Policy Text
POLICY
101.0COMMUNICATIONS/CALL PRIORITIZATION
REVISED: 11/2011 RELATED POLICIES:
Reviewed by Chief David Magnusson
4/2019
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A.PURPOSE:
B.USE OF RADIO
C.AUTHORITY OF THE POLICE DISPATCHER
D.PROCEDURES FOR CALL TAKERS
E.PROCEDURES FOR POLICE SUPERVISORS
F.PROCEDURES FOR POLICE OFFICERS
A.PURPOSE:
The El Portal Police Department is a full-service agency prepared to respond to any type
of emergency or call for service received from the community we serve 24 hours a day,
seven days a week. Since Communications is most often the first point of contact
between the Community and Department, the policies in this section govern how calls for
service are received, evaluated, prioritized and dispatched.
B.USE OF RADIO
Refer to the Operations Manual for the use of Department-issue radios. The Operations
Manual is part of the General Orders.
1.Talk group designations
a.Municipal
b.Teletype
c.Various tactical and specialized unit talk groups
2.Radio Codes: Use only Miami-Dade County Uniform Codes and Signals
and the International Phonetic Alphabet.
3.Response Codes:
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a.Code 1: Normal response; obey all traffic rules and regulations.
b.Code 2: Expedited response - officers will employ continuous use
of emergency lights and intermittent use of siren as needed. The siren will
be utilized in all cases when proceeding through a red or stop signal or
stop sign, except in those instances where the intersection is in close
proximity to an in-progress crime and would result in advanced warning to
criminals still on the scene.
c.Code 3: Any transmission proceeded by an alert tone where there
appears to be a danger of death or serious bodily harm may be run CODE
3. When running CODE 3, emergency lights and siren will be in
operation continuously from start to finish. Any deviation of normal
traffic laws should be made only in a safe manner, which allows for
maximum safety to all vehicles and pedestrians in the area.
For further information regarding emergency vehicle operation, see policy
306.2.
4.Vehicle and Pedestrian Stops
a.Vehicles: Give location, license number, license state, license
type, color of vehicle, make of vehicle, race/sex and number of occupants.
b.Pedestrians: Give location, reason for the stop, and a description
of the subject(s).
5.Back-up Calls:
All calls for back-up of another officer will be made routinely and safely. When
an officer calls for an emergency back-up it will be run CODE 3. If an officer
calls for a back-up and does not specify a code and cannot be re-contacted the
response will then be CODE 3.
C.PROCEDURES FOR POLICE SUPERVISORS
Police Supervisors are expected to be aware of activity within their area of responsibility.
Dispatchers will advise when calls are holding and no officers are available to handle.
Supervisors shall when requested:
1.Assist the Dispatcher in assigning units to respond to delayed calls.
2.In appropriate cases, personally respond to the incidents.
a.Whenever the El Portal Police Department is confronted with a
situation or event requiring enhanced control and coordination of
resources and personnel, a supervisor will respond and assume on-scene
command until the situation is resolved or he/she is relieved by a person of
higher rank.
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b.Circumstances requiring on-scene command by a patrol supervisor
or person of higher rank include, but are not limited to:
(1).Critical incidents such as hostage/barricaded subjects; large
disturbances; plane crashes; fatal accidents; environmental and
natural disasters.
(2).High-risk incidents such as the use of deadly force and pursuits.
(3).Any incident or situation which has the potential to affect the
sensitivities of the various constituents and groups comprising
the community. These incidents include, but are not limited to:
(a).Robbery
(b).Sexual Battery
(c).Aggravated Assault and Battery
(d).Other crimes against persons
(4).Incidents which attract unusual media attention.
(5).The injury of a Department Employee, which requires
immediate hospital care.
D.PROCEDURES FOR POLICE OFFICERS
All officers engaged in Patrol Operations shall have constant access to radio
communications. Officers are issued portable radios for two-way communication
between patrol vehicles, Communications and specialty units.
1.Officers performing patrol duties are required to contact Communications
in the following circumstances:
a.At the beginning of shift;
b.To acknowledge a call from a Dispatcher with call sign and
location;
c.Upon arrival at a call;
d.When changing or updating a location while on a call;
e.When a call is completed;
f.When making a traffic stop; and
g.When going out of service.
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2.Members in the field shall contact Communications via radio when
procuring external services to include:
a.Fire equipment;
b.Environmental and human services;
c.Fire Rescue/Ambulances;
d.Aircraft