December 8, 2004 To establish policy and procedure for the Auto Theft Task Force to reduce auto thefts in Atlanta through aggressive proactive police action.

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Atlanta Police Department

Policy Manual

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard Operating

Procedure

 

 

Effective Date

June 1, 2011

(Triennial Due:   August 26, 2013)

 

 

APD.SOP.5192

Auto Theft Task Force

 

Applicable To: Auto Theft Task Force employees

Approval Authority:  Chief George N. Turner

Signature:  Signed by GNT

Date Signed:  5/27/11

 

 

1.               PURPOSE

 

To establish policy and procedure for the Auto Theft Task Force to reduce auto thefts in Atlanta through aggressive proactive police action.

 

2.               POLICY

 

The Department will provide a high profile and aggressive police presence to reduce the number of auto thefts in the City. The Auto Theft Task Force (ATTF) will be primarily responsible for locating and recovering stolen vehicles and associated criminal activities, as well as apprehending and arresting the person(s) in control of those vehicles or participating in associated criminal activities.

 

3.               RESPONSIBILITIES

 

3.1              The Investigations Section commander is responsible for: the selection and appointment of employees to the ATTF; providing access to training; and monitoring the implementation of this directive.

 

3.2              Employees assigned to ATTF are responsible for locating and recovering stolen vehicles and associated criminal activity, apprehending and arresting the person(s) in control of those vehicles or participating in associated illegal activity, as well as adhering to the requirements of this directive.

 

4.               ACTION

 

4.1              Qualifications and Selection

 

4.1.1           The Investigations Section commander will oversee the selection and appointment of employees to the ATTF. Employees may be placed in either permanent or temporary positions.

 

4.1.2           The appointment and selection of employees to the ATTF will be in accordance with APD.SOP.2101 Specialized and Temporary Assignments.

 

4.2              Training

 

4.2.1           After being selected to the ATTF, employees must successfully complete an Auto Theft training course, to include the following: VIN identification, theft methods, title fraud, rental car theft, chop shops, new and used cars/parts dealerships, altered VIN detection, and Lo-jack.

 

 

4.2.2           Employees are encouraged to participate in other training opportunities, to include: investigator training; search and arrest warrant training; Field Investigator Training; interviews and interrogation training; and other training as appropriate.

 

4.3              Equipment and Uniforms

 

4.3.1           Employees will use marked or unmarked vehicles in the performance of their duties. All vehicles will be equipped according to APD.SOP.3151 Vehicles and Vehicle Equipment.

 

4.3.2           Marked patrol vehicles will contain LO- Jack equipment.

 

4.3.3           The ATTF will maintain any additional specialized equipment as necessary and appropriate.

 

4.3.4           Employees assigned to the Auto Theft Task Force (ATTF) will wear black BDU pants and long or short sleeve t-shirts with the Department approved black mesh vest that clearly and readily identifies the employee as a police officer.   The metal breast badge or an embroidered cloth badge will be worn on the left breast side and the metal nameplate or embroidered name patch will be worn on the right breast side of the Department approved black mesh vest.

 

4.3.5           Employees assigned to the ATTF may wear coveralls at the discretion of the supervisor. The coveralls will have an Atlanta Police patch and an ATTF rocker on each shoulder, an embroidered cloth badge patch on the left breast pocket, and an embroidered cloth nameplate on the right breast pocket.

 

4.4              Functions

 

4.4.1           The ATTF will operate throughout the City to:

 

1.    Locate and recover stolen vehicles;

 

2.    Locate and shut down chop shops and other associated illegal activities; and

 

3.    Apprehend and arrest persons involved in such illegal activities.

 

4.4.2           The ATTF will provide assistance to zones and other specialized units as it relates to auto thefts and related illegal activities.

 

4.4.3           The ATTF will run specialized details using unmarked cars and plain-clothes officers as necessary and appropriate to proactively reduce the rate of auto thefts.

 

4.5              The ATTF will forward a monthly comprehensive summary of the ATTF activity to the Section commander.

 

5.               DEFINITIONS

 

                  N/A

 

6.               CANCELLATIONS

 

                  APD.SOP.5192 “Auto Theft Task Force”, issued December 8, 2004

 

7.               REFERENCES

 

                  APD.SOP.2101 Specialized and Temporary Assignments

                  APD.SOP.3050 Pursuit Policy

                  APD.SOP.3151 Vehicles and Vehicle Equipment

 

                 Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies 5th Edition

                 Standards16.2.1; 16.2.2; 16.2.3