Metropolitan Police Department Washington D.C.

Subject:

Calls for Police Service

Series    Number  Change

302       01

Effective Date

April 28, 1981

Revision Date

December 15, 1986

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The purpose of this order is to establish the policy and procedures for handling minor citizen complaints, vacant property Checks, and processing calls for police service. This order consists of the following parts:

 

PART I    Responsibilities and Procedures for Members of the Department

 

A.   General.

B.   Classifying and Processing Calls.

C.   Responding to Classified Radio Assignments.

D.   Special Attention Requests.

E.   Emergency Delivery of Blood/Donor Organs.

F.   Canceling Central Complaint Numbers and Unfounded Reports.

 

PART II   Responsibilities and Procedures for Special Assignment         Personnel

 

A.   Communications Division.

B.   Code 10-33 Assignments.

C.   Family Disputes.

D.   Delivery of Blood/Donor Organs.

 

PART III  Responsibilities and Procedures for

          Supervisory and Command Personnel

 

A.   Director, Communications Division.

B.   Commanding Officers

C.   Supervisory Personnel.

D.   Official in Charge, Field Inspections Unit.

 

Part I

 

A.   General.

     1.   All calls and requests for police service shall be             processed through the Communications Division where each      incident will be classified and assigned a central             complaint number.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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     2.   All requests for police assistance received by telephone      shall be documented in the Telephone Log Book by the               individual receiving same and then  to the Communications 

         Division for proper police action. In addition, all                    reports of offences and incidents brought to the

         attention of members of the force shall be processed the       Communications Division.

 

3.   The word “complaint" does not constitute a proper disposition but must be explained to specifically Indicate the action taken that would not re­quire a report. Mobile units receiving assignments from their stations or sources other than the dispatcher shall indicate the nature and location of the assignment to the dispatcher when requesting to be held Out of service. All administrative runs shall be approved by the Administrative Run Coordinator of each district. The duties of the Administrative Run Coordinator are outlined In Part III B 4 and Part III C 2 and 3 of this order.

 

B.   Classifying and Processing Calls.

 

     1.   when Information is received, whether by telephone or In      person, concerning an event which necessitates the             dispatch of a radio equipped mobile unit, the call shall      be processed in the following manner:

 

a.   Upon receipt of a request for police service, the member shall, If possible, determine the priority of the complaint. For example, when Information Is received concerning an al­leged shooting, It shall be ascertained whether the perpetra­tor is still on the scene, If he/she is armed, and the condi­tion of the victim. Other than the location of the Incident, these would be the most important facts to secure. Further Information should also be obtained if conditions permit.

b.  Members of the force are reminded that It remains a policy of this department to provide the appropriate law enforcement service in all cases that are, or may be, of a legitimate law enforcement nature, regardless of whether the citizen/com­plainant Identifies himself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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          c.   Members Interviewing a citizen under such circumstances shall attempt to obtain personal Information about the person (i.e., name, address,   and telephone number), but shall honor requests from citizens who wish to remain anonymous,

          d.   When sufficient Information concerning a request for      service has been obtained, the Officer originally      receiving the request shall, if not assigned to the      Communications Division, relay the necessary    information to that division.

          e.   Members receiving requests for police service Should      bear In mind that In those cases where doubt arises as to the char­acter of service to be rendered, Such   doubt shall be resolved in a presumption that an     emergency situation exists.

 

     2.   All radio assignments voiced over the air shall be             classified as either Code 1 or Code 2 by Communications        Division personnel according to the following guidelines:

 

          a.   Code 1 classification shall be given to those                  requests for police service which report a felony In               progress, a misde­meanor in progress mere the violator              Is armed, and all other requests alleging an                 Immediate threat to the safety of a per­son. The term             Code 1 shall be announced when the assign­ment is                Initially voiced. Examples of Code 1 calls are:

 

              (1)  Burglary in Progress.

 

(2)  Criminal Assault in Progress.

 

(3)  Robbery In Progress.

 

(4)  Man with a Gun.

 

(5)  Code 10-33 (Officer In Trouble), and

 

(6)  Any other assignment that is deemed Code I by   the dis­patcher.

 

          b.   shall be given those calls for police service which           do not pose an immediate threat to the safety of any               person. Examples of Code 2 calls are:

 

              (1)  Any call received as the result of a mechanical,                   elec­tric or recorded alarm.

              (2)  Fire Alarms.

 

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              (3)  Traffic Accidents.

              (4)  Theft II's

              (5)  Family Disputes (no weapons Involved).

 

C.   Responding to Classified Radio Assignments.

 

     1.   Members responding to calls for service assigned by the      Communica­tions Division dispatcher shall advise      the            dispatcher when they arrive on the scene by In                 emergency situations members shall use dis­cretion to               determine whether the seriousness of the Incident              outweighs the oppor­tunity to advise the dispatcher o’              their arrival on the scene.

 

     2.   units selected to respond to Code 1 assignments shall              be desig­nated as primary or secondary response units               by the dispatcher and Shall respond according to the             following procedures:

 

          a.   Primary units shall:

 

              (1)  Respond directly to the reported location                      of the call for service by the most direct                     route, using appropriate emergency warning                    devices to assist in a safe and swift                             response to the reported emergency.

 

              (2)  The first primary unit directed to respond                     shall use the wail position on the                             electronic siren selector. The second                         primary unit directed to respond shall     

                   use the yelp position on the siren                             selector.

 

          b.   Secondary units shall:

 

(1)         Respond to the area of the assignment at normal rates of speed, without using emergency warning devices, obser­ving all traffic regulations.

(2)         Establish a perimeter patrol at least Six blocks from the location of the assignment for the purpose o’ appre­hending escaping law violators and providing support for primary units in the event the incident escalates beyond their capability.

 

 

 

 

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     3.   No mobile unit shall respond as a primary or                   secondary unit unless approved by the Communications               Division. All department vehicles In the Immedi­ate             vicinity of a call for assistance shall notify the             Communications Division of their unit number and                   location when requesting the assignment and be                 governed by the instructions dispatched by the  

          Communications Division. It Shall be the                       responsibility of the first officer on the scene to 

          advise the Communications Divi­sion If additional                   assistance is needed or when no further assistance is              neces­sary.

 

     4.   Units selected to respond to Code 2 assignments shall              respond to the location of the call for service by            the most direct route, complying with the traffic             regulations of the District of Columbia, and shall             not use emergency warning devices. The term, "Code 2            shall not be announced.

 

D.   Special Attention Requests.

 

     1.   Requests for special attention.

 

          a.   A PD Form 658 (Report of Special Attention) shall be                prepared by any member who:

 

              (1) Observes or receives reports from citizens                     concerning a minor violation that requires                     attention (i.e., barking dogs, traffic                             complaints, etc.)

              (2)  Receives a request from an owner or agent for a                    vacant property Check

              (3)  Observes or receives information concerning any                    un Secured vacant property.

 

          b.   The PD Form 658 shall be indexed by regularly                  established scout car beats In a loose-leaf notebook               known as the Special Attention Log Book.

          C.   Upon resolution of the complaint or when the property               is re­occupied, the PD Form 658 shall be removed from               the Special Attention Log Book, filed alphabetically               by month in the Special Attention File and retained              In accordance with the department’s Records                      Disposition and Retention Schedule.

 

 

 

 

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General Order 302.01

 

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     2.        Follow—up Responsibilities.

          a.  The official preparing roll call shall check the                    Special Attention Log Book daily to determine:

 

               (1) Whether any new requests for special attention                 have been received.

               (2) Whether any member took any action in connection                   with a complaint or vacant property check, and

               (3) Assignments during roll call.

 

          b.   All observations and/or any police action taken shall               be re­corded on the PD Form 658 by the assigned                 officer prior to the expiration of his/her tour of            duty. Each entry shall be Initialed by the recording            officer.

          c.   Upon receiving a citizen’s complaint relating to a             minor vio­lation and executing a PD Form 658, the                   officer assigned to the beat shall check the area as               often as possible until the complaint is resolved.

          d.   Upon receiving a request from an owner or agent to             check va­cant property and executing a 

              PD Form 658, the officer as­signed to the beat shall            Check the property as often as possible, until it is               reoccupied.

          e.   Upon observing or receiving any information                         concerning any unsecured vacant property on his/her            beat, members shall:

              (1)  lake immediate steps to notify the owner or                        agent to secure the property.

              (2)  Execute a PD Form 658 indicating the time, date                    and name of the owner or agent notified to                     secure the property, and

               (3) Check the area as often as possible until the                  property is reoccupied.

 

          f.   Appropriate police action shall be taken in all cases               of van­dalism, depredation of fixtures, and theft from              vacant prop­erties.

          g.   Members shall maintain close supervision over all              junk yards. Whenever it can be ascertained that junk               yards are being Uti­lized for the disposal of the                   proceeds of thefts, appropriate police action shall           be taken.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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General Order 302.01

 

April 28, 1981

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E.   Emergency Delivery of Blood/Donor Organs.

 

     1.   Since provisions are normally available for emergency              deliveries of blood/donor organs, the services of the              Metropolitan Police Department shall not be required               unless the emergency is so critical that emergency warning         lights  siren are necessary.

 

     2.   Emergency Deliveries.

 

          a.   The Metropolitan Police Department shall assist in             emergency blood/donor organ deliveries outside of              Washington to the ex­tent that they shall deliver                   blood/donor organs to the Dis­trict of Columbia line           where It, shall be transferred to an individual                 designated by the Maryland or Virginia authori­ties.

          b.   The same procedure as set forth In Part 1E1 above              shall pre­vail, unless severe disaster has Occurred            and local and state police personnel are engaged at               the scene. In such in­stances, it shall be delivered             by Metropolitan Police Depart­ment personnel in the           metropolitan area by direct orders of the Chief of              Police or competent authority.

 

          c.   In an emergency situation, when it Is determined by            the offi­cial in charge of the Communications Division              that other facilities are not available for the                    transportation of blood donor organs, department                   vehicles arid personnel may be used.

 

F.   Canceling Central Complaint Numbers and Unfounded Reports.

 

     1.   A PD Form 252 (Supplement Report) must be prepared to              cancel a Central Complaint Number (CCN). The PD Form 252      canceling the central complaint number shall include the      following information:

 

          a.   If a situation occurs where two (2) central complaint               numbers are ‘issued for the same report, then the PD               Form 252 must bear the central complaint number (CCN)              that will be can­celled. The narrative of the PD Form               252 must indicate that the central complaint number            referred to is a duplicate num­ber. The central                 complaint number which actually reflects the PD Form               251 (Event Report) shall be indicated as such.

 

 

 

 

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          b.   If a unit Is credited with a ‘report due’ for a                     central com­plaint number, and the unit being held              accountable for the report can Show that a ‘No                Report’ disposition was given, PD Form 252 must be           prepared. The narrative of the PD Form 252 shall                   Indicate the circumstances and Identify the                       dispatcher that committed the error. The central                complaint num­ber shall then be cancelled.

 

     2.   when central complaint numbers are Issued by CAD (Computer         As­sisted Dispatching System) for a report, and It is               determined Immediately that the crime or incident did not          occur, the original PD Form 251 (Event Report) shall be        prepared and classified as ‘unfounded.’ A statement must      Indicate In the narrative of the PD Form 251 confirming       that the events described in the report, after a thorough           investigation, were found not to have occurred.

     3.   A PD Form 252 indicating that a report Is unfounded shall          only be accepted if the original PD Form 251 had been              previously submitted, or if the PD Form 251 accompanies       the PD Form 252. As indicated above, a statement shall be        included in the report indicating that after having             conducted an investigation, the events described in the      original report were found not to have occurred.

     4.   Under no circumstances will a PD Form 252 be processed as          an un­founded report without a PD Form 251 being submitted.

 

PART II

 

A.   Communications Division

 

     1.   Upon receiving a call for police service, dispatchers              shall:

          a.   Complete a Complaint Event Record format and enter it               into the CAD computer system.

          b.   Assign only one run to a unit at a time and hold that               unit out of service each time a run is assigned.

          c.   Enter into the CAD Terminal, the unit number and the                arrival time on the scene of those units responding           to calls for ser­vice assigned by the Communications              Division.

          d.   Enter a report or no report disposition Into the CAD                when a unit returns to service upon completion of an               assignment.

          e.   If a report is required, voice the central complaint                number assigned to the incident or offense.

              when no report is required, enter the appropriate no                report disposition as given by the assigned unit.

 

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          f.   If the CAD System is temporarily deactivated,                  complete a PD Farm 258-B (Radio Event Record).

 

     2.   Telephone Receipt Clerks shall complete a Complaint Event          Record format on all calls which require police service.

     3.   An Administrative Event Record format shall be completed      by the dispatcher to record administrative calls                 (assignments unrelated to an Incident or offense requiring        an Investigation and report). An example would be a call        for a unit to report to the Radio Shop or the Vehicle             Repair Shop.

 

     4.   If the CAD system is temporarily deactivated, the              Telephone Re­ceipt Clerk/Dispatcher shall complete a PD        Form 258—A (Administrative Event Re­cord) to record             administrative assignments. The following Information               shall be recorded on the PD Form 258-A:

 

          a.   Date and time received.

          b.   Date and time of dispatch.

          c.   Date and time unit returned to service.

 

     5.   The PD Form 258-A (Administrative Event Record) shall also         be used to record tag checks on the front of the card and          information relative to look­outs on the reverse side of       the card. The time and date received shall also be            Indicated on this card.

 

B.   Code 10-33 Assignments.

 

     1.   It is the responsibility of the Communications Division to         dis­patch two primary mobile units plus a supervisory               vehicle upon receipt of a Code 10-33 request. The              following priority shall be adhered to In dispatching              mobile units:

 

          a.   Marked four wheel units.

          b.   Motorcycle units.

          c.   Unmarked four wheel units.

 

     2.   In addition to primary units, the Communications Division          shall, when necessary, designate three secondary units to          respond. All secondary units shall remain on perimeter        patrol until the Communications Division advises that            additional assistance is required or cancels the                assignment. Upon cancellation of the Code 10-33 by the      Communications Division, all secondary units shall             immediately return to normal patrol assignments.

 

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C.   Family Disputes.

 

Upon receiving a call for police service at the scene of a reported or suspected family dispute situation, the dispatcher handling the call shall dis­patch a 10-4 unit or two 10-99 units to the scene. A 10-99 unit shall not be dis­patched to handle a reported or suspected family dispute without additional as­sistance.

 

D.   Delivery of Blood/Donor Organs.

     Upon receiving a call for delivery 0f blood/donor organ the      dispatcher shall:

 

     1.   Ascertain if It is an emergency or a non—emergency             situation.

 

     2.   If the situation Involves an emergency, contact the            official In charge of the Communications Division.

     3.   Ascertain the location where the blood/donor organ Is to      be delivered.

     4.   If the delivery is outside of the District of Columbia         boundaries, ascertain the time and place where the             Maryland or Virginia authorities will meet our vehicle.

5.              Complete a Complaint Event Record format and enter It into         the CAD Computer system, and

6.              Upon assigning a unit for delivery, voice the words ‘emergency, Code 1.’

 

PART III

 

A.   Director, Communications Division.

     The Director, or official then in charge of the Communications      Division shall:

     1.   Upon being notified of an emergency delivery for                   blood/donor organ, determine when department vehicles and          personnel may be used.

     2.   Ensure coordination between MPD mobile units and other         departments as appropriate.

 

B.   Commanding Officers shall:

 

     1.   Ensure that all requests for police assistance received by         tele­phone are documented by the individual receiving same          and phoned to the Commun­ications Division for proper               police action.

 

     2.   Ensure that all reports of offenses and incidents brought          to the attention of members of their command are processed         through the Communications Division.

 

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     3.   Be responsible for establishing and maintaining a Special          Atten­tion File of all citizen complaints (e.g., barking       dog, traffic complaint) and vacant property checks handled         by their organizational element.

 

     4.   Designate a captain to review the Administrative Run               Log Book and the PDCADO2 printout (Administrative Runs) on         a monthly basis to ensure that ex­cessive time spent out of      service on administrative runs is reduced and kept to a         minimum.

 

C.   Supervisory Personnel.

 

     1.   Supervisory Personnel shall:

 

          a.   Upon being notified of a Code 10-33 by the                     Communications Division, respond to the location with              the two designated primary units.

 

          b.   Respond as often as practicable to calls for police            service and ensure that proper police action is                    taken.

 

          c.   Use the Special Attention Log Book to make                     assignments during roll call and ensure that officers              are complying with their follow-up responsibilities.

 

          d.   Take appropriate action, when necessary, to ensure             compliance with the provisions of this order.

 

     2.   The Administrative Run Coordinator shall be of the rank of         ser­geant. Each district shall have two Administrative Run          Coordinators; one on the day tour of duty (Administrative          Sergeant) and one on the evening tour of duty (Duty            Sergeant).

    

     3.   The Administrative Run Coordinator shall be responsible        for:

          a.   Maintaining a log book of all administrative runs              assigned by him / her.

          b.   Evaluating each request to determine the nature of             the as­signment, resources available and need to place              a unit out of service to accomplish the assignment.

          c.   Determining if the daily mail run can accomplish the                task in a timely manner.

 

 

 

 

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General Order 302.01

 

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          d.   Assigning a unit to handle the administrative runs             with a view toward keeping out of service time to a            minimum. When assigning such runs, the Coordinator            should first look to the availability of limited duty            or administrative personnel; secondly, units already              in the station; thirdly, scooter units; fourthly, 10-          99 units; and finally, 10—4 units.

 

 

D.   Official In Charge. Field Inspections Unit.

 

The Official In Charge, Field Inspections Unit shall:

Be responsible for conducting periodic spot inspections to determine compliance with the provisions of this order.

                                   

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