Boca Raton Police Services Department Radio Communication SOP PDF

BOCA RATON POLICE SERVICES DEPARTMENT Standard Operating Procedure 81.02 RADIO COMMUNICATION Revised: November 4, 2021 I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this standard operating procedure is to provide information to employees concerning the following: II. The use of the telecommunications equipment The met...

BOCA RATON POLICE SERVICES DEPARTMENT Standard Operating Procedure 81.02 RADIO COMMUNICATION Revised: November 4, 2021 I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this standard operating procedure is to provide information to employees concerning the following: II. The use of the telecommunications equipment The methods used by the Department for identifying employees during radio transmissions Guidelines concerning employee radio communications Procedures for radio communication with interacting agencies. DEFINITIONS: Radio Call Signs: Codes employed to identify employees using the radio system. III. PROCEDURE: A. RADIO COMMUNICATION: 1. MAINTAINING COMMUNICATIONS: a. Law enforcement officers (LEOs), community service officers (CSOs), and crime scene technicians (CSTs) shall maintain radio communication with the Communications Section at all times while they are on duty, on extra duty details, or while operating a city vehicle. 25.09 b. If an employee is unable to maintain radio contact, they will notify his/her supervisor or the Communications Section immediately. 2. COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT: a. Employees shall maintain issued communications equipment in good working order and have fresh batteries at all times. b. Malfunctions will be reported to the on duty public safety dispatch supervisor (PSDS). c. LEOs, CSTs, CSOs and other employees who are supplied with Department radios are issued the following radio equipment, at a minimum: Effective: March 27, 2014 Revised: November 4, 2021 Radio Communication SOP No. 81.02 Page 1 of 8 3. i. Portable radio with battery and antenna ii. Battery charger iii. Shoulder microphone, if requested RADIO REPLACEMENT: a. A radio inventory log and replacement radios are kept in the Communications Section. b. When a radio malfunctions, the replacement procedure is as follows: i. The employee notifies the on duty PSDS or the public safety dispatch radio technician (PSDRT) of the radio problem. ii. The PSDS logs the employees ID, radio serial number, date, and reason for repair. a) The PSDS or PSDRT issues a replacement radio, logging its serial number and documenting the radio alias in the CAD SOP File. b) Documenting the radio alias in the CAD SOP File will assist public safety dispatchers (PSDs) if the emergency panic button is activated on that radio. c) When the PSDRT receives the radio from repair, he/she shall notify the affected employee to pick up the original radio and return the spare. d) Once the employee receives the original radio, he/she shall return the spare to the PSDS or PSDRT. e) The PSDS or PSDRT will log the exchange on the Repair Form and CAD SOP file and forward it to the Project Radio Office. 4. NOTIFICATION OF STATUS AND LOCATION: 25.09 a. Employees utilizing radios are required to keep Communications Section employees advised and updated on his/her status and location. b. Uncommitted employees will acknowledge and give his/her location when called. c. The main channel dispatcher will be responsible for conducting welfare checks on employees as designated by the CAD system watchdog feature. Effective: March 27, 2014 Revised: November 4, 2021 Radio Communication SOP No. 81.02 Page 2 of 8 d. Upon logging in and taking control of main channel, the dispatcher will be responsible for confirming the status of all employees that are still active beyond his/her scheduled work time. 5. ACCEPTANCE OF RADIO CALL/ASSIGNMENT: a. When a PSD assigns a radio call, employee(s) will take the appropriate action immediately. i. The PSD will not permit discussion or disagreement about the assigned task to take place over the radio. ii. Any difference of opinion will be directed to, and handled by, the employee’s supervisor and the on-duty PSD supervisor. 6. TALK GROUP (CHANNEL) SWITCHING: a. When it becomes necessary for an employee to switch from the assigned or current talk group of operation to another talk group, they will obtain permission from the PSD before switching to the talk group. 7. RADIO PROCEDURES: a. To promote better safety conditions, the following radio procedures shall be strictly followed: i. ALL locations shall be given in the following order: a) Street number or approximate hundred block b) Street direction, NE, SW, North, South, etc. c) Street name d) Street type Avenue, Road, Court, Way, etc. ii. When employees radio in a self-initiated incident e.g., alarms, open door, security, traffic stop, etc., the following transmission sequence shall be used: a) WHO: give your call sign, e.g., A10, B31, ID 510 b) WHAT: give the incident type, e.g., 10-50, Signal 48, Signal 49, etc. c) PAUSE: for acknowledgment and the PSD will repeat the employee’s call sign. d) WHERE: the employee will repeat his/her call sign and give street location information, tag number and vehicle Effective: March 27, 2014 Revised: November 4, 2021 Radio Communication SOP No. 81.02 Page 3 of 8 description if 10-50, type of premises if alarm, open door, etc., or other. e) The PSD will repeat the location and type of incident the employee is advising of or ask for any clarification if needed and state the time. f) The employee will listen to what the PSD repeats to verify that the PSD copied the information correctly. 8. TRANSMISSION SEQUENCE ROLL CALL: a. When it becomes necessary to either check on the welfare of all employees in service or switch the entire main talk group operation to another talk group, the PSD or an LEO in charge will initiate an on-air roll call. b. The following transmission sequence will be followed: i. The PSD will call the employee’s current call sign or ID number, if an LEO is working an extra duty detail. ii. The employee will respond by ID number and location, e.g., Dispatch “A36”, Response: “ID530, 100 NW 2nd Ave.” 9. POLICE RADIO REGULATIONS: a. All employees operating a police radio shall strictly observe regulations for such operations as established in Department directives and by the Federal Communications Commission. 25.09 b. Designated call signs shall be used. 25.09 c. The radio microphone button will be keyed only when transmitting an official message. 25.09 d. All LEOs, CSOs, and CSTs shall have access to wireless radio communications at all times. E. Employees may not use cellular telephones in place of radio communications except as approved by a supervisor. B. CALL SIGN CONSTRUCTION: 25.09 1. Call sign construction for all radios in the system is based on a number-letternumber configuration. 2. The first number indicates the Department as follows: 1- Effective: March 27, 2014 Revised: November 4, 2021 Police Services Department Radio Communication SOP No. 81.02 Page 4 of 8 24567- Fire Rescue Services Department Public Utility Services Department Municipal Services Department Recreation Services Department Development Services Department 3. The second digit (a letter) designates the shift or component of assignment as follows: A B Alpha Bravo Day shift Night shift 4. The third and, if applicable, fourth digits (both numbers) designate rank, classification, or the zone to which a patrol officer is assigned. 1 series 10 series 20 series 30 & 40 series 50 & 60 series 80 & 90 series 99 series Command Staff/K9/Motors/Marine Lieutenants/Managers Sergeants/Supervisors Zone Police Officers, Civilian Employees Special Services, Crime Scene Employees Community Service Officers Communications Supervisor Examples: 1B10 1B21 1A21 1T80 1A99 1A31 Boca Raton Police Field Services Night Shift Lieutenant Boca Raton Police Field Services Night Shift Sergeant Boca Raton Police Field Services Day Shift Sergeant Boca Raton Police Services Traffic Community Service Officer Boca Raton Police Services Day Shift Communications Supervisor Boca Raton Police Services Day Shift Police Zone Officer Assignment 5. A two-person vehicle shall be designated by using the number "2" between the letter and second assignment number. Example: 1B236 Night shift, two LEOs in one vehicle assigned to patrol zone 36. 6. Command staff and specialized units utilize single digit alphanumeric designations: 1-S-1 1-E-1 1-S-3 1-K-1 7. Chief of Police Captain, East District Assistant Chief Captain, Investigative Services Bureau Alphabetical designations of functions listed phonetically include the following: Effective: March 27, 2014 Revised: November 4, 2021 Radio Communication SOP No. 81.02 Page 5 of 8 Alpha Bravo Delta Echo Eagle Foxtrot Gulf Hotel India Juliet Kilo Lima November Oscar Papa Romeo Sierra Tango Victor Whiskey X-Ray Yankee Zulu Day Shift Field Services Night Shift Field Services Communications, Real-Time Command Center Technicians and Teleserve Field Services East District and Hurricane Activation Helicopter (Palm Beach Sheriff Office) Community Engagement Unit Budget, Records and Clerical Hurricane Activation Crime Analysis Youth Crime Specialist Investigative Services/Detective Crime Scene Investigations Task Force Activation Park Rangers Helicopter (Broward County) Tactical Patrol Chief’s Office and Professional Standards Traffic Vice, Intelligence and Narcotics West District and Hurricane Activation District-wide Night Shift District-wide Day Shift Crime Deterrent and Speed Deterrent a. The designation K-9 refers to K-9 Unit LEOs. b. The designation Motor (MC) refers to Motor Unit LEOs. c. The designation Bike (BK) refers to the Bicycle Program LEOs. d. The designation Marine (MR) refers to Marine Unit LEOs. 8. Communications Section employees maintain primary responsibility for the creation and assignment of all call signs and the corresponding Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) units. 9. C. A complete listing of all call signs is maintained in the Communications Section. COMMUNICATIONS WITH EMPLOYEES: 25.09 1. Employees will be given assignments using the radio and CAD. 2. Normal communication involving employees and supervisors will be accomplished by radio or wireless data communication. 3. Employees are required to monitor his/her radio and MCT and acknowledge calls given to him/her. Effective: March 27, 2014 Revised: November 4, 2021 Radio Communication SOP No. 81.02 Page 6 of 8 4. Employees will be identified using the radio system alias where the employee’s identification number and last name will be transmitted each time the Push-to-Talk button is depressed. 5. The Department also provides cellular telephones to select employees as an additional means of communication. D. COMMUNICATIONS WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES: 25.09 OTHER DEPARTMENTS/ 1. The following procedure shall apply when Department employees are communicating with other City departments and/or government agencies: a. Radios assigned to Department employees and other City of Boca Raton employees are all equipped with City-wide talk groups. i. Employees from different departments should communicate on the appropriate City-wide talk groups using plain language (clear speech) and City identifiers. ii. If City identifiers become too cumbersome, employees may use last names, or positional assignments. b. The Communications Section has the ability to combine the Mutual Aid talk groups with any police talk group, which is useful in pursuit and other tactical situations. i. When this occurs, it is recommended that plain language and City identifiers be used. ii. A supervisor may authorize the use of last names, if appropriate. c. For police employees and agencies that do not have access to 800 MHz trunked radio frequencies or common talk groups, a supervisor may request authorization of the loan of a spare radio to facilitate radio communications or consider using the Florida Interoperability Network (FIN). d. Plain language (clear speech) and use of last names will be at the discretion of liaison officer with the affected agency. E. COMMON TALK GROUPS: 25.09 1. The county’s common talk groups are used to communicate with other counties and municipalities. Effective: March 27, 2014 Revised: November 4, 2021 Radio Communication SOP No. 81.02 Page 7 of 8 2. If the Department requests communication with other municipalities or counties, a crosspatch will be initiated between a tactical talk group and a common talk group to allow the Department to communicate on the common talk group. Approved: Michele Miuccio Chief of Police Effective: March 27, 2014 Revised: November 4, 2021 Date: Radio Communication SOP No. 81.02 Page 8 of 8