm and Daniel Hahn , Chief of Police
Prepared by: Ofc. Rose Cabre ra, PSU Volume 78
FIRE DEPARTMENT REQUEST S FOR POLICE ASSISTANCE ON MEDICAL AID CALLS
This bulletin will review our Department procedure for assisting the Fire Department with agitated or
uncooperative patients when no crime has been committed . These types of calls for a ssistance by the
Fire Departme nt present some challenges for us as police officers in that we have no legal authority
to use force, detain, or handcuff someone in situations that are purely medical in nature.
When the Department’s Comm unications Center r eceives a c all from the Fire Department for
assistance on a medical aid-only call, t he channel dispatcher or dispatch supervisor will advise the
district Sergeant and/or Watch Commander. The patrol supervisor shall determine if a r esponse by
the P olice Depa rtmen t is appropriate. If the patrol supervisor determines that officers w ill respond,
he/she shall respond with the assigned officer(s) and decide as to whether officers should engage .
The Fire Dep artment shall be lead on medical aid calls and h ave primar y scene control for the
purpose of rendering medical aid.
REFUSAL OF MEDI CAL TREATMENT :
It is important to keep in mind that people have the right to refuse medical treatment and , generally
speaking, the Department h as no legal authority to for ce a perso n to receive or submit to treatment. It
is clearly established that police violate the Fourth Amendment when they handcuff people whom
they neither suspect of criminal wrongdoing nor believe to be a danger to themselve s or others (see
United Stat es v. Davi s, 514 F.3d 596, 607, 610 (6th Cir. 2008) ) Police Officers are prohibited from
using force against individuals who are not subj ect to arrest or detention, except to protect the officer,
the public or another person.
In situati ons where Fire personnel only seek to control or restrain a patient in order to render medi cal
aid, the F ire Department shall request additional f ire personnel.
5150 (a) W I DETENTION EVALUATION AND TREATMENT:
5150 WI states: When a perso n, as a result of a mental health dis order, is a danger to others, or to
himself or herself , or gravely disabled, a peace officer may, upon probable cause, take, or cause to
be taken, the person into custody for a period of up to 72 hours for assessment.
CONTINUED POLICE ASSISTANCE TO THE FIRE DEPART MENT:
It is important to recognize that this change pertains only to assisting in patient care of resistive or
uncooperative medical patients who are not suspecte d of a crime or do not pose a danger to others .
The Department will continue to resp ond to req uests for assistance or to assure firefighters are safe
when providing care. It will be important going forward that Sergeants and Watch Commanders
communicate with their p eers at the Fire Departme nt and do their best to assure we are assisting the
Fire Department whenever possible.
Fire Departm ent Command Staf f will assure that these changes are communicated to their line
personnel to avoid any confusion or disruption on these types of calls. Additional ly, the Fire
Department will be working to provide g reater detail on their requests for police assistance so t hat the
reason(s) for the need of police assistance are clear. Whenever questions or concerns arise to any
Roll Call Training Bulletin
Produced by: Captain Adam Green , South Comm and Daniel Hahn , Chief of Police
Prepared by: Ofc. Rose Cabre ra, PSU Volume 78
945 calls, the on -duty Watch Commander shall be provided with a cell phone nu mber for the o n-duty
Battalion Chief. The Watch Commander and Battalion Chief will coordinate to assure that we are
working together to handle the call properly .