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Applicable To:  All employees

Approval Authority:  Chief George N. Turner

Signature:  Signed by GNT

Date Signed:  12/7/10

1.               PURPOSE

To establish policy and procedures for the use and maintenance of the Mobile Community Outreach Police Station (MCOPS) vehicle under the Weed and Seed Program.

2.               POLICY

The MCOPS should be used as often as possible in appropriate activities to complement and fulfill the policing mission of the Atlanta Police Department. In the areas of traditional policing, community policing, and neighborhood outreach activities.

3.               RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1             The Community Service Division (CSD) commander will name a coordinator of the MCOPS vehicle and monitor the use of the vehicle for Weed and Seed outreach and other law enforcement functions.

3.2             The Weed and Seed supervisor will maintain a list of approved drivers of the MCOPS vehicle and coordinate its use for events or incidents.  He or she will also complete an end-of-the-year report of the name, date, location, and type of events the vehicle was deployed.

3.3             The driver/operator will be responsible for driving the vehicle to the event site and setting it up for operation.  The assigned driver must complete a MCOPS Event Call-Out Checklist and Event Log Sheet (Form APD-950) and be available for any situation that may arise with the vehicle during deployment.

4.               ACTION

4.1             The following are examples of approved uses of the MCOPS vehicle as approved by the Executive Office of Weed and Seed, U.S. Department of Justice:

1.    Crime Prevention/Neighborhood Outreach

a.    Mini Police Station used to provide police and outreach services to neighborhoods that traditionally do not have easy access to police and city services;

b.    Crime prevention education programs;

c.    Neighborhood watch meeting;

d.    Support for neighborhood clean-ups, drug marches, community days;

e.    Organizing/sustaining neighborhood organizations;

f.     Juvenile programs; and

g.    Other crime prevention/outreach programs

2.    Enforcement Activities

 

a.    Homicide response neighborhood canvass;

b.    Probation sweeps;

c.    Curfew sweeps;

d.    Prostitution sweeps;

e.    Saturation sweeps;

f.     Bicycle patrols;

g.    Neighborhood mini-station to run extra patrols in “hot-spot” neighborhoods;

h.    Other traditional policing activities that require a mobile mini-station and have a positive impact on neighborhoods;

i.     On-street roll calls; and

j.     Tactical command post (the SOS Mobile Command Post will remain the primary tactical response command post) at parades, neighborhood events, special events, etc.

4.2             To schedule the MCOPS vehicle, a supervisor must contact the Weed and Seed supervisor or designee with details for the event or incident.  The Weed and Seed supervisor or designee will ensure that the requested detail complies with the approved uses of the vehicle, check for scheduling conflicts and request approval from the COPS commander.

4.3             Once the detail is approved, a Weed and Seed supervisor will arrange for an approved driver.  The detail supervisor requesting the vehicle will be responsible for ensuring adequate officers are assigned to the detail to staff the vehicle at all times.

4.4             Once the MCOPS vehicle is driven to an event site and set up, other officers may staff the vehicle, however, the vehicle must not be left unattended.

4.5             Each step of the checklist will be completed in order, checked off when completed, and signed by the driver.  All fields of the form should be filled out as completely as possible.  Upon completion of the detail, the driver will submit the form to a Weed and Seed supervisor for record keeping.

4.6             The MCOPS vehicle is currently stored at The Police Annex, 3493 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway by Property Control.  Upon parking MCOPS, the driver will ensure the vehicle is secured.  Any parking problems encountered at The Police Annex should be reported to the Weed and Seed Unit supervisor.

4.7              Vehicle Care and Maintenance (CALEA 5^th ed. standard 41.1.3 c)

4.7.1           It is the responsibility of all MCOPS drivers to ensure the vehicle is properly cared for.  The Weed and Seed supervisor will monitor mileage for preventive maintenance, but any driver noticing maintenance concerns should report those to the supervisor and note it on the log sheet.

4.7.2           The Atlanta Police Department will conduct preventive maintenance every 4,000 miles.  When drivers notice the vehicle is nearing time for maintenance, notify a Weed and Seed supervisor with a reminder.

4.7.3           The generator should have preventive maintenance performed every 100 hours.  This should be scheduled similar to the overall vehicle preventive maintenance.

4.7.4           All mechanical repairs and maintenance of the vehicle will be conducted through a Weed and Seed Unit supervisor.

4.7.5           Separate warranties or service agreements cover equipment installed on the vehicle such as radios, microwave, printer, computers, toilet, water pump, etc.  Any equipment needing service should be coordinated through a Weed and Seed supervisor.

4.7.6           Miscellaneous supplies such as office supplies are provided from Departmental resources such as the Property Control Unit.  These supplies will be obtained through normal procedures.

4.7.7           Replacement water bottles for the water cooler will be obtained through the Weed and Seed Unit.

4.7.8          The exterior and interior of MCOPS vehicle will be maintained in a clean and orderly manner.  The exterior can be cleaned at any city designated wash facility.  Those employees using the vehicle during any event will ensure the interior is clean, waste baskets emptied, excess paper removed, and food/food containers removed before relinquishing their control of the vehicle.

4.7.9          The waste tank must be maintained and emptied regularly.  The tank may be emptied at any facility that allows waste tank dumping.  After emptying the tank, sanitizer/deodorizer must be added to the tank.  This chemical is ordered by the Weed and Seed supervisor and is kept in the vehicle.  The driver should note on the vehicle’s log sheet when the chemical supply is getting low so it can be reordered promptly.

4.7.10        The fresh water tank must be kept filled with clean, potable water.  Periodic flushing of the tank is suggested.

4.8             All vehicle accidents and damage to the MCOPS vehicle must be immediately reported to a Weed and Seed supervisor.  As soon as possible after the incident, a detailed written report will be completed by the driver/operator of the vehicle and any other occupants who were present at the time of the accident or damage occurred.  This report will be turned into the supervisor.

5.               DEFINITIONS

                  N/A

6.               CANCELLATIONS

                  APD.SOP.6141 “Mobile Community Outreach Police Station (MCOPS)” issued July 1, 2004     

                  APD.SOP.4.62 “Mobile Community Outreach Police Station (MCOPS)”

7.               REFERENCES

                  APD.SOP.3180 “Unusual Occurrences”

                  APD.SOP.3150 “Vehicles Management”

                  Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies 5^th Edition Standard 41.1.3

                  Executive Office of Weed and Seed, U.S. Department of Justice