Radio Communications Flashcards
A brief message transmitted via radio providing descriptions or other pertinent information on wanted persons, motor vehicles, or property taken in a specific crime
PRELIMINARY WANTED MESSAGE (QUICK FLASH)
A preliminary wanted message given to the City-wide 3 dispatcher, then forwarded to the appropriate radio zone for rebroadcast.
FORMAL WANTED MESSAGE
Wanted messages will be sent for all of the following EXCEPT:
a. criminal or quasi-criminal incidents when:
(1) a definitive description of a wanted person or vehicle is available, and
(2) there is a strong probability of apprehension of the offender(s).
b. noncriminal incidents when exigent circumstances exist, e.g., lost or missing children.
(3) Driver runs a stop sign
(4) Offender yells at you and calls you a pig
(3) Driver runs a stop sign
(4) Offender yells at you and calls you a pig
Involves any life-threatening circumstances which have the potential to compromise the safety and well-being of police, EMS, or fire units. Dispatchers will follow the procedures enumerated in Item III-B-2 of this directive and assign the closest available unit for all Priority 0 calls.
PRIORITY “0” (10 - 1) Police or Fire call for Emergency Assistance
A response to a call for service that:
a. involves an imminent threat to life, bodily injury, or major property damage/loss, or
b. is deemed necessary by Department guidelines. Dispatchers will assign primary and assist units to Priority 1 calls in the following order:
(1) rapid response unit or beat unit from the beat of occurrence,
(2) tactical unit,
(3) rapid response sergeant,
(4) sector sergeant,
(5) tactical sergeant,
(6) other field supervisor, and
(7) closest available unit.
PRIORITY “1” Immediate Dispatch
A response to a call for service:
a. in which timely police action which has the potential to affect the outcome of an incident, or
b. is deemed necessary by Department guidelines.
PRIOIRTY “2” Radio Dispatch
A response to a call for service that does not involve an
imminent threat to life, bodily injury, or major property damage/loss, and a reasonable delay in police action will not affect the outcome of the incident.
a. Priority 3 assignments may be delayed in dispatching:
(1) when compelling circumstances exist;
(2) during watch changes; and
(3) during assignment pending (backlog) situations when the number of calls for service exceeds the number of available field units.
NOTE: The dispatcher or call taker will inform the citizen that a
field unit will respond to the call for service as soon as
resources permit. These assignments will be dispatched
within a reasonable period of time.
b. To ensure beat integrity, dispatchers may:
(1) give a beat unit multiple Priority 3 assignments, but only when the beat unit is clear from its last assignment;
(2) hold Priority 3 assignments pending the return of beat units; and
(3) NOT give a Priority 3 assignment to a beat car off its assigned beat without the permission of that unit’s supervisor.
PRIORITY “3” Routine Dispatch
Used to process requests for service that:
a. the field unit initiates (e.g., beat community meeting, beat team meeting, problem solving, foot patrol, etc.). When initiating an administrative assignment, an officer will
provide the dispatcher with the specific reason for that assignment, (e.g., beat meeting).
b. the dispatcher generates for administrative purposes. The dispatcher will accurately enter the specific event code into the PCAD system for each administrative assignment.
NOTE: To ensure beat integrity, dispatchers will attempt to relegate
Priority 4 messenger assignments to the nearest available rapid
response unit.
PRIORITY “4” Administrative Dispatch
A response to a call for service that conforms to
Alternate Response Section strategies enumerated in the Department directive entitled “Alternate Response Section Case Reporting Policy” and does not otherwise require the dispatch of a field unit.
C. If the beat unit is unavailable and is not expected to return within a reasonable time period, the:
1. beat unit will advise his or her sector sergeant of any anticipated
extended period of unavailability.
2. sector sergeant, after consulting with the rapid response sergeant, will
designate a rapid response unit, incident car, squadrol, or other district
field unit to cover the beat and inform the dispatcher of the change of
assignment.
NOTE: Before designating a field unit not under the sector sergeant’s direct
supervision, the sector sergeant will first confer with the unit’s
supervising sergeant.
D. The dispatcher will contact the field supervisor for guidance when a radio assignment backlog exists.
E. If a rapid response unit is on a nonemergency assignment and another nonemergency call for service
is received at or near its location, dispatchers may assign the call to that unit.
F. To the extent possible, officers will receive single assignments on their beats/sectors. However, when operational needs dictate, an officer may be given:
1. multiple assignments.
2. an assignment outside the unit's assigned beat, sector, or district.
G. A police officer will not refuse any radio assignment. If an officer refuses a radio assignment, the dispatcher will notify the officer’s supervisor who will take appropriate action.
H. Any changes in the priority protocol enumerated in Item IV-B are subject to the approval of the Chief,
PRIORITY “5” ALTERNATE RESPONSE
