441 Communications (V9)

Question 1

If a problem arises with a dispatch call, what is an officer supposed to do?

Answer 1

5. Any apparent problem associated with a call dispatched via voice radio or CAD should be
   reported by the officer to his supervisor after responding to the call.

Question 2

If a recording is needed right away for arrest or aid, what needs to be done?

Answer 2

8. Radio transmissions on all zone radio talk groups assigned to JSO and telephone lines within
   the Communications Center are electronically recorded. JSO has the capability of immediate
   playback of recorded telephone and radio conversations. [CALEA 81.2.7]
   b. If a recording is needed right away to affect an arrest or aid in the investigation, the
   PECO supervisor shall be contacted.

Question 3

All members who are assigned a permanent call sign shall ensure they update the “Call Number” field in EIS with their permanent call sign within ____________ hours of being assigned one. Members with only temporary call signs shall leave this field blank.
A. Time Frame

Answer 3

b. All members who are assigned a permanent call sign shall ensure they update the “Call Number” field in EIS with their permanent call sign within 24 hours of being assigned one. Members with only temporary call signs shall leave this field blank.

Question 4

Who must be contacted to obtain a permanent call sign?

Answer 4

c. Sheriff’s Staff, Police Lieutenants, and Police Sergeants: Permanent call signs are assigned to all Sheriff’s Staff, police lieutenants, and police sergeants by the Assistant Chief of Communications for the duration specified below. When a new call sign is needed due to a change in Sheriff’s Staff position or promotion, members shall contact the Communications Section to request their new permanent call sign.

Question 5

(2) Police lieutenants – ________ through _______, (held until the member changes rank).
(3) Police sergeants – ________ through ________, (held until the member changes rank).

Answer 5

(2) Police lieutenants – 100 through 199, (held until the member changes rank).
(3) Police sergeants – 500 through 789, (held until the member changes rank).

Question 6

In Patrol Division, who assigns an officer’s call sign for the day?

Answer 6

d. Patrol Division: Temporary call signs are assigned to members of the Patrol Division by
members’ watch commanders, based upon their assignment for the day. [CALEA 41.1.1]

Question 7

Who assigns the PIC their call sign?

Answer 7

(a) Patrol Officer in Charge (PIC) – The letter corresponding with the PIC’s primary
sector of responsibility, followed by a three digit number (790 through 799), as selected by the watch commander (e.g., K794); and

Question 8

_____________________ for each unit shall assign each of their police and corrections members a permanent call sign within the assigned series for the duration of the member’s assignment to that unit.
A. Rank

Answer 8

f. Other Units: All units outside of the Patrol Division and Department of Corrections are
assigned permanent call sign series by the Assistant Chief of Communications. Commanding officers for each unit shall assign each of their police and corrections members a permanent call sign within the assigned series for the duration of the member’s assignment to that unit.

Question 9

Ancillary Assignments: When working in an ancillary assignment (e.g., SWAT, Dive, crisis
Negotiations, Hazardous Devices, Special Events), members shall use the call sign corresponding with that assignment, as assigned by the ________________________ responsible for that unit or operation, while working in that ancillary capacity.

A. Rank

Answer 9

g. Ancillary Assignments: When working in an ancillary assignment (e.g., SWAT, Dive, crisis
Negotiations, Hazardous Devices, Special Events), members shall use the call sign corresponding with that assignment, as assigned by the commanding officer responsible for that unit or operation, while working in that ancillary capacity.

Question 10

Specialized units in need of accessories beyond the Radio Shop’s normal issuance must obtain approval from the ______________________ prior to placing accessories into service.

Answer 10

10. Radio Procedures
    a. Portable radios are issued to individuals via the City of Jacksonville’s Radio Shop. No unauthorized accessories, to include after-market batteries and antennas, which may affect radio functionality shall be attached to issued radios. Specialized units in need of accessories beyond the Radio Shop’s normal issuance must obtain approval from the Radio Shop prior to placing accessories into service.

Question 11

Lengthy messages (more than _________________) and messages of a confidential nature shall be relayed over the telephone or by zone car-to-car talk groups unless it is an emergency. Telephone calls to the Zone PECO shall be made through the PECO supervisor at (904) 630-0554.
A. Time Frame

Answer 11

d. Lengthy messages (more than 20 seconds) and messages of a confidential nature shall be relayed over the telephone or by zone car-to-car talk groups unless it is an emergency. Telephone calls to the Zone PECO shall be made through the PECO
supervisor at (904) 630-0554.

Question 12

Who has the ability and power to request a situation be moved?
1.
2.

Answer 12

d. In any situation requiring (10-33) traffic only, radio traffic for that situation may be transferred off the zone talk group by the PECO per the PECO Supervisor or at the request of a supervisor. Whenever possible, Tactical Channel One (TACT ONE -A 16) shall be the talk group used for the situation.

Question 13

Who is responsible for updating the premise information when the hazard is no longer applicable?
1.
2.

Answer 13

14. Police Hazards
    c. Any hazard can be recorded as premise information on an address by anyone who has
    access to a CAD or by calling the PECO Supervisor. Premise information must be specific and include an expiration date, if possible. The reporting officer or supervisor is responsible for updating the premise information when the hazard is no longer applicable.

Question 14

Code Blue Alpha when included by Dispatch refers to what?

Answer 14

(2) If the possibility for contamination is by an airborne pathogen (i.e., tuberculosis,
meningitis, etc.), the PECO shall put in the comments field “CODE BLUE ALPHA.” The
PECO shall announce the signal of the call and “CODE BLUE ALPHA” when the call is
dispatched.

Question 15

Code Blue Bravo when included by Dispatch refers to what?

Answer 15

(3) If the possibility for contamination is by a blood-borne pathogen (i.e., HIV, hepatitis,
etc.) the PECO shall put in the comments field “CODE BLUE BRAVO.” When the call is dispatched, the PECO shall announce the signal of the call and “CODE BLUE BRAVO.”

Question 16

Officers will advise arrival via CAD except for what priority calls?
A. Priority Level

Answer 16

2. Officers shall:
   c. Advise the PECO by CAD upon arrival at the scene, except for Priority 1 and Priority 2
   calls, which require that voice radio be used;

Question 17

What priority calls can an officer self-dispatch to?
A. Priority Level

Answer 17

d. The self-dispatch feature within CAD has been made available to officers for Priority 1
and Priority 2 calls only. This will allow officers to join a call without having to use
valuable radio time to state they are en route.

Question 18

Anytime an officer will be out-of-service for more than _______________________ (10-7, 10-19, 10-59,
etc.), a supervisor’s approval is required, except meal breaks (10-84).
A. Time Frame

Answer 18

6. Out of Service
   c. Anytime an officer will be out-of-service for more than 10 minutes (10-7, 10-19, 10-59,
   etc.), a supervisor’s approval is required, except meal breaks (10-84).

Question 19

What are the meal break restrictions for when a meal break can be taken?

Answer 19

h. Officers are prohibited from being in a meal break status during any portion of the first
or last hour of their shifts. Supervisors are expected to place more restrictions if workload is heavy. Meal break limitations (number of officers out of service, uniformed officers at one establishment, or across zone lines) shall be governed by the watch commander or higher authority.

Question 20

Who sets the meal break restrictions for number of officers out of service, uniformed officers at one establishment, or across zone lines?
A. Rank

Answer 20

h. Officers are prohibited from being in a meal break status during any portion of the first
or last hour of their shifts. Supervisors are expected to place more restrictions if workload is heavy. Meal break limitations (number of officers out of service, uniformed officers at one establishment, or across zone lines) shall be governed by the watch commander or higher authority.

Question 21

Requests for historical location information can be made by who and with who’s approval?
A. Rank

Answer 21

b. The CAD system has the ability to sync with the officer’s portable radio and CAD client in
order to give the officer’s location. This information is available in real time to the
communications center personnel and any other officer who is logged onto CAD. Requests for historical location information can be made by supervisory personnel. The request requires the approval of the requester’s immediate supervisor or higher. The request shall include:

Question 22

Who’s responsibility is it to ensure officers are following the CAD procedures correctly?
A. Rank

Answer 22

d. It is the supervisor’s responsibility to ensure subordinates follow the procedures for
using the CAD correctly.

Question 23

What is the procedure if CAD messages being sent are not professional in nature?
A. Policy

Answer 23

e. All messages sent via CAD shall be work-related and professional in tone.
(1) Any message received by the PECO not meeting this standard shall be reported to
the PECO supervisor.
(2) The PECO supervisor shall forward this information to the officer’s supervisor.
(3) All sent messages and other transactions are recorded by the CAD system.

Question 24

Which priority call means the risk of injury, potential violence, or crime had occurred within the last 15 minutes?
A. Priority Level

Answer 24

c. Priority 3 – Immediate: This priority shall be used for those calls where an officer is to
proceed without delay in accordance with traffic laws.
These types of calls include crimes/incidents with risk of personal Injury or potential
violence, or crimes occurring within the last 15 minutes.

Question 25

When should an officer notify a supervisor as it pertains to a 49 at a hospital?
A. Reason

Answer 25

5. Incidents reported at a hospital (Signal 49) shall be dispatched using the original location of
   the incident and a sub-sector officer for the original location shall report to the hospital to
   handle the call. Officers shall notify a supervisor if a Signal 49 call is received for an out-ofcounty hospital to determine if the call shall be handled by phone, based on the seriousness of the offense.

Question 26

All other incidents when a caller is not at the location where an incident originally occurred,
the call shall be initiated to the current location of the caller. The sub-sector officer for the caller’s current location shall be dispatched. The assigned officer for the current location of the caller shall render assistance and make a report if needed. If the case requires additional patrol follow-up, what will the original officer do?
A. Procedures

Answer 26

8. All other incidents when a caller is not at the location where an incident originally occurred,
   the call shall be initiated to the current location of the caller. The sub-sector officer for the caller’s current location shall be dispatched. The assigned officer for the current location of the caller shall render assistance and make a report if needed. If the case requires additional patrol follow-up at the original location, a supervisor from the caller’s current location shall contact a supervisor for the area where the original incident occurred. [CALEA 81.2.4]

Question 27

What needs to happen if an officer responds to a call for service requiring a non-English translator?
A. Procedure

Answer 27

H. Translation Services – Foreign Languages [CFA 25.12]
1. Discussion
a. If an officer has responded to a call for service requiring a non-English translator, the officer should contact his supervisor to obtain permission to utilize a language line service. Officers may request the assistance of officers who can fluently speak and write the specific language prior to calling the interpreter service.