Policy Text
CATEGORY DATE ADOPTED LAST REVIEW NEXT REVIEW
3 01/24/2011 06/01/201 9 12/01/20 20
TUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
SS442 - Call Taker Response to Vandalism Calls 1 SS442 CALL TAKER RESPONSE TO VANDALISM CALLS
SS442.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This procedure establishes guidelines for handling vandalism calls.
SS442.1.2 ACCREDITATION STANDARDS
This procedure pertains to the following CALEA Standards: N/A
This p rocedure relates to the following General Orders: N/A
SS442.2 PROCEDURE
For an act to be considered vandalism, it has to be an intentional act. The damage also has to
be permanent. This does not mean that an officer would not take an incident report in reference
to damage or an incident, so if in doubt, send an officer to make the determination of whether or
not a report should be taken . Please note also that t he handling of graffiti cal ls differs from the
handling of other vandalism type calls because of the Trackin g and Automated Graffiti Reporting
System ( TAGRS ).
SS442.2.1 CALL TAKING
When taking a call regarding vandalism the following information should be obtained:
a) What is the address where this occurred?
b) What type of damage was done ?
c) Is there a t ime delay ?
d) If it just occurred, get a detailed suspect description and enter the call using the call type
“594”. Keep the caller on the line until officers arrive on scene.
e) Does t he caller know who caused the damage?
f) If it is a report only, enter the call using the call type “ 594R ” for property or “ 594VR ” if it is
damage to a vehicle.
g) If the caller is reporting graffiti, get a specific location of the graffiti. This is especiall y
important if it is in an apartment complex. For example: "AS" IN SIL SPRAY PAINT
ALONG BRICK WALL IFO COMPLEX - SE CORNER .
h) Also important for graffiti calls, is the reporting party going to stand by for contact? This
is an important factor for how the call is going to be dispatched.
SS442.2.2 DISPATCHING THE CALL
a) If this is in progress or just occurred, dispatch a minimum of two officers. One officer
should be sent to contact the calling party/victim to confirm there is a crime while the
other officer should be sent to check the area for the suspects.
CATEGORY DATE ADOPTED LAST REVIEW NEXT REVIEW
3 01/24/2011 06/01/201 9 12/01/20 20
TUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
SS442 - Call Taker Response to Vandalism Calls 2 b) Keep the caller on the line and update responding officers as more information becomes
available.
c) With the exception of graffiti, i f this is a report only call, dispatch a PSO . Dispatch an
officer if no PSO is available.
d) If this is a graffiti call that is in progress, or a calling party is requesting contact, an officer
should be dispatched to handle the call.
e) If this is a graffiti call, the reporting party is not requesting contact and no PSO is o n
duty, the call should be closed out using the dispo code “ COMP ”. The dispatcher should
print the call out and put it in the file tray in dispatch for a PSO to handle when they are
on duty.