Charles County Sheriff's Office Administrative and Operational Manual PDF 2023

OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, CHARLES COUNTY, MD Administrative and Operational Manual September 22, 2023 Instructor. The Chief Firearms Instructor will check the form and contact the applicant. The applicant will be informed of any problems with the form and will be required to correct them. The applicant...

OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, CHARLES COUNTY, MD Administrative and Operational Manual September 22, 2023 Instructor. The Chief Firearms Instructor will check the form and contact the applicant. The applicant will be informed of any problems with the form and will be required to correct them. The applicant will be told the date and location to report for qualification and the number of rounds of ammunition to bring to the range for qualification. If the Chief Firearms Instructor wishes to check the firearms and ammunition prior to the applicant reporting to the range, such arrangements will be made during this contact. The shaded areas on the form are to be completed by the firearms instructor. The witness at the bottom of the form may be any Agency employee who witnesses the completion of the form by the applicant. The completed form will be sent to Records Management Section for filing for a period of four years. Records Section personnel will answer any inquiries from other law enforcement agencies during that period, and supply any information from the form. 3-850.6 COLLECTION OF QUALIFICATION FEES Firearms instructors will determine and collect the fee from the applicant prior to the beginning of a qualification session. The applicant will be given a receipt using the receipt book designated for this purpose. These fees, along with the original of the receipt, will be submitted to Deputy Director, Accounting Section by the end of the next business day following the qualification session. CHAPTER 4 – AGENCY OPERATIONS 4-100 COMMUNICATIONS SECTION The basic function of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office Communications Section is to receive, screen, and prioritize calls for service and subsequently dispatch the appropriate response units in an efficient and coordinated manner. The Communications Section shall be staffed and operated on a twenty-four hour basis to provide continuous twoway communications and support services to all CCSO officers. Radio communications, whether voice, wireless data, or a combination of voice and data, is the primary method used by the Communications Section to relay information. Officers are issued a portable radio equipped with an automatic identification system that identifies the unit number to Communications. This radio shall be carried at all times while on duty. Charles County Public Safety has the ability to conduct interoperable communications with all surrounding jurisdictions, between police, fire, marine, federal agencies, and jurisdictions in Virginia, either by switching talk groups (radio channels) or with the assistance of a Communications Officer “patch with another agency. These communications also include encrypted talk groups with other agencies. All Agency radio operations will be conducted in accordance with Federal Communications Commission procedures and requirements. FCC regulations prohibit radio misuse such as profane language, inappropriate transmissions, intentionally "covering" other units, etc. Misuse of the radio is a serious and potentially dangerous breach of safety protocol and will not be tolerated. Idle conversation not related to police operations is prohibited, as it may interfere with operational transmissions and compromise officer safety. Supervisors are responsible for identifying individuals misusing the radio, and those found to be in violation would be subject to disciplinary action. The Communications building is a secured facility and only authorized personnel on official business are permitted to enter. Visitors to the facility must log in and be escorted. 540 OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, CHARLES COUNTY, MD Administrative and Operational Manual September 22, 2023 4-100.1 DEFINITIONS Code 1 calls - Members responding to non-emergency calls will respond immediately while observing all traffic laws. Code 2 calls - These calls involve potentially life-threatening situations. Members responding Code 2 shall use lights and siren, and should turn on the vehicle’s headlights. Members shall also comply with the provisions of the Transportation Article (TR § 21-106), for Emergency Vehicles. A minimum of two units will be dispatched on Code 2 calls. 4-101 COMMUNICATIONS PROCEDURES Communication procedures for specific situations are covered throughout the AOM. Procedures outlined in this section are to be followed for most circumstances. Emergency Calls - All “911" lines are to be answered by saying “Charles County 911.” “911" lines are for emergency calls only. The County’s “911" call taker is responsible for answering this line. If he is busy or on another line, the “911" line is to be answered by the following personnel in order:    Fire / EMS Supervisor; Fire / EMS Dispatcher; CCSO Police Communications. Every attempt shall be made to obtain the following minimum Information:     exact location (a mailing address is not sufficient); nature of call; name of person calling and the name of their residence; and call back number. A caller’s refusal to identify himself will not preclude an attempt to assist the individual nor inhibit a response by an officer to a call for service. Dependent upon the nature of the call, additional information should be obtained if appropriate:    suspect identity and/or description; extent of injuries; whether or not weapons were involved and what type. The common “911" caller may be highly distraught; some may be hysterical. The call taker should professionally, but firmly, take control of the conversation, obtain the necessary information, and advise the caller assistance is being dispatched. CCSO Non-Emergency Lines - It shall be the responsibility of police station technicians at each district station to answer these lines. If they are unable to answer, these lines are to be answered by the police station technicians at the District I Station. If it becomes necessary to leave the telephones unattended and no one is immediately available to monitor them, police station technician personnel at the District I Station will be notified of their absence. The call takers shall obtain as much information as possible when receiving a call for service. The amount of information required will depend on the nature of the call and the status of the requesting party. Particular attention must be committed to issues that involve the safety of officers who may be dispatched on the call. The call taker 541 OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, CHARLES COUNTY, MD Administrative and Operational Manual September 22, 2023 uses the CAD system to record the following minimum information:    Name and address of the complainant, if possible; Type of incident (call type) being reported; Location of incident being reported. After sending the call information to the PCO via the CAD, the call taker should stay on the line with the caller, if needed, to obtain additional information to pass along to the PCO. PCO Communications Procedures - Upon receiving information, the Police Communications Officer (PCO) uses that information from the CAD system to dispatch the call. The CAD system automatically records the following entered information:         Call for Service Number (CFS); Received Date and Time for the Call for Service; Identification of units assigned as primary and backup units; If there is a closer unit to the call, he shall give his location and may be reassigned as backup. The time the unit(s) was dispatched; The time of the unit's arrival; The time the unit returned to service. Disposition of dispatched incident as reported by the responding officer. When dispatching an emergency call:  the PCO will activate an emergency tone, notifying units of the forthcoming emergency message;  the PCO will then announce the sector, brief description of the situation, location, assigned units, and assign it as Code 2.  units will then acknowledge the call and advise where they are responding from. Additional units committing to the call will advise Communications of their location and their intentions concerning the call;  the PCO will provide any other additional information such as look out details.  if any other agency with units in the area of the incident acknowledges the call, Communications will advise if they are needed. The PCO will attempt to notify the field supervisor of any calls of which they may need to be aware, or which may need the response of a supervisor. Dispatching of non-emergency calls – Code 1 calls, absent exigent circumstances, will be dispatched as quickly as possible. To save on radio airtime, silent dispatch through the MDT for non-priority calls and all Animal Control calls will be used whenever possible. Additional information concerning the call may be provided by the MDT.  The complainant will be notified, whenever possible, by a PST, PCO III, or PCS if there will be a delay in officer response to the call; and  Decisions on unit assignment shall be the responsibility of the PCO; however, the street supervisor holds the ultimate authority over assignment decisions. Police Communications Supervisors (PCS) Procedures – Police Communications Supervisors shall monitor the radio system. They shall seek additional information for calls for service as needed or as requested. Nothing in 542 OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, CHARLES COUNTY, MD Administrative and Operational Manual September 22, 2023 this policy should prevent a PCS from seeking more information by telephone and consulting with the assigned officer(s) or a police supervisor about changing a call’s status, or the number of officers assigned, etc. This is especially true for calls for assistance from the Detention Center. Officers Communication Procedures - officers will be identified during radio transmissions by their assigned designator code and identification number. When going 10-8 officers shall announce their assignment for the day by sector and beat. Example: Adam 700, 10-8 in 1 Adam 2. Officer radio transmissions will be made briefly and concisely using:     Radio 10-Code; Phonetic alphabet (when necessary); Appropriate military time; Radio Completion Codes. Radio messages are to be acknowledged promptly and officers should obtain necessary information (complainant's address, description of suspects, etc.) prior to acknowledging receipt of the message. This will save airtime and avoid redundancy in dispatching. When contacting Communications by radio, officers will call using their full unit designation and wait for acknowledgement before continuing with a message to ensure dispatch is prepared to document information. Officers will advise the PCO when:      They switch from their primary radio frequency to another district's primary radio frequency (patrol officers only); They receive a report of a crime or incident in need of police attention; They arrive at the scene of a call for service; They are out of service for any reason; and They have returned to service. Officers, when clearing a call, will be as brief as possible and refrain from using slang, unprofessional language, and unnecessary chatter. The police radio system allows unit-to-unit communication between field units. Because any unit utilizing this system is effectively off the air for purposes of monitoring or receiving other radio traffic during that time, this feature should be used judiciously. Police Supervisors Communications Procedures – Prior to field units beginning their shift, the unit rosters will be logged into a CAD terminal by a police supervisor or a designee. Supervisors should monitor the radio as much as possible. Supervisors may delay or cancel an assignment, change a response code, or reassign units under their command. Calls for service that have been delayed by a supervisor must be reassigned by him. In doing so, the supervisor assumes responsibility for the decision. If a supervisor feels the need for more information, he will contact the PCS by telephone. 4-101.1 DESIGNATOR CODES - AGENCY PERSONNEL ID numbers will be continuously and sequentially assigned as new officers are employed. ID numbers vacated due to officers terminating employment will not be reassigned to employees; however, they may be assigned to a spare vehicle. CCSO personnel are assigned designators based on their current assignment within the Agency. These designators will assist in quickly identifying an officer’s assignment within the Agency. They are utilized as a prefix 543 OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, CHARLES COUNTY, MD Administrative and Operational Manual September 22, 2023 to personnel’s assigned identification number: Commissioned Officers CAR Traffic Operations Unit TRAFFIC OPS Sector Supervisors PAUL Canine Officers K-9 Patrol Corporal ADAM PAUL Cadets JOHN Patrol Beat Officers ADAM Correctional Officers CHARLES OCEAN Narcotics / Vice VICTOR Motorcycle Units MOTOR Criminal Investigations ID School Resource Officers ROBERT Training TOM Crime Prevention Community Policing DAVID Special Services Officers SAM Neighborhood Enforcement Team Civil Process Servers NET CPS The Patrol District designations are: District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4 La Plata Indian Head Waldorf (East) Waldorf (West) 3-842.3 ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES IN RABID ANIMAL CASES In all situations involving rabid animals or animals that exhibit the symptoms of being rabid, the officer will:  make an extra effort to locate the animal if the animal is not present when the officer arrives on the scene; and  detour citizens from the area to prevent them from coming into contact with the animal; and  make every effort to contain the animal if the officer can do so safely without placing himself or anyone else in a position to receive a bite or come in contact with the animal; and  ensure that the animal does not escape or in any way endanger the officer or the community; and  notify the Animal Control Service and remain on the scene until the Animal Control Services personnel arrive; and  notify the Environmental Health Division. The police officer’s role is crucial to prevent the spread of rabies, and it is mandatory that officers be responsive to prevent the disease from infecting the human population. 4-101.2 DESIGNATOR CODES - NON- AGENCY PERSONNEL La Plata Police Department Animal Control Fire Marshal Natural Resources Police Maryland Dept. Transportation Police Federal Bureau of Investigation La Plata Animal Control / ACO Frank Mary Nora Robert MDTA FBI 544 OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, CHARLES COUNTY, MD Administrative and Operational Manual September 22, 2023 MSP-Barrack Identifier College of Southern Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center Charles County Government H/L +# CSM 1 or 2 (emergency only) CRMC CCG 1610 Examples: “Frank-Mary-1168" - Fire Marshal #1168 calling Communications. “La Plata-505" - La Plata Police Officer #505 calling Communications. 4-101.3 JOINT OPERATIONS During joint traffic operations with another agency such as MSP or the Maryland Transportation Police, the CCSO officer(s) assigned to assist should remain on CSSO channel until preliminary requests are completed, the scene is stabilized, and the other agency arrives on the scene. Officers may then switch over and operate on the other agency’s channel. For an incident being handled primarily by the CCSO with assistance from another agency, communications should be handled through our channels. For all other joint operations such as warrant services and operations involving EST, the CCSO supervisor / commander shall determine whether to stay on our own channel or to switch to the other agency’s channel. Communications will be notified either way. For all multi-jurisdictional operations, all radio communications will be conducted using plain English. In order to maintain brevity and professionalism on the radio, the Agency will be using the definitions already established on the current 10-code list. For example, under the new system, instead of using 10-46, the user would state, “Assist Motorist”. 4-101.4 MOVING TO A TACTICAL TALK GROUP For prolonged incidents requiring uninterrupted communications, operations will be moved from the primary dispatch talk groups to a designated tactical talk group. This movement provides the freedom to manage the special circumstance, uninterrupted, for as long as necessary; and effectively allows for normal law enforcement activities to continue. Such a move will be preceded by a short alert tone and the announcement by the PCO of the movement to a specified tactical talk group. PCOs will make every effort to monitor the activities of the special circumstances operating on a tactical talk group. At times, the staffing within the Communications center may not support dedicating a PCO to the tactical talk group. In such event, on-scene officers will be notified that the tactical talk group will not be monitored. 4-101.5 RADIO USAGE-TALK GROUP ASSIGNMENTS The primary dispatch talk groups for daily law enforcement activities for the Charles County Sheriff’s Office and Mutual Aid Agencies operating within Charles County will be assigned:  “D1” for Districts One and Two  “D3” for Districts Three and Four All personnel operating on the Charles County Sheriff’s Office home zone will monitor the primary dispatch talk group for the geographical district they are physically in. In the event an alternate talk group is required to facilitate uninterrupted communication to resolve an incident: 545 OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, CHARLES COUNTY, MD Administrative and Operational Manual September 22, 2023   “STAC1” shall be reserved for units operating within the “D1” talk group, and “STAC2” for units operating within the “D3” talk group. All planned special operations or car-to-car communications that do not fall into daily law enforcement activities, will request through the PCO to use “STAC3”, “STAC4” or the appropriate “SECOPS” talk groups to facilitate their communications needs without interruption to the primary dispatch talk group or their operation. To accomplish the most efficient use of the tactical talk group, the on-scene officers will utilize the Incident Command System, by designating an Incident Commander. Usually the Incident Commander is the first arriving officer on the scene or the highest ranking officer. This officer will notify communications he is in command. If an on-scene Incident Commander is not identified, the PCO shall request that someone be named. The Incident Command system as contained in the Agency All Hazards Plan will be followed. The Incident Commander will provide direction and assign resources on the scene to manage the special circumstance. Unless delegating someone to act as communication officer, the Incident Commander is the direct point of contact between the scene and the Communications Section to provide updates on the progress of the incident or request additional resources to be dispatched. The Incident Commander may be replaced by a higher authority at that person’s discretion. When this occurs, Communications will be immediately notified. Once the special circumstance no longer requires a dedicated tactical talk group, the Incident Commander will notify Communications that the Incident Command is terminated. Communications will sound a short alert tone notifying involved officers to return to their assigned primary dispatch talk group and acknowledge their return to service. 4-101.6 10-3 STOP TRANSMISSIONS A 10-3 should be used when there is an immediate officer safety need to suspend all radio transmissions on the primary dispatch talk group. The 10-3 should be initiated by the officer, shift supervisor, or shift commander. If this does not occur only in exigent circumstances, the PCO will initiate a 10-3. During a 10-3, all officers shall cease normal activities, remain on the talk group, and listen for a call for help or other urgent transmissions, usually from a lone unit on the scene. For this reason, the 10-3 should be used only for the shortest period necessary to ensure the scene is safe. Every effort should be made to place a primary dispatch talk group in service as soon as practical. Once scene safety is secured, incidents that require prolonged uninterrupted communications shall be transferred to the appropriate tactical talk group for the affected district. When a 10-3 is placed in effect by an officer or PCO, the PCO controlling the affected talk group will sound a short alert tone and announce the 10-3. The PCO will monitor the talk group for transmissions from the on-scene unit(s). If no transmissions are received within the first minute, the PCO will request the status of the unit. The 10 -3 will remain in effect until such time as the on-scene units or supervisor place the talk group in service. Once the talk group is placed in service, the PCO will sound a short alert tone and announce the 10-3 has been lifted. 4-101.7 OFFICER IN DISTRESS (SIGNAL 13) When a Signal 13 is received on any talk group, the PCO will immediately place a 10-3 on the channel and direct units to assist with the incident as appropriate, based on the information received during the distress call. If the distress signal is received due to an officer activating their radio’s emergency call button, users on that talk group will immediately cease all communications, allowing the officer to provide additional information. If the officer does not contact Communications to supply additional information in a timely manner, or the PCO cannot determine the nature of the emergency by the officer’s original transmission, the PCO will check on the officer’s status. The PCO will provide updates and instructions to other officers on the talk group as appropriate. 4-101.8 PHONETIC ALPHABET 546 547 OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, CHARLES COUNTY, MD Administrative and Operational Manual September 22, 2023 To standardize radio transmissions in the spelling of words, the below terms shall be used in conjunction with their corresponding letters of the alphabet: A B C D E ADAM BAKER CHARLES DAVID EDWARD 4-101.9 F G H I J FRANK GEORGE HENRY IDA JOHN KING LINCOLN MARY NORA OCEAN P Q R S T PAUL QUEEN ROBERT SAM TOM U V W X Y UNION VICTOR WILLIAM X-RAY YOUNG M Z MARY ZEBRA RADIO CODE LIST 10-1 C Caution 10-1 -- Unable copy-change location 10-2 C Signal good 10-3 C Stop transmitting 10-4 C Acknowledgment (OK) 10-5 C Relay 10-6 C Busy C unless urgent 10-7 C Out of service 10-8 C In service 10-9 C Repeat 10-10C Fight in progress 10-11C Dog case 10-12C Stand by (stop) 10-13C Weather C road report 10-14 CProwler report 10-15 CCivil disturbance 10-16 CDomestic problem 10-17 CMeet complainant 10-18 CComplete Assign Quickly 10-19 CReturn to....... 10-20 CLocation 10-21 CCall.......... by telephone 10-22 CDisregard 10-23 CArrived at scene 10-24 CAssignment completed 4-101.10 K L M N O 10-25 C Report in person (meet)....... 10-26 C Detaining subject, expedite 10-27 C Drivers license information 10-28 C Vehicle registration information 10-29 C Check for wanted 10-30 C Unnecessary use of radio 10-31 C Crime in progress 10-32 C Man with gun 10-33 C EMERGENCY 10-34 C Riot 10-35 C B&E in progress at............ 10-36 C Correct time 10-37 C Investigate suspicious vehicle 10-38 C Stopping suspicious vehicle 10-39 C Urgent C use light, siren 10-40 C Silent run C no light, siren 10-41 C Beginning tour of duty 10-42 C Ending tour of duty 10-43 --- Information 10-44 C Permission to leave...... for...... 10-45 C Animal carcass at......... 10-46 C Assist motorist 10-47 C Emergency road repair at..... 10-48 C Traffic standard repair at 10-49 C Traffic light out at....... 10-50 C Accident (F, PI, PD) 10-51 C Wrecker needed 10-52 C Ambulance needed 10-53 C Road blocked at....... 10-54 C Livestock on highway 10-55 C Intoxicated driver 10-56 C Intoxicated pedestrian 10-57 C Hit and run (F, PI, PD) 10-58 C Direct traffic 10-59 C Convoy or escort 10-60 C Squad in vicinity 10-61 C Personnel in area 10-62 C Reply to message 10-63 C Prepare make written copy 10-64 C Message for local delivery 10-65 C Net message assignment 10-66 C Message cancellation 10-67 C Clear for net message 10-68 C Dispatch information 10-69 C Message received 10-70 C Fire alarm 10-71 C Advise nature of fire 10-72 C Report progress on fire 10-73 C Smoke report 10-74 C Negative 10-75 C in contact with....... 10-76 C En route....... 10-77 C ETA (Estimated Time arrival) 10-78 C Need Assistance 10-79 C Notify Coroner 10-80 C Pursuit in progress 10-81 C Breath test operator report 10-82 C Reckless driving 10-83 C Work school xing at....... 10-84 C If meeting..... advise ETA 10-85 C Delayed at....... 10-86 C Officer/operator on duty 10-87 C Pickup/distribute checks 10-88 C Present telephone # of......... 10-89 C Bomb threat 10-90 C Bank alarm at....... 10-91 C Pick up prisoner/subject 10-92 C Improperly parked vehicle 10-93 C Blockade 10-94 C Drag racing 10-95 C Prisoner/subject in custody 10-96 C Mental subject 10-97 C Check (test) signal 10-98 C Prison/jail break 10-99 C Wanted/stolen indicated CLEARING CALLS- DISPOSITION Whenever a dispatched unit clears a call, a clear and concise disposition shall be given. The PCO will enter that disposition on the call sheet. Should more information be required, the officers will use the MDT to enter notes. Officers should ensure that notes match the given disposition. If a report is to be written, Communications will advise the officer of the assigned incident number for the report. All calls will be cleared with a disposition for the call sheet. 4-101.11 RADIO COMPLETION CODES Situation Completion Codes Report Completion Codes Person Completion Codes Vehicle Completion Codes Unfounded UTL (Unable to Locate) GOA (Gone on Arrival) 2 GOA SOW (Sent on Way) Fled on Foot Handled by MSP Handled by Other Agency False Call Settled No One Home Civil Matter Checked OK Assisted Unable to Gain Entry Entry Gained Assignment Completed (10-24) Information Obtained Music Turned Down No Report Report JOR (Juvenile Offense Report) Dom. Violence, Notice Given Dom. Violence, Notice/Report Supplement FIR (Field Information Report) Dom. Violence, Notice/Report/10-95 Property Recovered Use of Force Report Deer Tag Issued 10-95 10-95 With Report Emergency Commitment Voluntary Commitment Warrant Advised Warrant Executed/Served Civil Citation Alcohol Citation Summons Served Missing Person Located Citation Warning Citation/Warning ERO (Equipment Repair Order) Citation/ERO Warning/ERO Entry Gained/Waiver Unable to Gain Entry Information Exchanged Vehicle Tagged Vehicle Removed/Towed Vehicle Removed/Seized No Damage/No Report OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, CHARLES COUNTY, MD Administrative and Operational Manual September 22, 2023 Notification Made Unable to Serve No Police Services Needed 4-101.12 FALSE ALARM AND BUILDING COMPLETION CODES Accidental Alarm – This type of incident will occur when the alarm company cancels the alarm before officers arrive at the location. False Alarm - This response is to be used by officers who arrive on the scene of an alarm. If homeowner is on scene, and advises accidental, it is a false alarm. If residence is checked and no signs of entry are observed, it is a false alarm. Hold-up alarms at T/A’s that are accidental are false. Malfunctioning Alarm - This response is used when an officer arrives on the scene and speaks with someone on the scene. That person must advise that there is a problem in the alarm system. Building Checked Secure - This type of response is only to be used when an officer finds an open door or window and the subsequent search reveals no indication of crime. 4-101.13 REPORTING DISTRICTS The reporting districts will be as follows: 01 02 03 04 03 03 01 01 La Plata Indian Head Waldorf (East) Waldorf (West) Calvert County (mutual aid) Prince George’s County (mutual aid) Virginia (mutual aid) St. Mary’s County (mutual aid) 4-101.14 COVERAGE AREAS The Coverage Areas for Charles County will be as follows: EXAMPLE: 01A1 01 District 1 A Sector A 1 Beat 1 4-102 CHARLES COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES The jurisdiction of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office is Charles County, Maryland. This County is bounded on the North by Prince George’s County, Maryland, and on the East by Calvert and St. Mary’s County, Maryland. On the West by the water lines of the Potomac River and the Virginia Counties of Fairfax, Stafford, and Prince William. On the South by the Potomac water line of King George and Westmoreland Counties, Virginia. These boundaries are displayed graphically in the ADC of Alexandria, Inc. maps available from the Agency Quartermaster. 4-103 AGENCY TELEPHONE USAGE This section of policy applies to the use of Agency land-line and wireless devices. Agency issued or personal, onor off-duty, or while operating an Agency Vehicle. For the purposes of this policy, the term “wireless device” will 548 OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, CHARLES COUNTY, MD Administrative and Operational Manual September 22, 2023 include cell phones and all other devices issued or authorized by the Agency and shall include any communication device other that the Agency radio system or Mobile Data Terminal. 4-103.1 USE OF AGENCY LAND-LINE PHONES A businesslike salutation will be made when answering telephones:   All employees will identify themselves when answering telephones. Accepted salutation shall consist of:     the Agency name, “Charles County Sheriff’s Office”; the division / section, or the location; rank if sworn, or title if non-sworn; alternately, civilian personnel may use their first and last names when answering. Long-distance calls will not be made on an Agency-owned device when a less expensive procedure would suffice (e.g., mail, email, fax). When it is necessary to make a personal long-distance call, the Agency’s system may be used, provided the telephone operator is contacted and the call is charged against the employee’s home phone number. All personal phone calls received should be as brief as possible. Generally, personal phone calls should not be made from Agency telephones. Personal phone calls received should be brief. Prisoners, witnesses, suspects, etc., may use Agency phones for local calls, at the discretion of the custodial officer. 4-103.2 RESTRICTED USED OF CELL PHONES/WIRELESS DEVICES When an employee is issued a cellular phone or other wireless device, they will be provided with the guidelines and limitations for its use. Employees should read and follow all directions provided within the owner’s manual regarding the safe use of the wireless device. Many employees are provided with wireless devices for the purpose of conducting Agency business. Use of these devices may incur additional air-time and access charges. Employees should determine which is most economical and efficient when deciding whether to use a wireless or land-line phone. Employees issued Agency wireless devices may be responsible for additional costs associated with unauthorized use of the device, such as personal messaging or exceeding the allotted time limits, picture texting, roaming charges, etc. Once the employee has been presented with an invoice for overages due on their Agency-issued wireless device, the employee will pay the invoice by the date due. If the payment is not submitted within one week after the due date, both the employee and his commander will be notified of pending service suspension. If payment has not been made by the second week after the due date, service will be suspended until the Accounting Section has received and processed the payment. The employee will be responsible for any reactivation fees incurred. Any roaming charges incurred using the Mobile Data Terminal or cell phone will be billed on a case-by-case basis. Payments must be made by check or money order payable to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO). Electronic messages sent or received by Agency issued devices are considered property of the Sheriff’s Office and are subject to monitoring or interception by the Agency. There will be no expectation of privacy concerning these messages when using an Agency-issued device. 549 OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, CHARLES COUNTY, MD Administrative and Operational Manual September 22, 2023 Employees using cellular telephones / devices while driving a motor vehicle are obligated to follow the rules and regulations of the State of Maryland or any other federal, state, county or municipal law which imposes cell phone or wireless device use restrictions. Under the Maryland Transportation Article, law enforcement personnel are exempted from restrictions on the use of handheld telephones when acting within the scope of official duties. Agency policy is that in all other circumstances, any employee using a handheld phone while operating an Agency owned vehicle, on- or off-duty, shall use a hands-free device or pull of the roadway in a safe location. Sworn officers acting within the scope of their official duties may use a handheld phone without a hands-free device or pulling off the roadway only when doing so does not pose an unreasonable risk to the safety of the officer and others. Additionally, texting while operating an Agency/ personal vehicle is prohibited. According to Maryland Transportation § 21-1124.1 (b), an individual may not use a text messaging device to write, send, or read a text message or an electronic message while operating a motor vehicle in the travel portion of the roadway The Agency shall not be responsible to the employee or any other party, either for payment of fines for a violation of a state’s wireless device law, or claims arising out of a motor vehicle crash, which has been determined to be caused by a violation of the law. Employees will not use any hands-free devices that are worn, such as Bluetooth earpieces, headsets, microphones, etc. At no time shall a cell phone or wireless device be used during a priority response or a pursuit. 4-103.3 911 LINES “911" lines are to be answered by saying “Charles County 911.” “911" lines are for emergency calls only. If the call is not an emergency, the caller should be referred to the agency which can provide assistance. If possible, the agency’s telephone number should be provided. The “911" call taker is responsible for answering this line. If he is busy or on another line, the “911" line is to be answered by the following personnel in order:    Fire / EMS Supervisor; Fire / EMS Dispatcher; CCSO Police Communications. (This line should be answered on the first ring.) Minimum Information Needed:     exact location (remember, a mailing address is not sufficient); nature of call; name of person calling and the name of their residence; and call back number. Dependent upon the nature of the call, additional information should be obtained if appropriate:    suspect identity and/or description; extent of injuries; whether or not weapons were involved and what type. The majority of “911" callers will be highly distraught; some may be hysterical. The call taker should professionally, but firmly take control of the conversation, obtain the necessary information and advise the caller assistance is 550 OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, CHARLES COUNTY, MD Administrative and Operational Manual September 22, 2023 being dispatched. 4-103.3.1 CCSO NON-EMERGENCY LINES - DISTRICT STATIONS It shall be the responsibility of front desk personnel to answer these lines. If they are unable to answer, these lines are to be answered by Police Communications personnel at the La Plata District Station. Employees assigned as call takers at the Indian Head and Waldorf District Stations will be responsible for answering the CCSO non-emergency lines at those locations. If it becomes necessary to leave the telephones unattended for a short period of time, and no one is immediately available to monitor them, front desk personnel at the La Plata District Station will be notified of the call taker’s absence. Whether answering non-emergency or “911" lines, employees will attempt to obtain sufficient information to facilitate an appropriate response. A caller’s refusal to identify himself will not preclude an attempt to assist the individual nor inhibit a response by an officer to a call for service. 4-103.3.2 DIRECT LINES Listed below are the direct auto-dial lines located at the La Plata District Station and personnel, in order of responsibility, who answer them:          4-104 MSP: Communications Personnel - Front Desk Personnel; DETENTION CENTER: Front Desk Personnel - Communications Personnel; WORK RELEASE CENTER: Front Desk Personnel- Communications Personnel; INDIAN HEAD DISTRICT STATION: Front Desk Personnel - Communications Personnel; WALDORF DISTRICT STATION: Front Desk Personnel - Communications Personnel; COURTHOUSE ELEVATOR: Front Desk Personnel - Communications Personnel; HOSPITAL: Communications Personnel - Front Desk Personnel; STATE AND COUNTY ROADS: Communications Personnel - Front Desk Personnel; SOUTHERN MARYLAND ELECTRIC: Communications Personnel - Front Desk Personnel. FACSIMILE UNIT (FAX MACHINE) The Office of the Sheriff currently has fax machines at several locations within the Agency. For purposes of this Agency, the fax machine will be utilized for low-volume transmittals needed immediately, inclusive of incoming transmittals. Regular mail shall be used in lieu of the fax machine when copy is not needed immediately. Document preparation - All documents, reports, transmittals, etc., to be sent shall be clearly marked COPY in bold across the face. Telecopy cover letter - A telecopy cover letter shall be prepared by the requestor / operator, and preface the transmittal. Authorized users - Employees assigned to the component of the Agency where the fax machine is located, and who are authorized by their respective commanders to do so, may operate the fax machines. Authorized transmittals - Personnel requesting transmittals shall review the Agency AOM, Chapter 3, Sections 200 through 208 and 210 through 221, to ensure information, reports, etc., transmitted are not subject to confidentiality. 551 OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, CHARLES COUNTY, MD Administrative and Operational Manual September 22, 2023 Responsibility to ensure the transmittal is not of a confidential nature shall be that of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office requestor and not the fax machine user. Associated outside Agency transmittal - From time to time associated outside agencies, e.g., State’s Attorney’s Office, will request a message to be sent via Agency fax machine. Any such requests will be satisfied in accordance with this policy and for legitimate law enforcement purposes only. Restricted use of fax machines - Agency fax machines are for official use. Use of Agency fax machines for commercial or personal business transactions is prohibited. Failure to comply with any part of this policy may result in disciplinary action. 4-105 INCIDENT COMMAND AND COMMUNICATIONS VEHICLE (ICCV) The following sections establish procedures for the deployment and maintenance of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office Incident Command and Communications Vehicle (ICCV). The ICCV will be stored at a secure site established for this purpose. Communications Section will maintain a knowledge of the current storage location of this vehicle. The vehicle shall be available for use on a call-out basis, twenty-four hours a day. Command responsibility for the ICCV is assigned to the Commander, Communications Section. The Commander shall maintain an SOP within the Communications SOP Manual as necessary to comply with the requirements of this section or to clarify any issues involving the maintenance or use of the ICCV. Any personnel assigned duties associated with the ICCV will be provided a copy of this SOP by the Commander, Communications. All such employees shall become familiar with the SOP. 4-105.1 ICCV DEPLOYMENT The ICCV is used as a mobile staging / communications facility for the Charles County Sheriff’s Office and the Charles County Department of Emergency Services (DES). The ICCV serves as a tertiary (or backup) Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for 911 Communications. The ICCV allows Agency personnel the flexibility to rapidly deploy a command, staging and communications facility to a variety of specialized situations including:          parades, fairs and other special events; civil disturbances; barricade / hostage incidents; search and rescue operations; major crime scenes; natural and man-made disasters; warrant sweeps; Fire and EMS incidents; and any other unusual occurrence. Critical incidents or unusual occurrences will take precedence over all other assignments, unless the ICCV is active as the tertiary PSAP for 911 Communications. Any CCSO Commander or DES/ Fire/ EMS Chief may request the ICCV be deployed for an unusual occurrence. However, absent exigent circumstances, a command level officer must authorize the deployment. When deployed, the Incident Commander will be responsible for designating a safe location for the ICCV to be set up. Only approved CCSO or DES drivers will operate the ICCV any time it is deployed. ICCV drivers will receive training in the operation of all equipment contained in, or carried on the ICCV. Charles County Sheriff’s Office and DES 552 OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, CHARLES COUNTY, MD Administrative and Operational Manual September 22, 2023 Communications will maintain a list of all approved drivers to be used in call outs. The ICCV will not be utilized for any type of routine patrol activities, pursuits or traffic stops. The Commander, Communications, Chief/ Assistant Chief of DES Communications or if he is unavailable, the command officer in charge of the scene, will arrange for a relief driver if a continuous use is anticipated to, or in fact, exceed 10 hours. 4-105.2 REQUESTS FOR DEPLOYMENT BY OTHER AGENCIES The ICCV, upon approval of the Sheriff or, in exigent circumstances, of a command level officer, shall be made available to other governmental agencies for unusual occurrences. Other governmental agencies can include, but are not limited to:       the Charles County Department of Emergency Services (per 3-160 MOU); the Charles County Fire and Rescue Incident Commander or the County Chief of Fire / Rescue Communications; the Maryland State Police; the Town of La Plata Police; other public safety agencies within the County; and other public safety agencies in surrounding jurisdictions. 4-105.3 ICCV CARE AND MAINTENANCE The Commander, Communications Section, Chief / Assistant Chief of DES Communications or their or his designee is responsible for scheduled maintenance and service of the vehicle. The individual responsible will conduct monthly vehicle inspections, a monthly inventory, and will monthly test all equipment assigned to the ICCV. He shall complete, or cause to be completed, the Monthly Personnel & Vehicle Inspection Form #75 for the ICCV, each month. In addition, when not deployed during any two-week time period, the Commander or DES Communications will cause the vehicle to be operated for at least 20 minutes and cause the conduct of a routine check of its equipment for operational readiness. In addition to completion of the monthly vehicle inspection sheets, a log will be maintained in the ICCV to record all inspections, inventories and maintenance. Before and after each deployment, the designated driver will thoroughly inspect the ICCV inside and out for operational readiness, cleanliness and damages. The designated driver will be responsible for ensuring that the ICCV is properly set up and will assist other personnel in the proper use of the equipment. After each deployment, the designated driver will ensure that the ICCV is fully fueled and returned in a clean orderly condition with all equipment intact and ready for use. 4-106 REVERSE 911 - CITIZENS NOTIFICATION SYSTEM Reverse 911 is a system used to call the home phones of the citizens of Charles County with important public safety information. The system utilizes multiple phone lines configured to manage the calling of numerous telephones in the most efficient way possible. Currently the Agency has four locations where a Reverse 911 request can be processed. They are:     Communications (EOC); Agency ICCV; Commander, Communications Section (issued laptop); and Communications Coordinator (issued laptop). Reverse 911 can be used for a wide range of notifications; however, to utilize the Verizon database associated with 553 OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, CHARLES COUNTY, MD Administrative and Operational Manual September 22, 2023 Reverse 911 there must be a defined public safety element. The Commander, Communications Section is responsible for the management and updating of the system. These responsibilities include the:        development of administrative telephone databases; updating of the Verizon telephone database (weekly updates); and development of the internal system information, to include the: data list; geographical zones; reporting information; and configuration specifications. 4-106.1 PROCEDURES FOR INITIATING A REVERSE 911 SESSION Since the Reverse 911 is a tool used to assist in the quick dissemination of important and credible information to the public, use of the Reverse 911 system must be approved by a supervisor. All requests must come from someone with supervisory authority. The request should include the following information:     a reason for the use of Reverse 911; the message to be disseminated with a return call number if needed; a location / area to receive the message call; and the time frame the calls should be made. The above information shall be sent via email to [email protected]. The information will then be reviewed by Media Relations and edited for dissemination. Once the session has ended, a report will be generated and sent to the requester for their file. The system is currently designed to call about 1000 telephone lines per hour. The system will make calls between the hours of 0830 to 2000. If a different time frame is needed, this will be listed in the requester’s email. 4-106.2 TIME CRITICAL SESSIONS Reverse 911 sessions that require a rapid initiation will be routed directly to a representative with the ability to create a session. The requester will simply state in the email to [email protected] that the session is time sensitive based on the information being sent out and the nature of the underlying event. When a time sensitive request is made, the session and session message may be created without going through Media Relations. In order that a confirmation of the receipt of these time critical notifications be received, a follow-up call will be made to the on-duty Communications supervisor. The Communications supervisor will see that the time critical session is initiated. 4-107 AGENCY NOTIFICATION SERVICE The Agency has developed a notification service that allows police station technicians and Police Communications Officers to send out notifications and/or alerts to the entire Agency via the CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch). These notifications / alerts can be received through the Agency email or by text message to a cell phone upon request. Employees are automatically entered into a specific page group (Entire Agency, Sworn, Corrections), and any employee wishing to change the method by which they are notified should contact the Commander, Communications Section. These notifications / alerts would be used only for emergencies or short notices, such as total radio system failure, Agency Operational Status, road hazards (ice / construction) and bridge closures for employees traveling to and 554 OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, CHARLES COUNTY, MD Administrative and Operational Manual September 22, 2023 from work. All requests for notifications will be sent out by police station technicians and PCOs as directed by the Commander, Communications Section. The notification service is administered and maintained by the Communications Commander or his designee. 4-109 SILENT ALARM RESPONSE 4-109.1 OFFICER RESPONSE Until determined otherwise, all commercial holdup alarms will be treated as if the suspect(s) are still on the scene and a crime is in progress. The actions of all officers involved will be geared to the safety of all persons involved and the prevention of a hostage situation. A minimum of two officers will be dispatched and respond to the call. Officers will incorporate varying response tactics based on:    distance from the location; traffic; and tactical / covert avenues of approach. The first officer to arrive on the scene will assume scene command and direct additional responding officers to take tactical positioning or rove the area. This officer will also determine the need for the use of an alternate talk group (tactical channel) for Communications. Each officer arriving on the scene will advise the officer in charge of their location relevant to the scene through Communications. Plain clothes officers will advise a brief description of their clothing. Once the scene is secured, Communications will direct an employee of the business or a resident to meet with officers on the scene. The employee or resident will confirm with the officer either a crime has occurred or the alarm was false. Officers will utilize instant circumstances to determine what type of approach is needed. These circumstances may include information from a telephone contact made by Communications if one was made. The officer in charge should consider:  number of officers needed to accomplish a safe approach;  resources available;  type of structure and occupants;  cover and concealment Should it be determined a crime is in progress, the officer in charge will establish a tactical perimeter to prevent escape. The officer in charge will take precautions to prevent alerting the perpetrators to the presence of the police. If the suspect(s) have left the scene, the officer in charge will obtain descriptions and last direction of travel, then broadcast the information to Communications. False alarms will be confirmed by an officer and a County Government False Alarm Notification form will be issued to the business or resident. 4-109.2 COMMUNICATIONS’ RESPONSIBILITIES Upon receiving a call for a commercial holdup alarm, dispatchers will simulcast an emergency alert tone and assign a minimum of two (2) officers to respond to the call priority. Dispatchers will immediately attempt to contact the 555 OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, CHARLES COUNTY, MD Administrative and Operational Manual September 22, 2023 business and develop information concerning the nature of the situation. Any information obtained concerning a crime in progress or one that just occurred will be dispatched to responding officers as soon as possible to include:    suspect descriptions; vehicle descriptions; and direction of travel. If it can be safely determined the alarm is accidental, or malfunctioning through initial contact or the alarm company, dispatchers will alert the responding officers and reduce the priority response. Calls for a holdup or burglary in progress received from a victim business or third party by telephone and not an alarm company will be handled by Communications in the same manner. 4-110 INTERPRETERS / TRANSLATORS SERVICES The International Visitors Information Service (IVIS) provides a 24-hour translation service for forty-nine foreign languages. The Southern Maryland Interpreting Service provides 24-hour on-call American Sign Language interpreting services for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Contact telephone numbers for both are maintained by Communications and may also be accessed via the CAD System Rolodex function. 4-110.1 BILINGUAL EMPLOYEES In addition to the above, the Agency employs several members who, when available, may be able to provide some translation services. Requests for such services will be made through the on-duty district / shift commander. 4-110.2 DEAF / HARD-OF-HEARING INDIVIDUALS A deaf or hard-of-hearing person will usually indicate deafness or a hearing disability by pointing to their ears and then their mouth (the sign for “deaf”). They may point to their ear and shake their head, indicating they cannot hear. If in a vehicle, an individual may display a visor card that indicates the driver is deaf. Some characteristics associated with communications disabilities may be misinterpreted by police as suspicious, illegal or uncooperative behavior. Upon contact they may reach into a pocket, glove compartment, or elsewhere to obtain a pen and paper. When a person who is deaf or hard of hearing fails to respond to police direction, it is often a manifestation of the disability rather than an intent to disobey. Officers, while ensuring their own safety, must be careful not to misinterpret these actions. People who have communications disabilities are entitled to the same range of police services as those who do not have disabilities. It is the intent of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office to provide a qualified interpreter, upon request, to any person who is deaf or hard of hearing, regardless of whether they are a suspect, victim, witness or complainant. It is the policy of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office to furnish, at Agency expense, appropriate auxiliary aids and services whenever necessary to ensure effective communication with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. Auxiliary aids and services include qualified interpreters, written materials, note pads, and other effective methods 556 OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, CHARLES COUNTY, MD Administrative and Operational Manual September 22, 2023 of making aurally delivered materials available to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. When an auxiliary aid or service is required to ensure effective communication, the expressed choice of the individual with the disability, who is in the best position to know his or her needs, should be given primary consideration in determining which communication aid to provide. The Agency should honor the individual’s choice unless it can show another equally effective means of communication is available, that use of the means chosen would result in a fundamental alteration in the services or programs provided, or that it would cause undue financial and administrative burdens. In those instances where there is the likelihood of a particular case going to trial, all written questions and responses between the person with a hearing disability and police must be treated as evidence and handled accordingly. A copy of any written questions and responses shall be provided to the deaf or hard-of-hearing person. 4-110.3 SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS Officers are required to ensure effective communication with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. Whether a qualified sign language interpreter or other communication aid is required will depend on the nature of the communication and the needs of the individual. The length, importance or complexity of the communication will determine whether an interpreter is necessary for effective communication. In some cases a deaf individual may utilize a pen and paper to communicate, rely on lip reading or rely on friends or family members to interpret for them. Officers should consider the overall circumstances when making a decision on how best to proceed. Officers need to be aware that lip reading is not a very effective way to communicate and should take into consideration that using a friend or family member who is a juvenile, may not be the most reliable way to communicate and should be used only in exigent circumstances. Officers must be careful about miscommunication in the absence of a qualified interpreter; a nod of the head may be an attempt to appear cooperative in the midst of misunderstanding, rather than a consent to a confession of wrongdoing. While each case may be different, the following guidelines for determining the need for an interpreter may be helpful:  in a simple encounter, such as checking a driver’s license or giving street directions, a pen and notepad may be sufficient;  if an individual without a hearing disability would be subject to police action without interrogation, then an interpreter may not be required; however, if an interpreter is requested or the officer does not believe other means of communication are effective, then a qualified interpreter should be provided;  during arrests and interrogations or interviews with victims, witnesses or complainants, a sign language interpreter will often be necessary to effectively communicate with an individual who uses sign language;  if the legality of a conversation may be questioned in court, such as when Miranda rights are given to a suspect, a sign language interpreter should be utilized. When utilizing the services of a sign language interpreter, officers should speak directly to the deaf person. Officers should be aware that interpreters are legally bound to interpret everything said in their presence, so officers should refrain from saying anything they would not want conveyed to the deaf individual. When an interpreter is used, officers shall fully document in the case report the reason an interpreter was necessary, the interpreter’s identifying information and their time spent interpreting. 4-111 EMERGENCY RESPONSE CLASSIFICATIONS AND GUIDELINES Officers are granted special privileges under Maryland State law while operating their vehicles with their emergency 557 OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, CHARLES COUNTY, MD Administrative and Operational Manual September 22, 2023 equipment activated. They are not, however, relieved of the responsibility of driving with due regard for the safety of all persons, and are not protected from the consequences of failing to exercise reasonable care under these circumstances. There is no special privilege for operating an emergency vehicle without the emergency equipment activated. Operators of emergency vehicles without the emergency equipment activated are held to the same level of care as every other vehicle driver. Police emergency vehicle driving is a dangerous activity. The emergency operation of a police vehicle is dangerous to both the police officer and the general public. Although quick police response to an emergency is crucial, the most important factor in police emergency response is to arrive safely. The driver of an emergency vehicle, with emergency lights and siren activated, may proceed through a red or stop signal, a stop sign, or a yield sign, but only after slowing to a speed which will ensure they can safely enter and navigate through the intersection. Officers operating a vehicle containing a passenger who is not an employee of a law enforcement agency, or a person who has not executed a waiver absolving the Office of the Sheriff of liability for damages or injury, shall not operate their vehicle as an emergency vehicle in any high speed manner. Exceptions to this policy required by extreme circumstances require written explanation of those circumstances. 4-111.1 RESPONSE CLASSIFICATIONS Routine Response - All non-emergency calls for service. Members responding to non-emergency calls will respond immediately while observing all traffic laws. Priority Response - All emergency calls for service. Members responding priority shall use lights, siren, and headlights. Members shall also comply with the provisions of the Transportation Article (TR § 21-106), Emergency Vehicles. The driver of an emergency vehicle may:  park or stand without regard to the other provisions of this title;  pass a red or stop signal, a stop sign, or a yield sign, but only after slowing down as necessary for safety;  exceed any maximum speed limit, but only so long as the driver does not endanger life or property;  disregard any traffic control device or regulation governing direction of movement or turning in a specified direction. The emergency vehicle operator shall be aware that this section does not relieve the driver of an emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons. Agency policy requires that members responding priority response shall approach all intersections where their direction of movement is controlled by a stop signal or stop sign with due regard to public safety. Vehicle operators may proceed through a controlled intersection only when such movement can be made safely. Units involved in a priority response will not pass each other, or other emergency vehicles (fire trucks, rescue squads, EMS units, etc.) except for some specific planned purpose. Each unit involved in the pass should be aware of the other's intentions and the pass should be coordinated verbally over the radio. NOTE: This section does not prevent or preclude a pass required because of safety requirements necessitated 558 OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, CHARLES COUNTY, MD Administrative and Operational Manual September 22, 2023 by unexpected movements of any vehicle. 4-111.2 GENERAL RESPONSE ASSIGNMENT GUIDELINES Personnel receiving calls for service will make every effort to obtain all available information concerning the call, based on the conversation with the complainant. If the call taker has any doubt concerning the nature of the incident, the doubt will be resolved in favor of the higher priority. PCOs, PCSs, and patrol officers, with the approval of a Patrol Supervisor or higher ranking Agency officer, have the ability to change a call’s priority code. The person changing a call’s priority should have k nowledge which indicates such change is needed. The responsibility for consequences of this decision rests with the Patrol Supervisor or other Agency officer making the decision. All patrol units will ensure that Communications is aware of their response status at all times. They will notify Communications of any changes in response status. 4-111.2.1 INOPERABLE EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT Marked patrol vehicles shall be immediately removed from service if the overhead light bar is out of service. Any vehicle without a working siren shall be immediately removed from service. Any officer with a malfunctioning light bar or siren (marked or unmarked vehicle) shall notify their supervisor as soon as they become aware of the deficiency. 4-111.3 GENERAL DISPATCH GUIDELINES FOR PRIORITY RESPONSE INCIDENTS Priority responses shall be limited to those calls dispatched as emergency calls, unless information is known to the PCO or responding officer which would justify changing the response classification. Primary units are defined as those units assigned to the call. Primary units may be directed by the PCO to respond to the scene PRIORITY. All other response units are back-up or support units and will respond routine unless specifically directed otherwise. The PCO will determine whether to assign one or two primary units based on available information. The first unit to arrive on an incident scene will immediately notify the PCO if a change in response classification or additional units are necessary. If appropriate, the PCO will then specify which units will respond and the nature of their response. When an on-scene unit advises that other units may terminate (10-22) their response, those units shall not respond to the scene but will return to service. 4-111.3.1 SELF INITIATED PRIORITY RESPONSES Officers may initiate a priority response or pursuit in order to:     protect life; prevent the occurrence of personal injury; prevent the commission of a crime; and prevent the escape of any law violator. (Refer to guidelines under the Pursuit Policy for further information about responsibilities.) 4-111.4 POLICE INFORMATION - CAUTION - INFORMATION INDICATOR CODES When caution / arrest information is needed that would be useful in investigating an incident or person, the following 559 OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, CHARLES COUNTY, MD Administrative and Operational Manual September 22, 2023 procedures which conform to confidentiality rules and privacy laws shall be followed:     Request a wanted check from Communications via radio providing all known information. If pertinent, an officer may request a criminal history check. When possible, the PCO shall conduct a criminal history check in addition to the wanted check. The PCO shall respond utilizing the below codes, when applicable. Caution - Information Codes: A B C D E F G H I J K Armed Dangerous Mental Armed/Mental Suicidal Armed/Suicidal Resist Arrest Armed/Resists Dangerous/Resists Mental/Resists Suicidal/Resists L M N O P S DV SR Approach with Caution Assaults Police Officers Drug Interdiction Caution/Medical Contagion Prior/Arrests/B&E Burglary Prior/Sexual Assaults Prior/Domestic Violence Secure Radio - confidential information to be transmitted PCOs are encouraged to conduct criminal history checks on person(s) prior to officer contact, if identity of subject person is known, for the safety of all personnel. Caution codes are intended to alert officers to potential danger and similar circumstances. Employees are reminded that caution codes are confidential criminal record information and subject to strict rules and privacy laws. Due to the nature of the caution code, officers must act carefully on this very limited information. Caution codes are not sufficient information to conduct searches or take any police action, absent other facts. 4-111.4.1 THREAT ELEMENT CAUTION CODE INDICATORS Individuals who pose a threat to the safety of law enforcement or the government through subversive activities or affiliations may be identified in the Agency CAD / RMS system as a Threat Element. Those affiliations or activities may include but are not limited to criminal street gangs, terrorist organizations, outlaw motorcycle groups, extremist behaviors, or race supremacists. Indications an individual may be a threat or affiliated with a threat group are subjective and may include several factors. Those factors include but are not limited to:      admissions to investigators; intelligence information; documented or repeated associations with a known Threat Element; displaying membership indicators (colors, tattoos, clothing items, etc.); and arrest where the crime’s motivating factor was the furtherance of a criminal enterprise. It shall be the responsibility of the Homeland Security Section of the Criminal Investigations Division to maintain a list of all individuals and groups who will be validated as a Threat Element. They will then code the information on the individual and enter it into the CAD / RMS system. Individuals coded as a Threat Element through the CAD / RMS system will have a Caution Code Indicator “T” attached to the Master Name File along with a brief explanation of the caution. 560 OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, CHARLES COUNTY, MD Administrative and Operational Manual September 22, 2023 Employees who have contact with any individual who has a Threat Element Caution Indicator will complete at minimum, a Warning / FIR / Security Notice Form #389, and forward a copy to the Homeland Security Section as soon as practical. Any additional information obtained, to include photographs, vehicle associations, associates, clothing descriptions, etc., may be critical to the law enforcement community. Employees who have contact with a group or an individual who should be considered a Threat Element will make notification to the Homeland Security Section by completing a Threat Element Entry Form #928 with details concerning the individual(s). The submission will then be forwarded to a detective with Homeland Security for investigation and possible classification as a Threat Element. A detective from Homeland Security will complete an annual review of each individual with a Threat Element Caution Code. The review will indicate whether or not the individual is still validated as a Threat Element and a need for a Caution Code Indicator is still appropriate. 4-111.5 NEXT-OF-KIN NOTIFICATIONS Members of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office will make next-of-kin notifications in a prompt and considerate manner. The traumatic injury or loss of a loved one is a traumatic experience. Notifications in these instances will be conducted in a sensitive and compassionate manner. All such notifications in the County shall, unless circumstances prevent it, be made in person. It shall be the responsibility of the primary investigating officer to ensure notifications are made without undue delay. Prior to making the notification the officer will verify that all information is correct. In most cases, notification will be made to the next-of-kin prior to releasing information to the media or any other person or entity. Officers may request assistance from a member of the Chaplain Services, Victim Services, a close friend or family member, or other appropriate person in making the notification. In instances where the next-of-kin resides in an area that makes direct notification by an officer of this Agency impractical, a message requesting notification be made will be sent to the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction where the next-of-kin resides. Confirmation of the notification should be obtained from the agency having jurisdiction. When a request is received from another law enforcement agency or other responsible authority to deliver an emergency notification to a next-of-kin within Charles County, every possible attempt will be made to cooperate with the requesting agency. The officer assigned to make such notification shall advise the Communications Section of the outcome. If requested, Communications will make a return call to the requesting agency. 4-111.6 NCIC TERRORISM RESPONSE CODES The Terrorism Screening Center (TSC) connects local, state, and tribal law enforcement with federal law enforcement and the national and international counterterrorism community. The TSC maintains the consolidated watchlist of known or suspected terrorists and helps resolve encounters with individuals who may be watchlisted. There are two TSC encounter goals:  To protect officers and the public by identifying those watchlisted individuals who might pose a threat;  To create an opportunity for officers to make informed decisions in furtherance of their own investigation, and to gather intelligence to contribute to our national security mission in a manner that complies with all applicable laws and policies. 561 OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, CHARLES COUNTY, MD Administrative and Operational Manual September 22, 2023 Inquiries may result in any one of the five Handling Codes *:  Handling Code 1: APPROACH WITH CAUTION. ARREST. Call the TSC Operations Center. A federal arrest warrant may exist for the individual. Possible ties to terrorism.  Handling Code 2: APPROACH WITH CAUTION. Call the TSC Operations Center. Possible immigration law violation with ties to terrorism. Question the individual to assist the TSC Operations Center in identifying and locating the individual without otherwise extending the scope / duration of the encounter. Do not detain or arrest the individual unless the immigration violation is confirmed or there is evidence of a violation of federal, state, or local statutes.  Handling Code 3: APPROACH WITH CAUTION. Call the TSC Operations Center. If this would extend the scope / duration of the encounter, contact the TSC Operations Center immediately thereafter. Do not detain or arrest the individual unless the immigration violation is confirmed or there is evidence of a violation of federal, state, or local statutes. Possible ties to terrorism.  Handling Code 4: APPROACH WITH CAUTION. Call the TSC Operations Center. If this would extend the scope / duration of the encounter, contact the TSC Operations Center immediately thereafter. Possible former military detainee.  Handling Code 5: APPROACH WITH CAUTION. Call the TSC Operations Center. If this would extend the scope / duration of the encounter, contact the TSC Operations Center immediately thereafter. Possible ties to transnational organized crime. *Source: 4-111.7 Terrorist Screening Center (TSC Handling Codes) Rev. 01/2017 PROCEDURES Every warrant check completed through NCIC is compared to TSC files. Communications or an officer may receive one of five Handling Codes from the TSC. Each code may have limited instructions on what actions should be taken. When a “Hit” is received, Communications is responsible for reviewing the “Hit,” contacting the TSC (for each “Hit”), and obtaining more information. Due to the large number of similarity “hits,” Communications will use all reasonable means to determine whether the “Hit” is valid or not. If it is reasonable to believe the individual stopped is a match, Communications will notify the requesting officer (via cell phone if possible) and inform them of the “Hit.” The Commander, Homeland Security and Intelligence Section will be contacted by Communications when a member of the Sheriff’s Office comes in contact with an individual who has a confirmed Handling Code. A detective from Homeland Security may be dispatched to the scene to assist. Officers who identify any individual associated with terrorism will conduct an investigation consistent with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office policy and procedures. Communications will notify a supervisor who will respond to the scene. Officers should be aware of the possible presence of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) materials and will limit radio transmissions. In addition, the following will occur for each of the identified Handling Codes: Handling Code 1: According to TSC, there may be a valid outstanding arrest warrant for the subject:   The Commander, Homeland Security and Intelligence Section will be contacted and coordinate investigations between the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) and the Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center (MCAC); A K-9 Unit with a bomb detection dog will respond to scan the vehicle;  Cell phone use by anyone associated with the possible terrorist will be prohibited; 562 OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, CHARLES COUNTY, MD Administrative and Operational Manual September 22, 2023  Radio transmissions concerning the incident will be limited. Additional discussion concerning the individual(s) or instructions will be conducted with an alternate type of communication, i.e., cell phone;  All persons associated with the suspect will be segregated, detained, and checked through NCIC. Officers will await instructions from the TSC as to their disposition;  Neither officers nor occupants will retrieve any property from a vehicle until cleared by the Homeland Security Section;  No teletypes, incident reports, “Hit” confirmations, or further descriptions are to be sent via the internet or NCIC. Handling Codes 2 - 5: Act according to the information contained within the “Hit:” These handling codes are normally notification codes only. Officers who encounter individuals who have confirmed handling codes should surreptitiously and within the scope of the stop, gather as much information as possible about the individual(s). Covertly taking photographs of documents and other items of importance should be considered. Under no circumstances should officers inform any of the subjects that their name returns with a “Hit” from the Terrorist Screening Center. Information that may be important to future investigations includes, but is not limited to:     Vehicle information; All passengers’ information; Identification documents; Standard roadside interview information (where they are staying, where they are going, information on the reason for visiting the area, any other information that could be helpful in monitoring the individual’s activities and movements). All appropriate want, warrant, driver license, and local checks should be conducted on each occupant if within the scope of the stop. A detailed Intelligence Report, Form #121, must be completed and forwarded to the Homeland Security and Intelligence Section by the end of the officer’s shift. Police Communications Supervisors should ensure all interactions with the TSC and potential “Hits” are documented in the required fashion. The Commander, Homeland Security and Intelligence Section will follow up with the appropriate investigating agencies. 4-111.8 HAZARD HITS A hazard hit is a precaution that is entered into the CAD system for a specific location. A hazard hit identifies a condition which may be a safety concern to responding officers. Some situations under which a hazard hit may be appropriate include, but are not limited to:      known occupants with history of assaulting officers or resisting arrest, prior history of aggressive or violent encounters, aggressive or dangerous animals uncontained on the premises, observation of weapons during response to calls for service which could indicate a potential threat in future incidents, and known occupants with significant mental health conditions which may necessitate specialized or additional resources for response. A request for a hazard hit may be initiated by any employee by submitting a Hazard Hit Request worksheet, located on the Agency intranet under the Reports tab. Prior to submitting the request, the requesting employee 563 OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, CHARLES COUNTY, MD Administrative and Operational Manual September 22, 2023 will get verbal permission from their supervisor. The employee’s Shift Commander / Section Commander / Deputy Director will also be notified. The Hazard Hit Request shall contain sufficient justification for entry into the CAD system. Once a request is submitted via the intranet, the Commander, Communications Section will review the information and either approve or deny the request. If approved, the Commander, Communications Section will cause the hazard hit to be entered into the CAD system. 4-111.8.1 COMMUNICATIONS SECTION RESPONSIBILITIES Upon receiving a hazard hit from the CAD system for a call for service, the PCO will review the hazard information, and provide such information to officers assigned to the call and the affected supervisor. 4-111.8.2 HAZARD HIT REVIEW Hazard hits may be approved for any period of time, not to exceed 6 months. On a monthly basis, the Commander, Communications Section shall cause a review of all hazard hits, specifically noting those expiring within 30 days. A report of the expiring hazard hits will be provided to the employees who initially requested the hazard hits, with a copy to their supervisors. Each hazard hit will be re-evaluated to determine whether or not the hazard hit should remain active. Supervisors will ensure a new Hazard Hit Request is submitted via the intranet, to request the expiring hazard hit either be extended or removed from the system. If at any time any employee becomes aware that the circumstances causing the entry of a hazard hit no longer apply, they shall notify the Commander, Communications Section in writing to have the hazard hit removed. 4-112 FALSE ALARM ORDINANCE In an effort to reduce the number of responses to false alarms, the False Alarm Ordinance Number 98-48 was adopted by the County. The ordinance requires the police to assist the Charles County False Alarm Reduction Unit (FARU) by notifying the FARU of any alarms that are false or malfunctioning. This is accomplished through the computer aided dispatch system (CAD) and through the use of the False Alarm Notification Form. Procedures have been established to ensure standardized completion of this form. 4-112.1 NOTIFICATION FORMS All officers will carry the False Alarm Notification Form in their Agency vehicles. The forms will be distributed through the Quartermaster and available at all district stations. 4-112.2 RESPONSE TO ALARMS The response to all alarms should be as per the guidelines in the AOM. Once an alarm is determined to be false, the False Alarm Notification Form will be completed. The form will be completed for residential, commercial and governmental building false alarms to include false panic / intrusion and hold-up alarms. Response to and issuance of forms at repeat alarms, not weather related, shall be at the discretion of the on-duty supervisor. Generally, if someone in charge of the building is on the scene or responds to the alarm and attempts to correct the problem, only one form will be issued. 4-112.3 COMPLETION OF THE FALSE ALARM NOTIFICATION FORM The alarm, if false, will be coded in one of two ways. In order to ensure accuracy and fairness in the administration of the false alarm ordinance, it is important that each alarm be cleared with the appropriate code. The following codes will be used: 564 OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, CHARLES COUNTY, MD Administrative and Operational Manual September 22, 2023  FA - (False Alarm) will be used when there is no evidence of a criminal or attempted criminal offense. This code is also to be used when the alarm is the result of alarm user error, the alarm user not having the proper clearance code, or when unable to determine the cause of the alarm activation from either the alarm user or the alarm company.  MA - (Malfunctioning Alarm) will be used if there is specific evidence which indicates defective or malfunctioning alarm equipment. Once a determination has been made concerning the cause of the alarm, the False Alarm Notification Form will be completed. The form is to be filled out as follows:  Line 1 - Name and/or address of the business or residence where the violation occurred in this order of preference:              business or residence owner or tenant; or an officer of the corporation that owns the building; or person in charge of the business location at the time of the alarm; or street address if location is unoccupied at time of the alarm. Line 2 - Agency name--Charles County Sheriff’s Office. Line 3 - Officer’s name / ID, district where alarm occurred, and check the box marked police. Line 4 - Date and time; alarm permit number is left blank. Line 5 - Situation Found--check appropriate box. Line 6 - Weather Conditions--check appropriate box. Line 7 - Other--check appropriate box (what caused alarm). Line 8 - Completion Code--check appropriate box. Line 9 - Comments--any additional information for the FARU the officer determines relevant. Line 10 - This line is not on the current form, but is needed to record the event number for tracking purposes. Place the event number in the lower right corner of the form. After completion of the form at the scene, copies will be distributed as follows:  White Copy - CCSO Records Management Section  Pink Copy - CCSO Records Management Section  Cream Copy - Left at the alarm location The False Alarm Notification Form is a door hanger type form. The copy left at the alarm location will be left with the individual responsible for the alarm location. If no one is present at the alarm location, the form is to be left so it may be found at an entrance to the building or residence. 4-112.4 WEATHER Weather sometimes plays a part in the response to alarms. Major weather incidents, such as heavy rain, wind, lightning, and thunderstorms can cause alarms to activate. During weather incidents such as these, the False Alarm Notification Form will be completed; however, during any one shift it will be completed only once at repeat alarm locations. 4-112.5 CONTACT WITH RESIDENT OR EMPLOYEE Responding officers are cautioned that if an employee or resident is available at the alarm site and there is no evidence to support the alarm activation, they must be extremely careful not to speculate as to the cause of the alarm or to make any references to the alarm possibly not being false. Officers must be cautious about making any 565 OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, CHARLES COUNTY, MD Administrative and Operational Manual September 22, 2023 comments that might leave the impression that the alarm will be cleared as a legitimate alarm call. Unless there is evidence to support such a premise, officers must not make generalized statements such as “someone may have tried to get in.” Comments made could later be used by the alarm user to attempt to justify an appeal. 4-112.6 FINAL DISPOSITION OF FORMS Upon completion of the form, the white copy and the pink copy will be forwarded to the Records Management Section, where the pink copy will be kept on file and the white copy will be sent to the FARU. In addition, when an officer responds for a false alarm at any Agency facility or co-use facility (Courthouse, Quartermaster’s office, etc.) Records Management shall forward a copy of the form to the Commander, Property Management. 4-113 NOISE CONTROL ORDINANCE ENFORCEMENT Chapter 260 of the Charles County Code provides for the control of noise levels throughout Charles County so as to promote public health, safety, and welfare of both public and private property. The Code states: “It is prohibited for any person located within the County to make any noise or operate any sound amplifier on any property owned or occupied by such person, or to permit any noise to be made or any sound amplifier to be operated on property owned or occupied by such person, so as to be clearly audible to any person located beyond the property line of such property at a level higher than those set forth.” Responsibility for the enforcement of the noise control ordinance is shared per an MOU between the Office of the Sheriff and the Charles County Department of Health. The Health Department will respond during regular business hours to noise complaints. The Sheriff’s Office is responsible for the investigation and enforcement of noise complaints between the hours of 1700 and 0800 Monday through Friday and on weekends and state / federal holidays. However, there may be times when it may be necessary for both the Health Department and the Sheriff’s Office to respond to a noise complaint. For the purposes of this policy, the Director of Environmental Health shall be the point of contact with the Health Department, and the Patrol operations commanders will be the point of contact for the Sheriff’s Office. Investigation and enforcement will be per procedures outlined in this policy and as instructed in training. Officers will use only Agency issued and calibrated sound level meters to measure possible violations of Charles County Code, Section 260 - Noise Control. 4-113.1 DEFINITIONS In this section, the following terms have the meanings indicated. Noise Complaint - Any incident where noise is generated by an audio device, vibration, musical instrument, mechanical equipment, or any other noise or sound-producing device that disturbs, injures, or endangers the health, peace and safety of others. Ambient Noise - The total noise associated with a given environment, excluding the noise source of interest. Commercial Land Use -- Property zoned or used for the sale of goods or services or for office uses. Tonal Noise - Any sound comprised of one or more pure tones. A pure tone means any sound that can be distinctly heard as a single pitch. 566 OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, CHARLES COUNTY, MD Administrative and Operational Manual September 22, 2023 Impulsive Noise - Noise characterized by a short burst of acoustical energy, having a rapid rise to a maximum pressure followed by somewhat slower decay, a duration not greater than one second, and a field crest factor of 10dBA or greater. An example of impulsive noise would be weapons fire. Daytime – Between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., local time. Decibel (dB) - A unit of measure equal to 10 times the logarithm to the base ten of the ratio of a particular sound pressure squared to a standard reference pressure squared. For the purpose of this chapter, 20 micropascals shall be the standard reference pressure. Department - The Charles County Health Department. Director – The Director of Environmental Health. Enforcement Officer for a noise originating from any source:     An employee or agent of the Department designated by the Director to enforce this chapter; A law enforcement officer; A person authorized under the Zoning Ordinance to enforce this chapter; or A person authorized by the County to enforce this chapter. Enforcement Officer for a noise originating from an animal source:  The Chief of the Division of Animal Control Services or the Chief's authorized designee. Nighttime - Between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., local time. Person - Any individual, group, firm, association, agency or other entity. Public Property - Any real property or structures thereon that are owned, leased, or controlled by a governmental entity, including any street, avenue, boulevard, road, highway, sidewalk, alley or easement that is owned, leased, or controlled by a governmental entity. Residential Land Use - Property zoned or used for dwellings. 4-113.2 TRAINING, CERTIFICATION, AND MAINTENANCE Only those officers who have completed approved Agency training and possess current certification are permitted to use sound level meters for enforcement purposes. The Patrol Commander will ensure maintenance of a current file of all those officers who have successfully completed the training and have been certified. The Patrol Commander or designee will ensure that:  Sound level meters are available to certified operators.  Sound level meters are calibrated every two years by an accredited laboratory. This is in addition to the bimonthly calibrations performed in-house.  All necessary care and maintenance is performed.  An inventory log and calibration log are maintained by the designated Noise Ordinance Coordinator. 567 OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, CHARLES COUNTY, MD Administrative and Operational Manual September 22, 2023 Officers using sound level meters will conduct calibration and testing with available equipment in a manner commensurate with the training received. The use of any sound level meter that is not properly calibrated, or is not approved, or otherwise does not function as required is strictly prohibited. Monitoring of noise levels for enforcement purposes will be done in accordance with the training received and all applicable laws. The operator will forward all requests for repair and maintenance of noise meters to the Patrol Commander. Reports of damage to noise meters will be documented the same as with other Agency owned property. 4-113.3 INVESTIGATION AND ENFORCEMENT Any officer dispatched to an initial noise complaint will respond and make contact with the complainant to determine the source of the noise. If the source of the noise is located, and does not qualify as an exempted source as set forth in the County Code, a trained and certified officer will take a sound level meter measurement of the noise source. The measurement of noise levels shall be conducted as instructed in training. If it is determined that the decibel measurement exceeds established thresholds and a violation does exist, the violator will be contacted and warned to cease the noise generating activity immediately. If the violator responds and corrects the situation, no further enforcement action will be taken. The officer will advise the complainant the violator has been warned and if the noise persists, to contact the Sheriff’s Office and a follow up investigation will occur. If a complainant reports the violation continues, an officer trained and certified in the use of noise measuring instruments will respond to the location and complete an analysis of the noise. If the noise measurement determines the violation is in excess of the established noise level, a Civil Citation Form #DC-28 should be issued. When a Citation is issued, the violator shall be subject to a fine of up to $500.00 for a first violation and up to $1,000 for each subsequent violation. Each hour during which a violation continues to exist shall constitute a separate and additional violation. The measurement will be conducted at least three feet from any reflecting surface. Sound level readings should not be conducted in adverse weather conditions. The Officer shall account for ambient noise (noise existing without noise source in question) if possible. 4-113.4 NOISE EXCEEDING MEASURABLE STANDARDS Per County Code, Chapter 260, it is prohibited for any person located within the County to make any noise or operate any sound amplifier on any property owned or occupied by such person, or to permit any noise to be made or any sound amplifier to be operated on property owned or occupied by such person, so as to be clearly audible to any person located beyond the property line of such property at a level higher than those set forth in this section, as such sound may be measured from: a) any point along the front line of the property or any part of the perimeter property line upon which the noise is being made or generated; or b) any place on adjacent property, provided that the person measuring the sound shall first obtain the permission of the adjacent property owner to enter upon said property. The noise prohibited in this section shall include noise exceeding the following standards: Maximum Allowable Noise Levels (dBA) Measured at Receiving Land Uses Land Use of Receiving Property Maximum Decibel Level Industrial 75 dBA, daytime or nighttime Commercial 67 dBA, daytime 568 OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, CHARLES COUNTY, MD Administrative and Operational Manual September 22, 2023 62 dBA, nighttime Residential 60 dBA, daytime 50 dBA, nighttime Construction noise limits. A person may not cause or permit noise levels emanating from construction or demolition site activities which exceed:   90 dBA from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., weekdays; The levels specified in this policy for nighttime hours at any other time. 4-113.5 EXEMPTIONS The County Code provides for the following exemptions:  Household tools and portable appliances, when used for household maintenance during daytime hours and when maintained in accordance with manufacturer's specifications.  Motor vehicles licensed for use on public roads when used in a manner consistent with the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.  Aircraft and related operations at airports licensed by the Maryland State Aviation Administration.  Boats and motorized land vehicles, both on- and off-road, in operation on public lands under the jurisdiction of the Department of Natural Resources or the County, or operated by other law enforcement or emergency services personnel.  Emergency operations, including, but not limited to, snow removal operations.  Pile-driving equipment during the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Trap shooting, skeet shooting, or other target shooting between the hours of dawn and dusk.  Trash collection operations between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.  Construction and repair work on public property.  Noise emanating from household pet activity when kept in a manner consistent with the Zoning Chapter and when activities are in compliance with any applicable section of the Charles County Code. Noise complaints involving household pet activity shall be resolved under the Charles County Animal Regulations, Chapter 230 of the Charles County Code.  Activities or events conducted or sponsored by the County or other government entity, including without limitation, agencies working in conjunction with Charles County Animal Control Services, concerts, the 4th of July parade and fireworks, and the like.  Sound equipment used by public service companies as defined in Article 78 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, or to federal, state or local governmental agencies.  Sound generated by sporting, amusement, and entertainment events and other public gatherings operating according to terms and conditions of the appropriate local jurisdictional body. This includes, but is not limited 569 OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, CHARLES COUNTY, MD Administrative and Operational Manual September 22, 2023 to, athletic contests, amusement parks, carnivals, fairgrounds, sanctioned auto racing facilities, parades, and public celebrations. This exemption only applies between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 12:00 midnight.  Chapter 260 of the County Code shall not apply to the erection (including excavation), demolition, alteration or repair of any building or structure where it is necessary for public health and safety to allow such activity, and then only with prior written permission from the Department of Planning and Growth Management. Nothing in Chapter 260 of the County Code shall be construed as to supersede or abridge any right granted pursuant to Chapter 100 of the Charles County Code, Right to Farm. 4-113.6 DOCUMENTATION The Form #DC-28 is used for adult civil violations, also known as code violations. CHARLES COUNTY CODE - Chapter 260, Noise Control Civil Code violations are not criminal violations and do not call for a physical arrest. In addition to other required information, the back of the officer’s copy of the citation shall include: meter serial number, date of last calibration, time start / finish, and description of the noise source. The back of the original copy (white) should be used for recording any witness information. Failure of the defendant to sign the citation does not subject him / her to arrest. ?Refused to Sign" shall be written in the defendant’s signature block and the citation issued. Per the MOU with the Department of Health, the Charles County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Operations will provide monthly reports to the Health Department indicating:      4-115 The number of responses to noise complaints. The date, time and location of the complaint. The complainant and contact information. Observations at the scene. Any actions taken. COMMAND INFORMATION In order to provide for effective operation and management of the Agency, command and other designated personnel must have access to timely information. In addition to the formal written command notification requirements of this section, when the nature of the incident has a time sensitive or critical element, notification shall be made in the most expeditious manner available. This will normally be accomplished by telephone or cell phone, but may be done face to face if this is required by instant circumstances. Such notifications will be made to at least the Sheriff, Assistant Sheriffs, and the immediately affected division and section commander(s). The employee in charge of the incident shall be responsible for ensuring notifications are made. If the responsible employee is unable to make the notifications personally due to ongoing responsibilities of managing the incident, he may require that Communications or other personnel make the notifications. Th e required non-written notifications shall be accomplished as soon as possible. When notifications are made by Communications personnel, a note of the date, time and method of notification for each person notified will be entered into the call log information. When notification is made by the employee responsible for managing the event, this information will be noted on the written Commanders’ Information Report. 570 OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF, CHARLES COUNTY, MD Administrative and Operational Manual September 22, 2023 Notifications generally fall within two dis