Boca Raton Police Alarm Calls Procedure PDF

BOCA RATON POLICE SERVICES DEPARTMENT Standard Operating Procedure 81.33 ALARM CALLS Revised: September 26, 2022 I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this standard operating procedure is to establish guidelines for employees dispatching and responding to alarms, excluding fire and vehicle alarms. II. PRO...

BOCA RATON POLICE SERVICES DEPARTMENT Standard Operating Procedure 81.33 ALARM CALLS Revised: September 26, 2022 I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this standard operating procedure is to establish guidelines for employees dispatching and responding to alarms, excluding fire and vehicle alarms. II. PROCEDURE: A. AUDIBLE ALARMS: 1. calls. One law enforcement officer (LEO) is the standard assignment for audible alarm 2. An LEO may request additional LEOs by contacting the public safety dispatcher (PSD). 3. Upon hearing an audible alarm, the LEO shall notify the PSD of the approximate location and investigate the alarm. 4. If a PSD or public safety call taker (PSCT) receives a call on the alarm, they will notify the LEO. 5. PSDs/PSCTs will not routinely telephone the alarmed premises to inquire as to its status prior to the LEO’s arrival but will telephone if based on a request from the responding LEO or supervisor. 6. The information from the alarmed premises will be transmitted immediately to the responding LEO. 7. The premises shall be searched for any signs of criminal activity. 8. Upon completion of the search, if there is no sign of criminal activity, LEOs shall attempt to secure the structure. B. SILENT AND HOLDUP ALARMS: 1. Two LEOs shall be dispatched to a silent or holdup alarm and, when available, information about the type of alarm, e.g., holdup, panic, etc., will be given. Effective: September 28, 1988 Revised: September 26, 2022 Alarm Calls SOP No. 81.33 Page 1 of 3 2. LEOs will determine whether PSDs/PSCTs are to telephone the alarmed premises upon arrival. When requested, PSDs/PSCTs shall telephone the premises. 3. Factors influencing this decision by the LEO include presence or lack of vehicle(s) in the driveway, possible entry point, etc. 4. In all cases, the LEO's observations shall be made from a point minimally visible from the alarmed premises. 5. If contact is made with a representative in the alarmed premises, the PSD/PSCT shall proceed as follows: a. Advise that an alarm activation was received and inquire if there are immediate public safety concerns. b. Obtain and provide the race, gender, and clothing description of the representative and advise him/her to step out when the LEO advises. c. If the representative indicates that a crime may be occurring, communicate all relevant information and dispatch appropriate support LEOs. d. If the PSD/PSCT receives no answer or inappropriate responses, it will be assumed that a crime is in-progress. e. When there is an answer, thought must always be given to the possibility that the victim is being coerced to talk, or that a suspect is answering the call. C. SILENT LISTENING OR VIDEO ALARMS: 1. Silent listening and/or video alarms may allow a monitoring service to see or hear any noises in the alarmed premises. 2. If any noise or video indicates that a crime may be occurring, the law enforcement response should be handled as an in-progress felony. D. ALARM CANCELLATION: 1. When an alarm company notifies the Department of an alarm, the alarm company may call back and cancel the initial alarm call. 2. If an alarm has been dispatched to an LEO, the alarm may be cancelled if the LEO has NOT arrived at the scene. 3. The LEO will be advised of the cancellation and no further action will be required. 4. The alarm will not be cancelled if an LEO has arrived and advised PSDs. Effective: September 28, 1988 Revised: September 26, 2022 Alarm Calls SOP No. 81.33 Page 2 of 3 E. SEVERE WEATHER: 1. In severe weather situations, when an increased number of alarms are received due to a storm, PSDs can request to stack alarms from an LEO supervisor. The nature code S49S should be used. 2. Residential alarms will be dispatched in order of priority, then proximal locations, not the order in which the calls were received. 3. If new information should develop or circumstances change (e.g., an open door) while an alarm call is stacked, PSDs will upgrade the priority of the call. 4. Silent and holdup alarm calls will have greater priority and shall not be reclassified to S49S. Approved: Michele Miuccio Chief of Police Effective: September 28, 1988 Revised: September 26, 2022 Date: Alarm Calls SOP No. 81.33 Page 3 of 3