Policy Text
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
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4.7 Patrol Operations: Vehicle Equipment and Uniform
4.7.18 Mobile Digital Computer Access (Issued: 2/12/21)
A. 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 databa ses,
and to ensure effective electronic communications between department members and the
ECC .
B. Privacy Expectation
Members forfeit any expectation of privacy with regard to messages accessed, transmitted,
received or reviewed on any department technolo gy system.
C. Policy
UCSF 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.
D. Restricted Access and Use
MDC use is subject to the Information Technology Use and Protected Information policies.
1. Members shall not access the MDC system if they have not received prior
authorization and the required training. Members shall immediately report
unauthorized acces s or use of the MDC by another member to their supervisors or
Shift Supervisors.
2. Use of the MDC system to access law enforcement databases or transmit messages
is restricted to official activities, business -related tasks and communications that
are dire ctly 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 his/her
supervisor.
3. Members shall not install software programs or other files. Any software
installation will require authorization from the Technical Services Division (TSD)
Director.
4. Members shall not manipulate or alter current department software running on the
MDC or vehicle -assigned mobile phones without authorization from the TSD
Director.
5. Sending derogatory, defamatory, obscene, disrespectful, sexually suggestive,
harassing or any other inappropriate messages on the MDC system is prohibited
and may result in disc ipline.
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
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6. A supervisor may independently review applicable transmission on any MDC. In
allegations of misconduct, a supervisor will review electronic transmission on the
MDC.
It is a violation of this policy to transmit a message or access a law enforce ment 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 of
or secure the MDC when it is unattended. This added security measure will minimize the
potential for unauthorized access or misuse.
E. 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, tact ical or
safety needs should be transmitted over the radio.
Short transmissions, such as a license plate check, while driving 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.
F. Documentation of Activity
Except as otherwise directed by the Shift Supervisor or other Department -established
protocol, all calls for service assigned by a dispatcher should be communicated by voice
over the police radio and electronically via the MDC unless security or confidentiality
prevents such broadcasting.
MDC and voice transmissions are used to document the member's daily activity.
To ensure accuracy:
1. All contacts or activity shall be documented at the time of the contact.
2. Whenever the activity or contact is initiated by voice, it should be document ed by
a dispatcher.
3. Whenever the activity or contact is not initiated by voice, the member shall
document it via the MDC.
G. Status Changes
All changes in status (e.g., arrival at scene, meal periods, in service) will be transmitted
over the police ra dio or through the MDC system.
Members responding to in -progress calls should advise changes in status over the radio to
assist other members responding to the same incident. Other changes in status can be made
on the MDC when the vehicle is not in motion .
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
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H. Emergency Activation
1. If there is an emergency activation and the member does not respond to a request
for confirmation of the need for emergency assistance or confirms the need,
available resources will be sent to assist in locating the member. I f the member’s
location is known, the nearest available officer should respond in accordance with
the Officer Response to Calls Policy.
2. Members should ensure a field supervisor and the Shift Supervisor are notified of
the incident without delay.
3. Officers not responding to the emergency shall refrain from transmitting on the
police radio until a no -further -assistance broadcast is made unless they are also
handling an emergency.
I. Equipment Considerations
1. Malfunctioning MDC
a. 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 ECC . It shall be the responsibility of the
dispatcher to document all information that w ill then be transmitted verbally
over the police radio.