Policy Text
CATEGORY DATE ADOPTED LAST REVIEW NEXT REVIEW
3 01/24/2011 06/01/2019 12/01/2020
TUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
SS434 - Call Taker Response to A Bomb Threat 1 SS434 CALL TAKER RESPONSE TO BOMB THREAT
SS434.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This procedure establishes guidelines for handling bomb threats.
SS434.1.2 ACCREDITATION STANDARDS
This procedure pertains to the following CALEA Standards: N/A
This p rocedure pertains to the following General Orders: N/A
SS434.2 PROCEDURE
SS434.2.1 CALL TAKING
If a bomb threat is received from a first party caller the following questions should be asked of
the caller:
a) When is the bomb going to explode?
b) Where is the bomb right now?
c) What kind of bomb is it (pipe bomb, fire bomb, timed device) ?
d) What does the bomb look like?
e) Why did you place the bomb?
f) Name of the caller and location and phone number they are calling from. This question
should be asked last since it will likely cause the caller to disconnect.
Attempt to keep the caller on the line as long as possible and obtain expanded answe rs to thes e
five basic questions:
a) Time of the call
b) Exact words of the caller as accurately as possible
c) Age and sex of the caller
d) Speech patterns and/or accents
e) Background noises
If a call is received from a business or a citizen with information that a bomb has be en placed ,
obtain the following information:
a) Did the caller state the time of detonation?
b) Did the caller advise exactly where the bomb was placed?
CATEGORY DATE ADOPTED LAST REVIEW NEXT REVIEW
3 01/24/2011 06/01/2019 12/01/2020
TUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
SS434 - Call Taker Response to A Bomb Threat 2 c) Are there any suspicious packages observed in the area ( do not have them investigate,
just ask if they reca ll anything unusual) ?
d) Any information about the caller such as male/female, young/old, accent?
e) Did the caller give a reason for want ing to bomb the location?
f) Did he call anyone by name?
g) Are you evacuating the building ( it is up to the business whether or not to evacuate) ?
h) Enter the call as 982.
SS434.3 DISPATCHING THE CALL
a) Dispatch a minimum of two officers to the location of the bomb threat.
b) Notify the Watch Commander
c) When personnel arrive on scene , they may not be able to transmit via radio if there is
concern that the device may be activated. In this case other means such as a landline
phone may be used for further information.