Metropolitan Police Department Washington D.C.

Subject:

Procedures for Handling Robberies (other than Street Robberies)

Series    Number  Change

308       09

Effective Date

December 01, 1971

Revision Date

*

 

 

 

 

 

 

The purpose of this order is to establish the policy and procedures for handling armed robberies (other than street robberies). This order consists of the following parts:

 

Part I    Responsibilities and Procedures for Members of the                      Department

 

Part II   Responsibilities aid Procedures for Special                                 Assignment Personnel

 

Part III  Responsibilities and Procedures for Supervisory and                     Command Personnel

 

Part I

 

A.   Preliminary Lookout.

     The first mobile unit on the scene shall flash a preliminary      lookout, prior to the general broadcast. To expedite this lookout, it is only necessary to state the type of crime,   time and location      committed, general description of     persons vented (this description   shall not indicate the height and weight in feet, inches aid      pounds, but shall be given in general terms such as tall, medium,      short, small, or heavy) and direction of escape. Preliminary      lookouts shall state whether a vehicle was used, and if so, a      description of the vehicle, consisting of color, body type and tag      number if known.

 

B. Crime Scene.

 

     1.   Officers shall safeguard the scene of the crime and                     request all witnesses to remain at one location until the                   arrival of investigative personnel. If witnesses insist they               must leave, obtain their us, addresses, telephone numbers (home              and place of employment), and where they can be reached within             the next several hours. In protecting the crime scene, officers           shall take special care in protecting the door med by the                fleeing suspects for possible fingerprints.

 

     2.   Officers shall, as soon practicable, request the                            services of the Mobile crime unit.

 

Publication

 

Effective Date

Page Number

General Order 308.09

 

December 01, 1971

2 of 3

 

 

 

     3.   The responsibilities of paragraph (B1) and (B2) above shall be               performed by the officer(s) assigned to prepare the report prior         to the arrival of investigating personnel. Instant completion of      the report is not essential aid having the investigation                personnel present eliminates the needless repetition of                Questioning the witnesses.

 

     4.   Officers shall not remove complainants and witnesses from the           crime scene, unless it is necessary to send them to a hospital               for treatment or the official in command at the crime scene has           positive justification for transporting the complainant or                    witness to the scene of apprehension. When the suspects are           apprehended, they shall he re­turned to the crime scene.

 

     5.   All units cruising in the immediate area of an armed robbery           lookout shall record the registration number of all vehicles           observed that generally fit the description received on the             flash lookout and shall transfer this information by landline to           the office Of the Robbery Section, Criminal Investigations                  Division, prior to the expiration of their tour of duty.

 

C.   Arrests.

     When arrests are made for armed robbery, the arresting officers shall      transport the prisoners directly to the Robbery Section, Criminal      Investigations Division, where members of that section shall prepare      all necessary paper work for the presentation of the case in court.      Prisoners shall be booked, by telephone, on the Arrest look at the      arresting officers assigned organizational element.

 

Part II

 

A.   Robbery Section.

     The senior member of the Robbery Section, Criminal Investigations      Division, responding to the crime scene shall identify himself to the      ranking uniform official and assume command of all investigatory      matters at the scene.

 

B.   Coordinated Investigations.

     When investigator. from Federal agencies respond to robbery scenes,      the senior Robbery Section official shall identify himself and      coordinate the investigation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Publication

 

Effective Date

Page Number

General Order 308.09

 

December 01, 1971

3 of 3

 

 

 

Part III

 

A.   District Officials.

     District official shall respond to the crime scene aid immediately      establish a command post where he shall maintain constant radio      contact with the Communications Division. This official shall      identify himself over the air by name and cruiser number as the      command post official. Continued radio communications with this      command vehicle is most important to ensure that an. additional      information obtained, which may be helpful to the lookout, is      immediately flashed and inquiries may be resolved without delay. The      district official at the command post also shall inform the members      of the Robbery Section of all information obtained prior to their      arrival at the scene of the robbery.

 

 

JVW: rrj