PI 20-06.pdf

KANSAS CITY MISSOURI POLICE DEPARTMENT DATE OF ISSUE EFFECTIVE DATE NO. PROCEDURAL INSTRUCTION 7/1/2020 7/1/2020 20-06 SUBJECT...

KANSAS CITY MISSOURI POLICE DEPARTMENT DATE OF ISSUE EFFECTIVE DATE NO. PROCEDURAL INSTRUCTION 7/1/2020 7/1/2020 20-06 SUBJECT AMENDS Harassment/Stalking REFERENCE RESCINDS PI Orders of Protection, RSMo 565.090 PI 14-03 Municipal Ordinance 50-159 I. INTRODUCTION This written directive provides procedures to be followed when members receive information about telephone calls, letters, emails, texts or social media of a threatening or obscene nature or the offense of stalking. II. TERMINOLOGY *A. Harassment - A person without good cause, engages in any act with the purpose to cause emotional distress to another person, and such act does cause such person to suffer emotional distress, in violation of state statutes or municipal ordinances. B. Stalking - A person engages in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that serves no legitimate purpose, that would cause a reasonable person under the circumstances to be frightened, intimidated, or emotionally distressed. III. PROCEDURE A. General Information Applicable to Both Harassment and Stalking *1. Three (3) or more texts, calls, or messages must be received to establish a history or pattern. a. Members should note if the victim answered the texts, calls, or messages back in what could be considered an “aggressive manner.” b. When threats are involved, members should document if a suspect has ever acted on a threat in the past. *2. When completing a report, contact the appropriate investigative element, from the scene, to determine if an arrest will be made at that time. Harassment or stalking that is sexual in nature will be handled by the Sex Crimes Section, all others will be handled by the Domestic Violence Section. It is critical to include in the narrative, all pertinent information including: a. Dates, times, locations of incidents, and direct quotes. NOTE: The location of occurrence will be wherever the phone calls are received.  b. Relationship of the victim to the suspect (if any). c. The investigative element and name of person notified. 3. Recover any evidence pertinent to the offense (e.g., copies of emails, letters, notes, voice mail recordings, or text messages). 4. Members may use Department issued cameras to take photographs of the messages. B. Stalking 1. When a member receives information on a stalking offense the member should verify if there is a valid order of protection. If the existence of a valid order of protection is established, the member should follow the guidelines in the current written directive entitled, "Orders of Protection." 2. In the absence of an order of protection, the member should complete the appropriate report in the Automated Reporting System (ARS). a. Describe the means of attack as "following, prowling, threatening, and/or harassing." b. Complete a Request for Report Reproduction, Form 19 P.D., and leave it with the victim. Richard C. Smith Chief of Police Adopted by the Board of Police Commissioners this 16th day of _June__ 2020. W. Don Wagner Board President DISTRIBUTION: All Department Personnel Public View Master Index – Internet Department Master Index – Intranet Policy Acknowledgement SyStem -2-