The Line Officer
Function
CJUS 104
Part 3: Radio Procedures and
Police Communications
1.
Radio procedures /communications
- lifeline for police
- car radio /portable radio /vehicle computer
A. Need help /backup = reach outside world
- warrant /vehicle /driver check
- immediate contact with dispatch /officers
(1) Developed rapidly past 100 years
- continues to accelerate
(2) Computers in patrol vehicles
- cell phones
B. History
- early days citizen went to station house
- look for officer on foot patrol
(1) Changed = telephone /call box /radio
- radio first introduced in late 1920s
- one-way broadcast on AM radios
- “calling all cars, calling all cars”
- officers prepare to take down info
(2) For officers to communicate
- used a telephone
- police callbox
(3) Officers in field = contact by dispatch
- different signaling devices
- red light flashing on tower
- street lights flash
(a) Technology advanced
- flashing light on police callbox
- located every 2 to 3 blocks
- callbox was officer’s focal point
2. Radios today
- portable on gun belt (Sam Browne)
- permanent in patrol vehicle
A. Range from basic to advanced
(1) Receives /transmits on single channel
(2) Digitally synthesized 100+ channels
- scanning /scrambled /trunked
(3) Variety of options
- LCD display /digital keyboards
- panic button /remote microphones
- earphones /privacy channels
(4) Operate on same fundamental principle
- microphone /on-off volume control
- channel selector / squelch
B. Procedures
- certain courtesy /convention to observe
- whether receiving or sending
(1) Radio time is precious
- think out message in advance
- try to keep it short
- long message = pause each 15 sec.
- allow emergency transmission
(2) Assigned a call sign
- “1 Adam 12”
- dispatch /other officers address you
- identify you to others
(3) Call signs vary from agency to agency
- from state to state
- Washington state = maintain unity
- centralized dispatch /911 center
(4) Use call sign of “Paul” = P for patrol
- numerical designation = number of
agency
- last number = badge /serial number
- area assigned = Adam /Boy /Charles
(5) 1 = county /2 and on = cities by pop.
1 = Thurston County /2 = Olympia /3
= Lacey /4 = Tumwater, etc.
(a) 1 Paul 15 = county patrol deputy
- badge number 15
(b) 2 Boy 57 = Boy area /badge 57
(6) Three basic rules to follow:
(a) Accuracy
- properly pronounce words
- monotone voice: yelling distorts
- information accurate = location
(b) Brevity
- use codes whenever possible
- brief /concise /clear
(c) Courtesy
- limit use of radio
(7) Increase in radio traffic
- Olympia = 6 to 7 cars
- Lacey = 5 to 6
- Tumwater = 2 to 3
- can be on same frequency
- monitor other agency calls
C. Use
- listening /talking on radio = acquired skill
- hear everything even while busy
(1) All agencies use codes to communicate
- justification = time /efficiency
(3) Phonetic alphabet
- avoid confusion
- Adam /Boy /Charles /David /Edward
- traffic: “stopping Adam-Boy-Charlesone-two-three, Third and Pine.”
(4) Example:
- 2 Adam 57, radio
- Adam 57, go ahead
- status
- 10-8
- received report of possible domestic,
1234 Greenbrier Court
-
received, en-route code 2
radio, 2 Adam 57, 10-6
radio, 2 Adam 57, code 4
radio, 2 Adam 57 unfounded, 10-8
3. Police jargon and slang
- police speak a unique language
A. Variations = police agencies /jurisdictions
- criminal = “perp” east /suspect west
- patrol car = squad-prowler /unit-cruiser
B. Officer conversations
- penal codes /radio codes
- California = 187 /211 /459 /415
(1) Writing reports
- words understandable to public
- stay away from police terminology
(2) Victims, witnesses, jurors
- must understand your wording
C. 911 Dispatch center
- emergency service for police /fire /ambulance
A. Differing systems
- dispatcher answers /dispatches unit
- call receiver answers telephone
- routes info to appropriate dispatcher
B. 911 Enhanced System
- brings up prior calls to that address
- advises officer of previous problems
- shows directions /vehicle computer
4. Knowing your district
- learn area whether urban /rural
A. Imperative to know
- lives depend = skills /know geography
- response time = report vs. arrest
- knowing area helps in making arrests
(1) Responding to emergency (2 concerns)
- quickest /safest way
- route suspect may use to flee area
(2) Know your jurisdictions geography
- more than just street names
- know operational boundaries
- city limits /county line
- shared locations
(3) What jurisdictions adjoin /overlap
- what resources they can offer
- K-9 /helicopter /SWAT /etc.
(4) Natural features /physical barriers
- major factor in response
B. Knowing the streets
- need to learn
- working them /reviewing maps
- looking at names of every street sign
- FTO’s favorite game?
(1) Learn basic patterns
- what divides north-south /east-west
- where numbering system starts
- odd /even house numbers
- one-way streets /roundabouts
C. Basic elements for knowing patrol area
(1) Geographic features
- hills and valleys /trails /rivers /lakes
- drawbridges /rail traffic /flood control
(2) Residential areas
- major streets /dead-ends /freeways
- know neighborhoods /are different
- school /park /apartment /trailer parks
(3) Business /warehouse areas
- doors and entry locked /hiding places
- knowing when search is necessary
- familiar with inside areas as well
(4) Service facilities (trouble spots)
- taverns /card rooms /dance halls
- criminal hangouts /drug houses
- check often /selective emphasis
D. Getting around the district
- drive-through beginning of shift
- new construction /road closures /etc.
- clogged traffic /various events (school)
(1) Keep response time to lowest level
- use of opti-com