Applicable To: All Communications Dispatchers and Supervisors

Approval Authority:  Director M. R. Butler

Signature:  Signed by MRB

Date Signed:  12/12/08

1.               PURPOSE

Establish a protocol for accepting and delivering requests for emergency messages and welfare checks.

2.               POLICY

The Atlanta Police Communications Section will make every effort to assist citizens and other agencies for requests made to deliver emergency messages and welfare checks.  The Communications personnel will follow procedures set forth in the action section of this directive.

3.               RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1              The Communications personnel assigned to 911 and ACIC will be responsible for obtaining the necessary information for requests for emergency notifications and welfare checks.

4.               ACTION

4.1              When a request is received by Communications personnel assigned to 911 or ACIC to deliver emergency notifications (death, serious illness or injury) or welfare checks for persons living within the jurisdiction of Atlanta, the employee should take the following steps:

4.1.1           Verify the address through CADS (Computer Aided Dispatch System) to make sure the address is within the jurisdiction of Atlanta.

4.1.2           The personnel assigned to 911 will obtain a name and contact number of the caller and will forward the call to dispatch.

4.1.3           The caller will be given an incident number for reference to call back and check on the status of the call.

4.1.4           The caller will be told that an officer will be sent to the location to relay the message or to do a welfare check.

4.1.5           If the message is a death notification, the dispatcher working the zone will dispatch a field supervisor to relay the message.  The field supervisor will request the assistance of a Chaplin if the field supervisor deems this to be necessary.

4.1.6           If the person requesting the notification or welfare check is calling from outside of Georgia, they will be instructed to contact their local police agency and have them send the request via Teletype to our agency at ORI (GAAPD0000).  The personnel assigned to ACIC will receive the teletype and follow the above steps.  (CALEA 5th ed. standard 81.2.11)

4.1.7           If law enforcement personnel from another agency calls to request an emergency message or welfare check for someone that lives within the jurisdiction of Atlanta, they will be required to send a Teletype to our agency at ORI GAAPD0000.  (CALEA 5^th ed. standard 81.2.11) Once the ACIC operator receives the information then the above steps will be followed.

4.2              Emergency Notifications/Deaths involving employees of the Atlanta Police Department

4.2.1           In instances where our agency has to make a death notification to an employee of the department, a Chaplain will be contacted and requested to assist the supervisor in delivering the message to the employee.  (CALEA 5^th ed. standard 81.2.11)

4.2.2           In a case of the death of a department employee, notifications will be made by Communications to the Chaplains, Psychological Services, Personnel and the Command Staff, which includes the Chief of Police.  (CALEA 5^th ed. standard 81.2.11)

5.               DEFINITIONS

                  N/A

6.               CANCELLATIONS

                  APD.CM.04.13 Request for Emergency Notifications and Welfare Checks

7.               REFERENCES

                 Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies 5th Edition Standard 81.2.11