GO 504 Interview Rooms 092822

GO 504 Interview Rooms Page 1 of 4 Rev. 09/28/22 GENERAL ORDER 504 INTERVIEW ROOMS REVISION DATE: 09/28/2022 BY ORDER OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE SUNNY ISLES BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT ORIGINAL EFFECTIVE DATE: 09/22/22 PREVIOUS REVISIONS: RESCINDS: All previously issued directives REFERENCE : Chapter 32 TABLE OF CONTENTS A. PURPOSE .......................................................................................................................... 1 B. SCOPE ............................................................................................................................... 1 C. POLICY ............................................................................................................................. 1 D. DEFINITIONS .................................................................................................................. 2 E. RESPONSIBILITIES ....................................................................................................... 2 F. DESIGNATED INTERVIEW ROOMS ......................................................................... 2 G. CONTINUOUS SUPERVISION ..................................................................................... 3 H. PERSONS AUTHORIZED IN INTERVIEW ROOMS ................................................ 4 I. SECURITY INSPECTIONS ............................................................................................ 4 J. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ............................................................................ 4 A. PURPOSE The purpose of this directive is to establish guidelines for the proper use of the Department’s designated interview room to ensure the safety of Department members and for consideration into the safety and needs of those being interviewed by Department personnel. B. SCOPE This directive is applicable to all members of this Department. C. POLICY 1. It is the policy of the City of Sunny Isles Beach Police Department that persons brought in to be interviewed shall not be left in any interview room without continuous supervision. 2. The safety and security of both the subject being interviewed and Department members will receive the utmost priority. The Department is responsible for the physical needs and security of persons while they are under our care and control. This shall extend and apply while persons are in the Department’s interview room(s). Interview Rooms may be used for interviews, statements, interrogations, questioning or testing of persons, pre files, and depositions. INTERVIEW ROOMS General Order 504 GO 504 Interview Rooms Page 2 of 4 Rev. 09/28/22 D. DEFINITIONS Continuous Supervision: Supervision by a member who has the authority and the responsibility to exercise control over an interviewee and can immediately intervene on behalf of the Department or interviewee. Video monitoring may be used only if immediate intervention can be accomplished. E. RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Accountability for the security of the interviewee shall rest with the member who places the individual in the interview room until properly relieved by another member assuming responsibility for the individual. 2. Responsibility can be released when the individual is turned over to another member, who will then assume accountability for the subject. This transfer of responsibility should be clearly communicated and understood by both parties. 3. All efforts will be made to safeguard an interviewee’s personal property, if any. Evidence, contraband, or dangerous articles seized from an interviewee shall be impounded pursuant to Departmental directives unless the personal property shall be returned to the interviewee or, in the case the interviewee is arrested, transported to the receiving facility, along with the individual. F. DESIGNATED INTERVIEW ROOMS 1. Sworn members are authorized to use the interview room when necessary for conducting interviews. 2. The Department has one designated interview room. The interview room is located in the Criminal Investigations Unit. 3. The Interview room in the Criminal Investigations Unit is available for use by members assigned to the unit and Uniform Patrol Services. After normal hours, access to the interview room may be gained by contacting the patrol supervisor. 4. The interview room shall be used for its intended purpose only. Members will ensure the persons brought into an interview room are kept in the interview room only for the length of time necessary to complete the interview, collect items of possible evidentiary value, and/or obtain a statement or confession. 5. Security Measures & Plan for Prevention: a. The interview room should be considered a safe and secured environment. It is the interviewer’s responsibility to search the interview room for any contraband/weapons prior to placing the interviewee inside and also at the conclusion of the interview. Any object contained in the room which could be used as a weapon, or which may be detrimental to the safety of persons in the room shall be removed prior to the room being used. b. Other than equipment assigned to the room, members shall not leave any object (clipboard, voice recorders, etc.) unattended in an interview room while a detainee, suspect or person(s) who could possibly evolve into a suspect are present. c. It is the interviewer’s responsibility to ensure the detainee, suspect, or person who could possibly evolve into a suspect IS SEARCHED prior to placing the individual into the interview room. INTERVIEW ROOMS General Order 504 GO 504 Interview Rooms Page 3 of 4 Rev. 09/28/22 d. Under normal circumstances, pat-downs or searches will be conducted by sworn personnel of the same sex as the subject to be searched. e. When members conduct the interview room search and searches of persons that may evolve into suspects, they will ensure that flammable materials and liquids, such as cigarette lighters are removed to prevent a fire. f. Fire suppression equipment is available to all agency Members. These include: Fire extinguishers. Smoke Detectors. Smoke/Fire alarm. Sprinkler system in main hallways. 6. Control of Weapons: a. Members who enter an interview room to interview victims and/or witnesses may at their discretion be armed during the interview