14-01 - Cellular Phone Use Flashcards
Usage of privately owned cellular phones while on duty.
Personnel are permitted to carry their personal cellular phone with them, while on duty provided that the right has not been limited or revoked by their captain/supervisor or a chief officer, and such use is in compliance with the policy.
Silent or vibrate mode.
Personal phones carried while on duty shall be placed in and shall remain on, a silent or vibrate mode that does not emit an audible ring, tone or sound. The use of personal phones, while on duty that cannot be placed in silent or vibrate mode, are prohibited.
Personnel shall limit their use of personal cell phones to ensure that such use does not interfere with their duties. For that reason, phones shall not be used for personal use while…
- responding to, operating at, or returning from incidents.
- during drills, training, or meetings
- while on inspections, in parades, or at civic events
- at such other times as directed by their captains/supervisor or a chief officer.
Officers shall have the discretion to limit personal cellular phone usage by personnel under their command when….
….appropriate, including when such usage is not in accordance with these procedures.
Operational Communications
Personnel should refrain from using cell phones to record or relay incident related info. where such information may be important to the safety of other personnel responding to or operating at the incident. Such safety related information should be communicated to all personnel either through the Comm OP. Except in an emergency, where necessary as a part of a strategic plan, or when other official department communication methods are unavailable, personnel shall not use a cellular phone to by-pass official means of communication.
Operating a Department Vehicle.
Except in an emergency, when other official means of communication not available, personnel shall not operate a department vehicle while using a cell hone, unless the vehicle is equipped for hands free cellular operation. When faced with an emergency where the use of a cellular phone is required in a vehicle without hands free, calls should be made from a stationary position whenever possible. text messaging, emailing or otherwise handling a cell phone while operating a moving vehicle is strictly prohibited.
Public use of cell phone while on duty.
Personnel shall be discreet in their use of a cellular phone.
Emergency Notifications
Personnel are prohibited from contacting the family of a firefighter killed or injured in the line of duty via means to inform them of the casualty. The purpose of this requirement is to permit the department to make an appropriate face-to-face notification and arrange for the emergency transportation of family members as may be necessary. The IC may authorize a deviation from this regulation as circumstances warrant.
Production of cellular telephone records.
Employees who carry cellular phones during work hours, shall provide telephone usage records during administrative investigations, whenever requested.
