Applicable To: All employees assigned to the School Detective Unit

Approval Authority:  Major S.M. O'Brien

Signature:  Signed by SMO

Date Signed:  2/23/2005

1.               Purpose

Establish procedures for notifying Atlanta Police Department Communication Section on “school” alarms.

2.               Policy

The Atlanta Police School Detective Unit Communication Dispatch Center will work in collaboration will Atlanta Police Department Communications Section to ensure that all calls received will be dispatched for response in the most efficient manner to ensure rapid response times.

3.               Responsibilities

3.1              The School Detective Unit Commander will ensure that all policies and procedures set forth in this directive are followed by all personnel, whether assigned or employed to provide services to the Atlanta Police Department School Detective Unit.

4.               ACTION

4.1              Alarm calls are received by the Atlanta Police School Detective Unit Communication Dispatch Center will be dispatched to an available School Detective Unit Officer/Investigator for immediate response.

4.2              When a School Detective Unit Officer/Investigator is not available to respond to the call, notifies dispatch of a delayed response, or that assistance is needed the call will be relayed to Atlanta Police Department Communications Detective Radio Console Operator for dispatch to the unit in the affected zone.

4.3              The first School Detective Unit Officer/Investigator that clears before the call has been closed will respond to relieve the responding zone unit.

4.4              The Atlanta Police School Detective Unit Communication Dispatch Center will notify Atlanta Police Department Communications Detective Radio Console Operator of all alarm calls to inform zone units who may be the closest car to the call. This notification does not rise to a dispatched call, nor does it over ride existing priority calls pending by Atlanta Police Department Communications for dispatch.

4.5              Supervisors assigned to the School Detective Unit will monitor communications and inquire about estimated times of arrivals, number of “hits” from alarms, possible or known subjects in the building and intervene appropriately to ensure the safety of officers and the protection of property.

5.               DEFINITIONS

5.1              Hits: refers to the number of times an alarm sounds as a detection of intrusion into a building or structure.

5.2              School: in this memorandum refers to Atlanta Public School properties that generate alarms for response by the Atlanta Police Department School Detective Unit.

6.               CANCELLATIONS

N/A

7.               REFERENCES

N/A