Policy Text
Procedure
8006Santa Ana Police Department
Santa Ana PD Procedures Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2019/05/24, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Santa Ana Police DepartmentCALLS FOR SERVICE AND CALL PRIORITY
PROCEDURE - 1CALLS FOR SERVICE AND CALL PRIORITY
PROCEDURE
8006.1 PURPOSE
This procedure establishes guidelines for Communications personnel when initiating calls for
service, ensuring calls for services receive the most appropriate priority, ensuring resources are
deployed effectively and ensuring a timely and efficient police response to provide professional
services to the community.
8006.2 PROCEDURE
8006.2.1 CALLS FOR SERVICE
1.Call Takers shall identify the predetermined call type for a call for service based on
the circumstances relayed to them by the caller. Knowledge of these call types and
their specific elements will define which call type will be used when initiating a call for
service that is appropriate for the incident.
2.Call Takers shall complete thorough and accurate calls for service with relevant
information so responding officers are informed about the situation. Information shall
include exact addresses with calling party’s name, unless the calling party refuses to
give his/her name, a phone number if available, suspect and/or vehicle descriptions
and any other pertinent information necessary to complete the call. Call takers will
stay on the line, whenever possible, with callers reporting in progress crimes who are
able to relay updates to the information previously reported.
3.Dispatchers receiving calls for service shall review the content of all calls for service
prior to dispatching. The dispatcher shall use his/her discretion on which details of
the call should be verbally disseminated in order to provide the responding officers
ample data to proceed accordingly. Accurate and complete information is essential to
the officers’ response and to officer safety.
4.A call pending 30 minutes or longer shall require a courtesy call to the calling party
advising them of an update on the status of their call. This shall be repeated every
30 minutes until the call is dispatched and this shall be noted on the call. This task is
often handled by the support radio dispatcher.
8006.2.2 DISPATCHING CALLS FOR SERVICE
1.Dispatchers shall clarify all calls for service with the call taker before modifying a
call type and/or call information. Dispatchers shall be completely clear on the content
before dispatching, as this information must be accurate. Dispatchers shall also take
the initiative to upgrade calls if the incident warrants a more expedient response.
However, a dispatcher shall always consult with the call taker before downgrading the
priority of a call.
2.Priority 1 and 2 calls for service shall be dispatched immediately. These types of calls
involve protecting life and/or property and shall be regarded as a high priority. In this
Santa Ana Police Department
Santa Ana PD Procedures Manual
CALLS FOR SERVICE AND CALL PRIORITY PROCEDURE
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2019/05/24, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Santa Ana Police DepartmentCALLS FOR SERVICE AND CALL PRIORITY
PROCEDURE - 2case, there shall be no regard for district integrity or seniority and the call for service
will be dispatched to any available unit. If no units are available for immediate dispatch,
the dispatcher shall verbally broadcast the call until units are assigned. If there are
units en route to a non-priority call, they shall be redirected to the priority 1 or 2 call
instead. If all resources have been exhausted a field supervisor should be advised
of the circumstances and request for the supervisor to clear a unit to respond to the
priority call should be made.
3.Priority 3 calls should be assigned to units from the district where the call occurs.
Follow-up officers may be dispatched from any district. If circumstances exist that
would cause an undue delay, i.e., district units tied up on a lengthy investigation, the
call can be dispatched to any available units regardless of district.
4.Priority 4 and 5 calls should be assigned to the officers from the same district as the
call, unless circumstances exist that would cause undue delay, i.e., Spanish speaking
call with no Spanish speaking officers assigned to the district.
5.In addition to call priority, common circumstances that may require an immediate
response include but are not limited to: Preservation of evidence, likelihood of victim/
witness interviews, and sensitivity of the situation that may dictate a rapid response
by any available unit. In these cases, the dispatcher shall upgrade the CAD priority
to expedite the dispatch of the call. Examples of these types of situations include:
(a)Child molest reports
(b)Domestic violence
(c)Alarm calls where it is likely the call is valid
(d)Suspects in custody of citizens, or citizens in custody of suspects
(e)Robberies reported within a reasonable time of occurrence
(f)Any other circumstances where, in the dispatcher’s judgment, an expedited
response is appropriate.
(g)Firearms and/or weapons left in plain view on public property easily accessible
for pedestrians/citizens.
6.If at all possible, calls for service will not be held for the next shift. Officers may be
dispatched to calls up to fifteen minutes prior to the end of their shift. Priority 1 and
2 calls may be dispatched up to the end of the shift.
8006.2.3 CALL PRIORITIES
1.All call types are assigned a predetermined priority by the computer system. The
highest call type priority of 1 and the lowest priority call type of 5. Priorities are based
on the type of call and the urgency for immediate police response. Call takers and
dispatchers have the ability to change the