20-06 Harassment and Stalking

Harassment and Stalking Procedures

• Definition of harassment: engaging in an act with the purpose to cause emotional distress to another person, without good cause, and causing emotional distress.
• Definition of stalking: a course of conduct directed at a specific person that serves no legitimate purpose, causing a reasonable person to be frightened, intimidated, or emotionally distressed.

General Information

• Three (3) or more texts, calls, or messages must be received to establish a history or pattern of harassment or stalking.
• Members should note if the victim answered the texts, calls, or messages back in what could be considered an "aggressive manner".
• When threats are involved, members should document if a suspect has ever acted on a threat in the past.

Reporting Procedures

• When completing a report, contact the appropriate investigative element, from the scene, to determine if an arrest will be made at that time.
• Harassment or stalking that is sexual in nature will be handled by the Sex Crimes Section, all others will be handled by the Domestic Violence Section.
• Critical information to include in the narrative:
  • Dates, times, locations of incidents, and direct quotes.
  • Relationship of the victim to the suspect (if any).
  • The investigative element and name of person notified.

Evidence Recovery

• Recover any evidence pertinent to the offense (e.g., copies of emails, letters, notes, voice mail recordings, or text messages).
• Members may use Department issued cameras to take photographs of the messages.

Stalking Procedures

• When a member receives information on a stalking offense, the member should verify if there is a valid order of protection.
• If a valid order of protection is established, the member should follow the guidelines in the current written directive entitled, "Orders of Protection".
• In the absence of an order of protection, the member should complete the appropriate report in the Automated Reporting System (ARS).
• Describe the means of attack as "following, prowling, threatening, and/or harassing".
• Complete a Request for Report Reproduction, Form 19 P.D., and leave it with the victim.

This quiz is about the Kansas City Police Department's procedural instruction on harassment and stalking, including orders of protection and relevant laws.