ALARMS 16.9A
TEQUESTA POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
TITLE: ALARMS
GENERAL ORDER: 16.9A
REVISED JUNE 6, 2012
RESCINDS: 16.9
PAGES: 3
CONTENTS:
This order contains the following numbered sections:
I. ROBBERY ALARMS
II. INTRUSION ALARMS – COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTIAL
III. FIRE ALARMS
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this standard operating procedure is to establish guidelines for the reception and response to alarm
calls.
SCOPE:
This procedure shall apply to all Tequesta Police Department members.
DISCUSSION:
To ensure appropriate response to an activated alarm, each member involved is responsible to fulfill certain duties
and follow set procedures. The proper response to alarms is necessary for the safety of assigned officers and the
general public.
PROCEDURE:
I. ROBBERY ALARMS
: The Communications Section shall, upon receipt of an activated alarm:
A.
Immediately dispatch a primary unit, additional available units will respond automatically.
B.
Upon arrival at the institution the primary unit will request that communications establish telephone contact
with an employee to determine if the alarm is valid.
1. The communications officer will identify themselves, and ask to speak with an employee and advise
that person of the alarm activation.
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G.O. 16.9A
2. If the alarm is false the communications officer will then obtain a physical description, including
clothing, and name of the employee, and instruct them to leave the phone off the hook step outside
with their Government issued ID, and make contact with the officer(s).
3. If no answer, the communications officer shall proceed under the assumption that a robbery is in
progress and immediately notify the Operations Commander who in turn shall cause the Support
Services Commander and the Chief to be notified.
4. The communications officer will immediately advise responding units of the results of the telephone
call.
5. If the telephone response indicated a robbery in progress, all routine radio traffic shall be suspended
(10-33) and all available units shall respond. When available the Operations Commander, Support
Services Commander and/or the Chief will respond to all alarms where a robbery in progress is
indicated.
C.
Responding units shall:
1. Proceed directly to the scene by the shortest possible route. Appropriate vehicular warning devices
shall be used when approaching the scene, but discretion will be employed in the use of the siren and
emergency lights within the hearing and sight range of the reported robbery.
2. Responding units to the scene should be observant of any suspicious vehicles leaving the scene as well
as other vehicles or persons outside the facility who may be serving as lookouts, cover or drivers for a
robbery team.
3. Upon arrival, officers shall assume positions which afford them concealment and ability to observe
entrances and exits.
At no time will an officer enter the institution until it has been established the offenders have left
4.
the scene or the circumstances justify the taking of the suspect(s) by force to preserve life.
5. If advised by communications that the alarm is false, the patrol units shall maintain their position until
contacted by the described institution employee. Upon contacting the employee and verifying the false
activation, officers will make a cautious approach making observations through access points (i.e.
bullet proof glass) and enter the institution to confirm the false activation.
6. If it has been established, after contact with the employee, that the alarm is valid, officers shall
establish a perimeter and attempt to maintain concealment.
NO ATTEMPT TO APPREHEND THE SUSPECT(S) INSIDE THE INSTITUTION SHALL BE
7.
MADE UNLESS THERE IS CLEAR INDICATION THAT LIFE IS IN JEPORDY, AT WHICH
TIME SOUND TACTICAL ACTION SHALL BE TAKEN
.
8. If the suspect(s) exits the building, officers shall attempt apprehension, if a secure area is available
which assures the safety of citizens.
9. If a hostage situation develops, General Order 16.2 Special Operations shall be consulted.
II. RESPONSE TO INTRUSION ALARMS - COMMERCIAL/PRIVATE:
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G.O. 16.9A
A.
Alarm Response: Commercial and private security alarms are monitored by the private sector and calls are
relayed to the Police Department for officer response. The Police Department does not monitor private security
alarms. Once an alarm is received, the communications center will:
1.
Initiate a dispatch/event entry of available information.
2.
Dispatch the alarm.
3.
Obtain any additional information from the caller and dispatch to the responding officer(s).
4.
Obtain the name of the owner or their representative who will be responding to the alarm.
5.
Obtain and dispatch all relevant information about the person(s) responding to the alarm to include
physical and clothing description, vehicle description, and the estimated time of arrival.
B.Radio Contact:
Communications members will maintain radio contact with the responding officer and
assist as requested. The dispatcher will provide emergency broadcast clearance to an officer discovering an
open door, a crime in progress, or at the request of the officer. When the CAD system alerts the dispatcher
through audio and visual means, the dispatcher will check the officer’s status.
III. FIRE ALARMS
A.
Upon receipt of a request for fire rescue, Communications shall forward the call to the appropriate agency.
If the location is known and is within the Village jurisdiction, police units will be dispatched to assist with
traffic and crowd control, if needed.
DRAFTED:
DJR/April 2008/Filed: Alarms16.9
APPROVED:
Pete Pitocchelli, Chief DATE: June 6, 2012
Tequesta, Florida
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