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Atlanta Police Department

Policy Manual

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Special Order

 

 

Effective Date

November 1, 2011

 

APD.SO.11.08

Written Directive Update

October 2011

Applicable To: All employees

Approval Authority:  Chief George N. Turner

Signature:  Signed by GNT

Date Signed:  10/19/11

 

  Table of Contents    
 

1.          PURPOSE  PAGEREF _Toc305510949 \h 1

2.          POLICY  PAGEREF _Toc305510950 \h 1

3.          RESPONSIBILITIES  PAGEREF _Toc305510951 \h 1

4.          ACTION   PAGEREF _Toc305510952 \h 1

4.1           New Directives  PAGEREF _Toc305510953 \h 1

4.1.1        APD.SOP.5142 Atl Proactive Enf. Unit (APEX) PAGEREF _Toc305510954 \h 1

4.2           Updated Directives  PAGEREF _Toc305510955 \h 1

4.2.1        APD.SOP.2011 General Conduct PAGEREF _Toc305510956 \h 1

4.2.2        APD.SOP.2060 Extra Jobs  PAGEREF _Toc305510957 \h 2

 
 

4.2.3        APD.SOP.2110 Duties of Senior Police Officers  PAGEREF _Toc305510958 \h 2

4.2.4        APD.SOP.3061 Methods of Clearing a Crime  PAGEREF _Toc305510959 \h 2

4.2.5        APD.SOP.3063 Accounting for Field Reports  PAGEREF _Toc305510960 \h 3

4.2.6        APD.SOP.3160 Court Responsibilities  PAGEREF _Toc305510961 \h 6

4.2.7        APD.SOP.3185 Active Shooter PAGEREF _Toc305510962 \h 7

4.2.8        APD.SOP.6030R1 Property and Evidence Control PAGEREF _Toc305510963 \h 9

5.          DEFINITIONS  PAGEREF _Toc305510964 \h 10

6.          CANCELLATIONS  PAGEREF _Toc305510965 \h 10

7.          REFERENCES  PAGEREF _Toc305510966 \h 10

 

 

1.               PURPOSE

 

This order summarizes revisions to existing directives and new directives. The full text to all current directives can be found on the Horizon intranet site at “http://horizon”. 

 

2.               POLICY

 

The Atlanta Police Department will keep its written directives up to date and promptly notify affected employees.

 

3.               RESPONSIBILITIES

 

3.1              Bureau, division, and section commanders will implement these changes in their commands, making sure that affected employees are notified.

 

4.               ACTION

 

4.1              New Directives

 

4.1.1           APD.SOP.5142 Atlanta Proactive Enforcement and Interdiction Unit (APEX)

 

1.    This is a newly created written directive was unanimously approved in both the Expert Review and in the Command Review.

 

4.2              Updated Directives

 

4.2.1           APD.SOP.2011 General Conduct

 

1.    Throughout, the directive was developed in compliance with Standards of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) 5th Edition.

 

2.    Section 4.4.2 was added and states:  All Atlanta Police Personnel (sworn and non-sworn) are prohibited from using personal recording devices such as a cellular telephone, camera, video camera, sound recording device etc. to record pictures, sounds, or video during the course of their duties.

 

3.    Section 4.4.3 was added and states:  Failure to comply with section 4.4.2 of this directive will result in the seizure of the device in order to ensure the preservation of any improperly obtained photos, videos, etc.

 

4.2.2           APD.SOP.2060 Extra Jobs

 

1.    Section 4.1.7 was amended and it now reads:  Employees working Type II, III, or V extra jobs will wear the Class B or Class C uniform. Lieutenants and below authorized to wear the Class C uniform in the performance of their regular duties may wear it while working extra jobs. Any uniform or clothing other than the Class B or Class C uniform must be requested and approved by a section commander in advance of the extra job permit (Form APD 727).

 

4.2.3           APD.SOP.2110 Duties of Senior Police Officers

 

1.    This directive was revised throughout to include the CALEA 5th Edition Standards.

 

2.    Throughout, the directive the word “will” was replaced by the word “shall.”

 

3.    Purpose Section was revised to include: To establish the specific duties and responsibilities for employees appointed to the position of Senior Police Officer (SPO).

 

4.    Section 3.1 was revised to include:  The Field Operations Division (FOD) commander shall manage the assignments of SPO’s under his or her command.

 

5.    Section 3.4 was revised to include:  The unit supervisor shall direct and instruct SPO’s under his or her supervision in their duties.

 

6.    Section 4.1.2 was revised to include:  Generally, Senior Police Officers shall serve as beat officers assigned to a sector “Umbrella” unit in addition to specific duties listed in section 4.1.1.

 

7.    Section 4.3.3 was revised to include:  Newly appointed SPO’s shall be assigned proportionately across all zones and watches in FOD at the discretion of the FOD commander, and based on personnel allocation needs.

 

4.2.4           APD.SOP.3061 Methods of Clearing a Crime

 

1.    Section 4.1.2 subsection 3 was revised and now reads:  The investigator or zone officer will submit a request for clearing or unfounding an incident report via case management on ICIS, to his or her immediate supervisor.  The request will include all supporting documentation, including investigators' supplements, copies of incident report, GCIC documents, etc.

 

2.    Section 4.1.5 subsection 4 was revised and now reads:  Reports that do not meet UCR guidelines or departmental policy will be returned to the appropriate section commander specifying the reason for rejecting the request and for the appropriate corrective action via case management on ICIS.

 

3.    Section 4.2.3 subsection 5 was revised and now reads:  Confession by offender already in police custody or serving sentence (this is actually a variation of true clearance by arrest; the offender could not be "apprehended" but in most situations could be prosecuted on the new charge).

 

4.    APD Form 908 was revised to add “Associated Case# for A-K if any” under #2.

 

4.2.5           APD.SOP.3063 Accounting for Field Reports

 

1.    This directive was revised throughout to include the CALEA 5th Edition Standards.

 

2.    Throughout, the directive the word “will” was replaced by the word “shall.”

 

3.    Section 3.3 was revised and now reads:

 

3.3  Watch and unit commanders shall ensure that complete and accurate reports are turned in on a timely basis but no later than the end of the watch, unless supervisory approval is given for an exception.

 

4.    Section 4.1 was revised and now reads:

 

4.1  A database called Code 17 Validation tracks missing incident reports.  Code 17 Validation shows all calls in a zone for which a Code 17 was given as a pull-in, but there is no report yet in CJIS.  Some of the reports may be due from CID, SOS or extra job officers; the watch or unit commander must account for all reports generated by on duty officers that are assigned to the zone or work group, regardless of the incident location.

 

5.    Section 4.2 was revised and now reads:

 

4.2  The watch or unit commander or a designee shall pull up Code 17 Validation at the beginning of each watch to account for the reports due from the officers on the previous day’s watch (including those initiated while the officer was on an extra job).  Communications supervisors are responsible for signing and accounting for reports generated via Teleserve. (See Figure 1)

 

6.    Sections 4.2.1 was revised and now reads:

 

4.2.1 Using a computer connected to the City Wide Area Network, launch Internet Explorer and in the address location type in the following:  URL:http://10.25.10.56/ then press enter.  (Add the link to the favorites in Internet Explorer.) This shall take you to the  ICIS Support page.  This page may also be accessed via a link on the Horizon web page. (See Figure 1).

 

7.    Section 4.2.2 was revised and now reads:

 

4.2.2    Code 17 Validations:

 

1.    If you don’t  have a “click once” application (e.g. CM Viewer) installed on your computer already, open up your default web-browser (should be Internet Explorer, not Mozilla Firefox) and enter the following address:  http://10.25.18.200/Dispo17Monitor/publish.htm  That link installs the prerequisites.

 

        If you do have a “click once” application installed already on your computer, enter this address in your Internet Explorer web-browser:  http://10.25.18.200/dispo17monitor/dispo17monitor.application  Click Run on the Application Run-Security Warning pop-up box that appears.  This will cause the application to download on your computer.  Finally, a Dispo 17 Monitor Login box will appear. 

 

a.  On the Dispo 17 Monitor Login box, the Username is your APD unique ID#; the Password is your ICIS password.  Insert the required information and click OK or strike your Enter key.

 

b. The Code 17 Validation page will appear.  At the top of the page are the column headers listing the Incident number, Incident date, Command Area (or Zone), Workgroup, Unit (radio number), Officer (by unique ID#), and the Call type.  At the bottom of the page is the tool bar.

 

c.  In the tool bar section of the page, click on the small dropdown arrow on the Work Group box; choose the Work Group that you wish to work (e.g. Z4OFC for the main Zone 4 Officer’s Work Group.  Z4SUPV for the main Zone 4 Supervisor Work Group, etc.).  Make sure the right “radio button” is selected for what you are trying to accomplish (e.g. “Code 17’s Not Decisioned” just under the APD patch on the bottom left corner of the page) and click the Submit button on the bottom right hand corner of the page.

 

d. After you click Submit you will notice the toolbar at the bottom of the page will disappear.  If you wish to get it back, click on the two small down arrows on the extreme bottom left hand corner of the page.  To work the Code 17 Validations Not Decisioned list for your Work Group, it is not necessary for the toolbar to be visible.

 

e.  To work the Code 17 Validations Not Decisioned list for your Work Group, left click once on the small gray box just left of the Incident number on the left side of the page.

 

Note:  The list will default to the newest Incident number’s first.  If you want to see the oldest Incidents at the top of the list instead, simply left click once on the Incident Number column header. You can also manipulate the other column headers by clicking on them as well.  For instance, to see all of the Incidents of a certain Officer in a row left click once on the Officer header and it will “stack” the unique ID#’s numerically.  At the top of the list will be blank boxes that were not entered into the system. Scroll down and you’ll see the numbers start to appear from lowest to highest.

 

f.  After clicking on the small gray box to the left of the incident number, another box will appear that has all the Calls For Service information on it, such as the narrative remarks, the location, what type of call it was, dates/times, who was assigned the call, what the disposition was, any related case numbers, etc.

 

g. After determining what the call should be - Report Required, Change Workgroup, Reported under different report number, or Other – click the appropriate “radio button” to the left of the choice and click Record Decision.

 

Note:  If you choose “Other” or “Reported under different report number,” a small note box will appear.  Be sure and type in at least 8 characters in the note box or the Record Decision button will not appear.

 

After you click the Record Decision button the CFS information box disappears as does the Incident number from the Incident number column. You are free to click on another gray box to the left of another Incident number and continue your work.

 

8.    Sections 4.3.1 was added and now reads:

 

4.3.1    Management Tools for Supervisors.

 

1.     Report validation summary displays all reports listed in code 17 validation.  This is quite useful for managers to get the overall status of code 17 validation quickly. (See Figure 2).

 

a.   Go to Horizon.

 

b.   Click on the “ICIS Support Page” link on the left side.

 

c.   Click on the “Report Validation Summary” link on the left side: and

 

d.   Once on the Report Validation Summary page there are several options to search by:

 

                (1)        Zone.

 

                (2)        Work Group.

 

                (3)        Officer.

 

                (4)        Incident Number.

 

                (5)        Date Range.

 

9.    Section 4.3.2 was added.

 

10.  Section 4.4 was added and now reads:

 

4.4  Non-Zone Specific (citywide units) Recommended Search Method - Incident Crime Information System (ICIS)

 

11. Section 4.4.1 was added.

 

12.  Section 4.4.2 was added.

 

13.  Section 4.4.3 was added and now reads:

 

4.4.3    The Supervisor shall list and process all “Report Required but not in ICIS” and  “Code 17’s Not Decisioned” on ICIS with  the incident number, incident date, command area, work group, unit I.D, officer I.D and call type. If the supervisor concludes, by checking that I.D. number against a list of all officers assigned to the zone, that the officer is assigned to a different work group, then the supervisor should contact the Central Records commander.

 

14.  Section 4.4.4 was added and now reads:

 

4.4.4    In the case where an officer from outside the zone has a report or call in the list of “Report Required but not in ICIS” and “Code 17’s Not Decisioned” category, the zone need not account for that report in the reconciliation process.  The appropriate supervisor from that officer’s work group shall reconcile the report once notification is received from the Central records commander.  The City of Atlanta Department of Information Technology or its designee shall provide assistance to the appropriate supervisor in reconciling the report

 

15.  Section 4.4.5  was added and now reads:

 

4.4.5    At least once a week, each watch or unit commander (or a designee) shall conduct a search using the resources on the ICIS support page or Code 17 Monitor to ensure that no reports from the previous seven (7) days remain unaccounted for.  It is suggested that a search be conducted on Sunday for the previous COBRA period. (CALEA 5th ed. Standard 82.2.1e) 

 

16.  Section 4.4.6 was added and now reads:

 

4.4.6    Any report found to be missing shall be completed by the officer who is responsible as soon as possible.

 

17.  Section 4.4.7 was added and now reads:

 

4.4.7    The City of Atlanta Department of Information Technology, or its designee shall be responsible for maintaining work groups, including making changes to these groups due to transfers or hiring of personnel.  Personnel Services Information Technology Department (PSITD) supervisors shall update PSITD or its designee on these personnel changes.

 

4.2.6           APD.SOP.3160 Court Responsibilities

 

1.    Section 4.6.3 was amended and it now reads, “An employee should when possible be provided with a subpoena seventy-two (72) hours prior to the required appearance date unless otherwise directed by a judge.”

 

2.    Section 4.7.2 was amended and it now reads, “Officers must appear in court on all set cases, and in cases where a subpoena or summons has been issued.  In instances whereby officers are placed on “on-call” status by the court, he or she must provide the court with a reliable contact number (i.e. cellular telephone and/or residential telephone) other than their worksite.

 

4.2.7           APD.SOP.3185 Active Shooter

 

1.    Throughout, the directive was revised in compliance with Standards of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) 5th Edition.

 

2.    Policy Section was revised to include:  The Atlanta Police Department shall respond to all incidents with the appropriate employees, equipment, and resources to expeditiously resolve the incident.

 

3.    Section 3.3 was revised to include:  Communication Section supervisors shall ensure their employees are trained in active shooter terminology and radio procedures.

 

4.    Section 4.1.1 was revised to include:  Officers entering a location where there is an “active shooter” should be wearing their assigned duty uniform.  Plain clothes officers shall wear a warrant uniform which shall consist of a blue jumpsuit, jacket or 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 shall be worn on the left breast side and the metal nameplate or embroidered name patch shall be worn on the right breast side of the jumpsuit, jacket or the Department approved black mesh vest. (APD.SOP.2130 effective date: June 1, 2011)

 

5.    Section 4.1.2 was revised to include:  The first officers responding to a situation involving an ongoing shooting of persons in a school, government building, or other place shall make the decision, based on all available information, to engage in the necessary tactical intervention to stop the shooting of innocent persons.  As additional officers arrive, the first responding officers on the scene shall:

 

6.    Section 4.1.2 paragraph 2 was revised to include:  Immediately advise Communications of the situation upon arrival and request assistance from supervisors and additional police officers.  If a signal 63 has not been initiated, the Incident Commander shall do so.  The Incident Commander shall immediately cancel the signal 63 once enough officers have responded to the scene to safely handle the situation.

 

7.    Section 4.1.2 paragraph 5 was revised to include:  Officers shall advise Communications and their first line supervisor of the number of officers entering the building and through what entrance they shall be making entry.  If there is only one supervisor on the scene, he or she shall remain on the outside of the building to take command and direct additional units as they arrive.

 

8.    Section 4.1.2 paragraph 8 was revised to include:  If the incident commander determines the situation has changed into that of a hostage situation or a barricaded gunman situation, he or she shall change operations accordingly.

 

9.    Section 4.1.3 paragraph 1 was revised to include:  When officers find themselves in an active shooter situation, all unnecessary radio communication shall cease.  Officers responding to the scene shall change to the appropriate zone radio frequency and monitor the situation as they arrive.  As contact teams enter the threatened area, they shall change their radio frequency to “TAC 2 channel.”  Only officers inside the perimeter and supervisors shall use “TAC 2.

 

10. Section 4.1.4 was revised to include:  If Immediate Deployment/Rapid Intervention tactics are deemed necessary, the Incident Commander or first responding officer shall assemble a contact/rescue team.

 

11.  Section 4.1.4 paragraph 1 was revised to include:  A contact team shall consist of three to four officers and shall immediately move towards any known suspects. The team shall move with 360-degree security, using all immediately available protective equipment to aid in their entry. The Incident Commander shall remain outside.  Those officers certified to carry patrol rifles should be placed in the most advantageous positions.

 

12.  Section 4.1.4 paragraph 2c was revised to include: “Continue past victims to confront any active suspects. Movement through the building should be done as a team at a rapid pace. Officers acting as a contact team shall move cautiously past citizens, searching for the active shooter.  Wounded or distressed citizens shall take a second priority to locating and addressing the active shooter.

 

13.  Section 4.1.4 paragraph 2d was revised to include:  Continue to move cautiously past suspicious devices (suspected IED’s, previously detonated devices, etc) and unsecured areas and rooms, using limited penetration and visually scanning open areas. Officers shall attempt to mark said areas and advise radio and supervisors of the marking and threat posed.  Officers should not use radio communication anywhere near a suspected explosive device.

 

14.  Section 4.1.4 paragraph 2e was revised to include:  Communicate deployment progress and any intelligence gathered, such as location of victims, explosive devises, armed assailants, and weapons to the incident commander and request additional officers or contact teams to enhance search and tactical capabilities.  No radio traffic shall be passed within 300 ft. of an explosive device.

 

15.  Section 4.1.4 paragraph 2g was revised to include:  “If the contact team engages the suspect, a team member shall call for support officers to secure the perpetrator, scan the area for threats and continue to search for additional threats once support officers have arrived to take custody of the perpetrator.”

 

16.  Section 4.1.4 paragraph 5 was revised to include:  As contact teams begin to bring citizens out, officers shall escort them to areas that are safe, allow for medical treatment, provide cover and allow for investigators to interview witnesses.

 

17.  Section 4.1.4 paragraph 7 was revised to include:  Officers and supervisors positioned on the perimeter shall ensure that responding vehicles do not stop in such a manner that impedes the freedom of movement of other emergency vehicles.  In the event a vehicle must be moved to facilitate emergency operations, police shall use a tow truck, D.O.T. truck, or other means available.

                        

18.  Section 4.1.5 was revised to include, “Duties of the On-scene Incident Commander.”             

 

19.  Section 4.1.5 paragraph 2 was revised to include:  Assess the situation and ensure the responsibilities of the first officers on the scene are complete or in progress and that communication is established with the SWAT Unit. As necessary, the IC or designee shall contact other tactical units to assist.  (i.e. APEX, FIT teams)

 

20.  Section 4.1.5 paragraph 7 was revised to include:  As necessary, coordinate a Casualty Collection Point (CCP) and inform medical personnel of its location.  Supervisors shall notify local hospitals through radio dispatch of a possible mass casualty situation.

 

21.  Section 4.1.6 was revised to include:  All Atlanta Police Officers shall be permitted to carry supplemental magazines of ammunition.  The magazines shall be stored in the officer’s duty bag or briefcase until needed.  These additional magazines shall be purchased at the expense of the individual officer, but approved by the range master

 

22.  Section 4.2.1 was revised to include:  If officers become aware the “active shooter(s)” have access to any type of substance or weapon that could be considered or used as a biological or chemical weapon, they shall immediately advise the incident commander of the threat.

 

23.  Section 4.2.2 was revised to include:  The Incident Commander shall notify AFR HAZMAT team.  The AFR HAZMAT leadership shall advise the Incident Commander on all issues regarding hazardous material.

 

24.  Section 4.2.3 was revisied to include:  The Incident Commander shall make a determination on the abilities and limitations responding officers have in the presence of chemical or biological weapons.

 

25.  Section 5.1 was revised to include:  Incident Commander: The person responsible for all aspects of an emergency response; including quickly developing incident objectives, managing all incident operations, application of resources as well as responsibility for all persons involved. The Incident Commander sets priorities and defines the organization of the incident response teams and the overall Incident Action Plan. The role of Incident Commander may be assumed by Senior or higher Qualified Officers upon their arrival or as the situation dictates. Even if subordinate positions are not assigned, the Incident Commander position shall always be designated or assumed. The Incident Commander may, at their own discretion, assign Officers, who may be from the same agency or from assisting agencies, to subordinate or specific positions for the duration of the Emergency. Depending on the incident, the Incident Commander could also be staffed by a non-departmental entity within the Unified Command structure, such as the Department of Fire Rescue.

 

26.  Section 5.2 was revised to include:  Active Shooter: a situation where one or more subjects participate in a random or systematic shooting spree or other violence, demonstrating their intent to continuously harm others. The overriding objective of an active shooter appears to be that of mass murder, rather than other criminal conduct, such as robbery, hostage taking, etc. For the purpose of this policy, the term "active shooter" shall also include anyone who uses any other deadly weapon to systematically or randomly inflict death or serious bodily injury on others over a continuous or extended period of time.

 

4.2.8           APD.SOP.6030R1 Property and Evidence Control

 

This notice modifies section 4.2.4 paragraph 2, to APD.SOP.6030, “Property and Evidence

Control” pertaining to Property Control unit employees responsibilities.

 

1.    Section 4.2.4 paragraph 2 was amended by removing subparagraph (1) requiring that one of the two APD PCU employees be sworn. 

 

5.               DEFINITIONS

 

                  N/A

 

6.               CANCELLATIONS

 

                  NA

 

7.               REFERENCES

 

                  N/A