The Line Officer Function

CJUS 104 Part 3: Radio Procedures and Police Communications

1.

Radio procedures /communications

- lifeline for police - car radio /portable radio /vehicle computer A. Need help /backup = reach outside world - warrant /vehicle /driver check - immediate contact with dispatch /officers (1) Developed rapidly past 100 years - continues to accelerate (2) Computers in patrol vehicles - cell phones

B. History - early days citizen went to station house - look for officer on foot patrol (1) Changed = telephone /call box /radio - radio first introduced in late 1920s - one-way broadcast on AM radios - “calling all cars, calling all cars” - officers prepare to take down info (2) For officers to communicate - used a telephone - police callbox

(3) Officers in field = contact by dispatch - different signaling devices - red light flashing on tower - street lights flash (a) Technology advanced - flashing light on police callbox - located every 2 to 3 blocks - callbox was officer’s focal point 2. Radios today - portable on gun belt (Sam Browne) - permanent in patrol vehicle

A. Range from basic to advanced (1) Receives /transmits on single channel (2) Digitally synthesized 100+ channels - scanning /scrambled /trunked (3) Variety of options - LCD display /digital keyboards - panic button /remote microphones - earphones /privacy channels - motion detectors

(4) Operate on same fundamental principle - microphone /on-off volume control - channel selector / squelch B. Procedures - certain courtesy /convention to observe - whether receiving or sending (1) Radio time is precious - think out message in advance - try to keep it short - long message = pause each 15 sec.

- allow emergency transmission

(2) Assigned a call sign - “1 Adam 12” - dispatch /other officers address you - identify you to others (3) Call signs vary from agency to agency - from state to state - Washington state = maintain unity - centralized dispatch /911 center (4) Use call sign of “Paul” = P for patrol - or area assigned

- numerical designation = number of agency - last number = badge /serial number - area assigned = Adam /Boy /Charles (5) 1 = county /2 and on = cities by pop.

1 = Thurston County /2 = Olympia /3 = Lacey /4 = Tumwater, etc.

(a) 1 Paul 15 = county patrol deputy - badge number 15 (b) 2 Boy 57 = Boy area /badge 57

(6) Three basic rules to follow: (a) Accuracy - properly pronounce words - monotone voice: yelling distorts - information accurate = location (b) Brevity - use codes whenever possible - brief /concise /clear (c) Courtesy - limit use of radio

(7) Increase in radio traffic - Olympia = 6 to 7 cars - Lacey = 5 to 6 - Tumwater = 2 to 3 - can be on same frequency - monitor other agency calls C. Use - listening /talking on radio = acquired skill - hear everything even while busy (1) All agencies use codes to communicate - justification = time /efficiency

(3) Phonetic alphabet - avoid confusion - Adam /Boy /Charles /David /Edward - traffic: “stopping Adam-Boy-Charles one-two-three, Third and Pine.” (4) Example: - 2 Adam 57, radio - Adam 57, go ahead - status - 10-8 - received report of possible domestic, 1234 Greenbrier Court

- received, en-route code 2 - radio, 2 Adam 57, 10-6 - radio, 2 Adam 57, code 4 - radio, 2 Adam 57 unfounded, 10-8 3. Police jargon and slang - police speak a unique language A. Variations = police agencies /jurisdictions - criminal = “perp” east /suspect west - patrol car = squad-prowler /unit-cruiser B. Officer conversations

- penal codes /radio codes - California = 187 /211 /459 /415 (1) Writing reports - words understandable to public - stay away from police terminology (2) Victims, witnesses, jurors - must understand your wording C. 911 Dispatch center

- emergency service for police /fire /ambulance A. Differing systems - dispatcher answers /dispatches unit - call receiver answers telephone - routes info to appropriate dispatcher B. 911 Enhanced System - brings up prior calls to that address - advises officer of previous problems - shows directions /vehicle computer

4. Knowing your district - learn area whether urban /rural A. Imperative to know - lives depend = skills /know geography - response time = report vs. arrest - knowing area helps in making arrests (1) Responding to emergency (2 concerns) - quickest /safest way - route suspect may use to flee area

(2) Know your jurisdictions geography - more than just street names - know operational boundaries - city limits /county line - shared locations (3) What jurisdictions adjoin /overlap - what resources they can offer - K-9 /helicopter /SWAT /etc.

(4) Natural features /physical barriers

- major factor in response B. Knowing the streets - need to learn - working them /reviewing maps - looking at names of every street sign - FTO’s favorite game?

(1) Learn basic patterns - what divides north-south /east-west - where numbering system starts

- odd /even house numbers - one-way streets /roundabouts C. Basic elements for knowing patrol area (1) Geographic features - hills and valleys /trails /rivers /lakes - drawbridges /rail traffic /flood control (2) Residential areas - major streets /dead-ends /freeways

- know neighborhoods /are different - school /park /apartment /trailer parks (3) Business /warehouse areas - doors and entry locked /hiding places - knowing when search is necessary - familiar with inside areas as well (4) Service facilities (trouble spots) - taverns /card rooms /dance halls - criminal hangouts /drug houses

- check often /selective emphasis D. Getting around the district - drive-through beginning of shift - new construction /road closures /etc.

- clogged traffic /various events (school) (1) Keep response time to lowest level - use of opti-com