General Orders: Table of Contents SECTION 1: COMMUNICATIONS Policy Name New Policy# Former Policy# Last Revision Common Language Radio Protocols 1-03 N-6 08/01/12 SECTION 2: TRAFFIC SAFETY Policy Name New Policy# Former Policy# Last Revision Collision Investigation 2-01 H-7 10/05/15 Towing Procedures & Traffic Service 2-03 H-13 02/01/11 Alcohol and Drug-Related Traffic Arrest Procedures 2-04 I-1 03/15/11 SECTION 3: PATROL PROCEDURES Policy Name New Policy# Former Policy# Last Revision Roll Call 3-01 D-1 09/01/16 Canine Unit 3-05 D-5 01/01/16 Bicycle Patrol Program 3-06 D-6 01/01/16 Victim Assistance 3-08 D-10 04/01/09 License Plate Reader Program 3-09 D-12 04/15/14 Crisis Intervention Team 3-10 D-13 11/21/14 Nasal Naloxone Program 3-13 Q-3 01/14/15 Pandemic Influenza Preparedness 3-14 Q-5 08/24/09 SECTION 4: TACTICAL OPERATIONS Policy Name New Policy# Former Policy# Last Revision Emergency Mobilization 4-06 R-2 02/15/06 Severe Weather 4-07 R-4 08/01/14 SECTION 5: CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS Policy Name New Policy# Former Policy# Last Revision Missing Persons Investigations 5-01 D-11 01/01/11 Pawn Shop Unit and Transaction 5-02 J-4 03/19/12 Eyewitness Identification Procedures 5-04 O-2 10/20/15 Search and Seizure Warrants 5-05 O-3 06/10/15 Informants 5-06 O-4 09/01/06 Receiving, Processing & Dissemination of Intelligence 5-07 O-5 09/15/08 Asset Seizure and Forfeiture 5-08 O-6 07/01/10 Domestic Violence Investigation 5-09 O-7 09/23/16 Identity Theft Investigations 5-10 O-8 09/22/16 SECTION 6: USE OF FORCE / WEAPONS Policy Name New Policy# Former Policy# Last Revision Use of Force 6-01 F-10 08/10/16 SECTION 7: DETENTION AND ARREST Policy Name New Policy# Former Policy# Last Revision Arrest Procedures 7-01 F-1, F-2, F-4, F-8, F-9 01/15/16 Searches of Persons 7-02 F-1 01/01/16 Arrestee Transport and Security Procedures 7-03 F-3 01/01/16 Impartial Enforcement Policy 7-08 F-12 01/01/16 Custodial Interrogation Guidelines 7-11 O-9 09/28/16 Central Booking Unit Procedures 7-12 N/A 01/01/16 SECTION 8: VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT Policy Name New Policy# Former Policy# Last Revision Departmental Traffic Collision 8-05 H-10 11/01/15 SECTION 9: ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE Policy Name New Policy# Former Policy# Last Revision Organizational Direction and Structure 9-02 B-1 01/01/16 SECTION 10: MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS Policy Name New Policy# Former Policy# Last Revision Departmental Directives System 10-01 A-1 01/01/16 SECTION 11: RESOURCE CONTROL Policy Name New Policy# Former Policy# Last Revision Building Security and Visitor Control 11-04 K-11 01/01/16 Firearms Return Policy 11-05 N/A 01/01/16 SECTION 12: COMMUNITY OUTREACH Policy Name New Policy# Former Policy# Last Revision Public Information and Media Relations 12-01 K-9 08/15/16 SECTION 13: CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM Policy Name New Policy# Former Policy# Last Revision Court Attendance and Procedures 13-01 K-1 01/01/16 SECTION 14: INFORMATION AND RECORDS Policy Name New Policy# Former Policy# Last Revision SECTION 15: PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS Policy Name New Policy# Former Policy# Last Revision Code of Conduct 15-01 C-2 09/26/16 Internal Investigation Process 15-02 C-3 01/01/16 Uniform and Grooming Standards 15-03 B-2, G-1, G-3 01/01/16 Substance Abuse Policy 15-06 K-16 09/28/16 Social Media Policy 15-07 K-18 09/28/16 SECTION 16: TRAINING Policy Name New Policy# Former Policy# Last Revision Field Training and Evaluation Program 16-02 P-2 01/01/16 SECTION 17: PERSONNEL FUNCTIONS Policy Name New Policy# Former Policy# Last Revision Secondary Employment 17-02 K-5 09/28/16 Uniformed Police Services Detail 17-04 K-14 09/28/16 Trade of Shift 17-05 K-15 10/01/09 Vacation Leave Approval Process 17-07 K-19 10/20/14 Applicant Selection Process 17-08 L-5 10/02/15 Communicable Disease Policy 17-09 Q-1 01/01/16 Performance Evaluations 17-10 N/A 02/01/16 WESTMINSTER POLICE DEPARTMENT General Order: 1-03 Order# 2012-01 Subject: COMMON LANGUAGE RADIO PROTOCOLS Effective Date: August 1, 2012 This General Order contains the following numbered sections: I. BACKGROUND II. PURPOSE III. RADIO PROCEDURES IV. CANCELLATION I. BACKGROUND In February 2006, the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Integration Center distributed a bulletin requiring that plain English be used for all multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional and multi-discipline events, such as major disasters and exercises. Beginning in the fiscal year that started on October 1, 2006, federal preparedness grant funding was contingent on the use of common terminology in incidents requiring assistance from responders from other agencies, jurisdictions and functional disciplines. II. PURPOSE This General Order establishes guidelines for the conversion of WPD radio communications from 10- codes to Common Language Protocols (plain English). III. RADIO PROCEDURES A. Effective August 1, 2012, the Westminster Police Department will abolish the use of the current 10-code system and utilize the Common Language Protocol. This change in protocol is a significant step toward ensuring efficient and effective communications during multi-jurisdictional events and emergency circumstances. B. Four Signals will be used to provide for officer safety and when disseminating sensitive information over the radio. These signals and their definitions are listed below: 1. Signal 1 – Mayday/Emergency. This will be used in place of 10-33 and/or Signal 13 (Officer Emergency). The issuer should include location with the transmission and any other pertinent information concerning the emergency. 2. Signal 2 – Backup Needed. This will indicate that the issuer needs assistance, there is no immediate life threat but the issuer does not want the subject to know backup has been requested. It will still be acceptable to simply request backup instead of using the signal. 3. Signal 3 – When used by unit, it indicates taking subject into custody and resistance is anticipated. When issued by a dispatcher this indicates that the unit should take the subject into custody and anticipate resistance. This will alert other law enforcement patrol units to the fact that you may need assistance but are not directly requesting it at the current time. 4. Signal 4 – ConfidentialCritical information to be relayed. This will be used to indicate that a possible hit has been received. It can be used by the dispatcher to alert the unit that information needs to be relayed to them that should not be heard by the subject. The unit should respond with current location and indicate whether or not the dispatcher can go ahead with the information. If the hit information includes a response from NCIC that indicates one of the terrorist codes – the dispatcher will still use those codes prior to transmitting the information: C. If “hit” information is received in a response from NCIC which indicates one of the terrorist codes, the dispatcher will continue to utilize these codes prior to transmitting the information over the radio: 1. NCIC Code 1 – APPROACH WITH CAUTION. Subject should be arrested immediately. Contact the Terrorist Screening Center immediately. 2. NCIC Code 2 – APPROACH WITH CAUTION. Subject may be associated with terrorism or terrorist activities. Subject may be detained for a reasonable amount of time and interviewed. Contact the Terrorist Screening Center immediately. 3. NCIC Code 3 – APPROACH WITH CAUTION. DO NOT ALERT THIS INDIVIDUAL OF THIS NOTICE. Do not arrest unless there is evidence of violations of federal, state or local statues. The Terrorist Screening Center can be contacted for additional guidance. Note – The Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center (MCAC) should be contacted for assistance when any of the aforementioned NCIC codes are used to detain individuals. D. Authorized Caution Codes will be utilized for broadcasting officer safety information and be used during police/violator contacts. This information is contained in the “HOT FILES” and “CRIMINAL HISTORY FILES”. 1. The Authorized Caution Codes are as follows: A – Armed H – Armed/Resists B – Dangerous I – Dangerous/Resists C – Mental J – Mental/Resists D – Armed/Mental K – Suicidal/Resists E – Suicidal L – Approach with Caution F – Armed Suicidal M – Assaults Police Officers G – Resists Arrest N – Drug User/Seller 2 2. The information given to support the use of a caution code should have some verifiable foundation from which it is offered. Materials contained in data base files such as CJIS or other supporting information (e.g. investigative reports or arrest records) may be used as justification for a caution code descriptor. 3. The caution code “N”, by itself, does not constitute probable cause or a reasonable articulable suspicion that the person is involved in criminal conduct. 4. These caution codes are the only codes authorized to disseminate officer safety information. 5. The dispatcher will only say “Caution Codes Not On File” when there is no history or propensity for violence in the criminal history. E. Standard Phonetic Alphabet – the following phonetic alphabet will be utilized when conducting radio communications: A – Alpha N – November B – Bravo O – Oscar C – Charlie P – Papa D – Delta Q – Quebec E – Echo R – Romeo F – Foxtrot S – Sierra G – Golf T – Tango H – Hotel U – Uniform I – India V – Victor J – Juliet W – Whiskey K – Kilo X – X-ray L – Lima Y – Yankee M – Mike Z - Zulu F.