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Atlanta Police Department

Section

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section Command

Memorandum

 

Effective Date

June 1, 2005

 

APD.CM.05.14

Discretionary Units

Applicable To: All Sworn Personnel

Approval Authority:  Major E. N. Finley

Signature:  Signed by ENF

Date Signed: 6/1/2005

 

 

1.               PURPOSE

 

The intent of this directive is to establish a procedure for operating specialized units of discretionary sworn personnel to augment the crime enforcement efforts of the patrol officers assigned to Zone Three and supplement the overall crime reduction strategy by impacting areas as identified by the community and command.

 

2.               POLICY

 

Police officers will be assigned to the T.R.A.P. Team, Seal Team, Impact team, Strike Team and Mini-Motors to address enforcement activities identified by the Zone Three Commander and the community at large.  The units will be flexible in their work schedule and days off to address; vacant houses, rooming houses, abandoned vehicles, high drug areas, high crime areas and wanted persons and other community concerns as identified at NPU meetings and as directed by the Zone Commander or his designee. 

 

3                RESPONSIBILITIES

 

3.1              Zone Three Commander may establish discretionary teams.   Zone Three Commander will govern the appearance of the discretionary units. Zone Three Commander will identify particular problem areas for the teams to concentrate on.  Zone Three Commander will ensure that proper training and safety procedures are followed according to the written directives of the department as well the zone.  Zone Three Commander will ensure that Mini-Motor operators have a valid Georgia Motorcycle drivers license. 

 

3.2              Assistant Zone Commander will monitor the discretionary unit’s actions and impact on the problem areas identified.

 

3.3              Watch Commander and Crime analysis will identify problem areas to be addressed by the discretionary units and pass that information on to the Assistant Zone Commander and Zone Commander for action.  

 

3.4              Discretionary Team supervisors will monitor the team’s performance, analyze the team’s actions and make a plan for further action.  The team Supervisors will report regularly to the Zone Three Assistant Commander on the impact of the teams in the zone.

 

3.5              Discretionary units employees will work to impact quality of life issues and high crime issues as determined by the Zone Commander and meet with their assigned NPU’s to address concerns of the community. 

 

4.               ACTION

 

4.1              The discretionary units will not respond to calls for service unless the situation in the Zone as determined by the Zone Commander or the Watch Commander on duty directs.

 

4.1.1           The discretionary units will aggressively patrol their areas of responsibility focusing on street level crime, high drug areas to enforce City Ordinances and State Laws and to identify suspicious persons or activity on the streets in Zone Three.

 

4.1.2           The discretionary units will support the Code Enforcement officers with enforcing city ordinances, Atlanta Police Department Detectives, other jurisdiction Detectives and Zone units with search warrants and arrest warrants.

 

4.1.3           The discretionary units will work independently to address the concerns of their area of responsibility and assist each other when necessary to as directed by the Zone Three Commander.

 

4.2              Uniforms

 

4.2.1           Zone Three Commander will designate the uniform for the discretionary units to wear depending on the units assignment; those uniforms may include tactical uniforms, B.D.U. uniforms, bike uniforms, class A uniforms, polo type police shirts and/or any combination of those uniforms.

 

4.2.2           The discretionary units will wear protective body armor at all times, unless plain-clothes detail would prohibit wearing body armor.

 

4.2.3           All sworn employees will abide by the requirements of this directive and will maintain, care for all uniforms and equipment, ensuring that unauthorized persons are not allowed access to or use of Department uniforms and equipment.

 

4.2.4           Sworn Police Officers who are on duty or representing the department in an official capacity will wear only those articles of uniform, clothing, equipment and accessories that are authorized by the department and the Zone Three Commander.     

 

5.               DEFINITIONS

 

5.1              T.R.A.P. Team: This team operates within Atlanta Housing Authority Areas to address crime concerns on A.H.A. property during Evening Watch.

 

5.2              Seal Team: The Seal Team operates in high crime areas during Morning Watch.

 

5.3              Strike Team: The Strike Team operates in high crime areas during Evening Watch.

 

5.4              Impact Team: The Impact Team operates in high crime areas during the Day Watch.

 

5.5              Mini-Motors: Mini-Motors operates in the zone addressing designated events, park patrol and directed patrol on Day and Evening Watch.

 

6.               CANCELLATIONS

                 

N/A
     

7.               REFERENCES

 

APD.SOP.4020 Field Investigation Teams

APD.SOP.2130 Dress Code/Uniforms

CALEA 41.1.4; 26.1.1; 41.3.4; 41.3.5; 41.3.6; 61.3.2(f); 61.3.5(g)