Policy Text
Policy
423San Luis Obispo Police Department
San Luis Obispo PD CA Policy Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/07/01, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by San Luis Obispo Police
DepartmentMobile Digital Computer Use - 1Mobile Digital Computer Use
423.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines for the proper access, use, and application of
the Mobile Digital Computer (MDC) system in order to ensure appropriate access to confidential
records from local, state, and national law enforcement databases, and to ensure effective
electronic communications between department members and the Communications Center. See
the CJIS Access, Maintenance, and Security Policy for additional guidance.
423.2 POLICY
San Luis Obispo Police Department members using the MDC shall comply with all appropriate
federal and state rules and regulations and shall use the MDC in a professional manner, in
accordance with this policy.
423.3 PRIVACY EXPECTATION
Members forfeit any expectation of privacy with regard to messages accessed, transmitted,
received or reviewed on any department technology system (see the Information Technology Use
Policy for additional guidance).
423.4 RESTRICTED ACCESS AND USE
MDC use is subject to the Information Technology Use, Protected Information, and CJIS Access,
Maintenance, and Security policies.
Members shall not access the MDC system if they have not received prior authorization and the
required training. Members shall immediately report unauthorized access or use of the MDC by
another member to their supervisors or Watch Commanders.
Use of the MDC system to access law enforcement databases or transmit messages is restricted
to official activities, business-related tasks, or communications that are directly related to the
business, administration, or practices of the Department. In the event that a member has questions
about sending a particular message or accessing a particular database, the member should seek
prior approval from their supervisor.
Sending derogatory, defamatory, obscene, disrespectful, sexually suggestive, harassing, or any
other inappropriate messages on the MDC system is prohibited and may result in discipline.
It is a violation of this policy to transmit a message or access a law enforcement database under
another member's name or to use the password of another member to log in to the MDC system
unless directed to do so by a supervisor. Members are required to log off the MDC or secure
the MDC when it is unattended. This added security measure will minimize the potential for
unauthorized access or misuse.
San Luis Obispo Police Department
San Luis Obispo PD CA Policy Manual
Mobile Digital Computer Use
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/07/01, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by San Luis Obispo Police
DepartmentMobile Digital Computer Use - 2423.4.1 USE WHILE DRIVING
Use of the MDC by the vehicle operator should be limited to times when the vehicle is stopped.
Information that is required for immediate enforcement, investigative, tactical or safety needs
should be transmitted over the radio.
Short transmissions, such as a license plate check, are permitted if it reasonably appears that
it can be done safely. In no case shall an operator attempt to send or review lengthy messages
while the vehicle is in motion.
423.5 EQUIPMENT CONSIDERATIONS
423.5.1 MALFUNCTIONING MDC
Whenever possible, members will not use vehicles with malfunctioning MDCs. Whenever
members must drive a vehicle in which the MDC is not working, they shall notify the
Communications Center. It shall be the responsibility of the dispatcher to document all information
that will then be transmitted verbally over the police radio.
423.5.2 BOMB CALLS
When investigating reports of possible bombs, members should not communicate on their MDCs
when in the evacuation area of a suspected explosive device. Radio frequency emitted by the MDC
could cause some devices to detonate.