Law Enforcement Officer Safety

Officer Safety and Survival

• Officers must regularly check and maintain their equipment, including firearms, intermediate weapons, ballistic vests, flashlights, electronic devices, and handcuffs, to ensure they are in good working order.
• Vehicles should be equipped with spotlights, takedown lights, a public address (PA) system, emergency lights, and sirens, and regularly checked to ensure they are functioning properly.
• Electronic devices should be kept charged, and officers should be trained in their use to prevent serious injury or death.
• Officers should be physically fit to handle the demands of dangerous situations, with a regular exercise and wellness program an essential part of their fitness for duty.
• Adequate sleep is essential to perform duties well.

Observing Danger and Signs of Criminal Activity

• Officers should be aware of their surroundings and observe potential danger signs, including non-verbal cues, body language, and hand placement of individuals.
• When interacting with individuals, officers should pay attention to verbal and non-verbal cues to identify potential threats.

Patrolling and Reporting

• Officers should record accurate and detailed information in arrest reports, including correct spelling of suspects' names and laws violated.
• Information should be entered into the FCIC/NCIC system, following agency policies and procedures, and only accessible to authorized law enforcement personnel.

FCIC/NCIC Access and Restrictions

• Officers must complete a CJIS certification training course and pass a certification exam to access FCIC/NCIC.
• Users must agree to a state and national fingerprint-based background check within 30 days of starting their job or being assigned to an FCIC terminal.
• Computers with CJIS access must have physical security to prevent unauthorized access.

Self-Initiated Action During Patrol

• When taking self-initiated action during patrol, officers should provide dispatch with necessary information, including identification, location, type of situation, assistance needed, and descriptions of involved people or vehicles.

Responding to a Call

• Officers should respond to a call by determining the safest route to the scene, considering traffic, time of day, school zones, and congested areas.
• Officers should collect as much information as possible about the call, including the type of incident, location, and complainant's name and relationship to the location.
• Officers should identify potential threats at the scene, including weapons, hazards, and other factors.

Mediating a Civil Disturbance

• Officers should separate, identify, and interview all people involved to obtain information related to the incident.
• Officers should verify whether a crime has been committed and determine if any injunctions or warrants exist.
• If the disturbance is civil in nature, officers should provide information and resources to help resolve the conflict.

Civil Standby

• Officers may be called to maintain the peace through officer presence while serving a court order or responding to a call for service.
• Civil standbys may involve situations such as the execution of a writ of replevin, a child custody exchange, or a pretrial release order.
• Officers should remain impartial and use conflict management skills to prevent escalation of the situation.