TELEPHONES 6.8A
TEQUESTA POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
TITLE: TELEPHONES
GENERAL ORDER: 6.8A
EFFECTIVE: June 1, 2008
REVISES: 6.8
PAGES: 3
CONTENTS:
This order consists of the following numbered sections:
I. AGENCY TELEPHONES
II. ETIQUETTE
III. COLLECT CALLS
IV. CELLULAR PHONES
PURPOSE:
To establish guidelines for the use of agency telephones and cellular phones.
SCOPE:
This order applies to all police department members.
POLICY:
Members will use agency telephones and equipment for official duties, and in a professional and
courteous manner. Limited personal use of agency telephones is authorized.
PROCEDURE:
I. AGENCY TELEPHONES:
A. Use:
Members will follow proper etiquette when answering agency telephones. Limited personal calls are
permitted; however, any long distance calls must be made “collect,” or on the member's personal telephone charge
card. Personal calls must not interfere with the member's duties.
B. Repairs:
1. Non-Emergency:
During business hours, repair requests will be made through the administrative division.
2. Emergency:
After business hours, requests will be routed through the communications division.
II. ETIQUETTE:
Members will answer agency telephones with the division, applicable rank for certified or title for
civilian, last name, and greeting, “May I help you.” Investigation Unit members are exempt from this provision and will
answer the telephone as dictated by unit procedures.
III. COLLECT CALLS:
Supervisors have the discretion to accept collect phone calls. The supervisor will determine
G.O. 6.8
if the caller, or the information being provided, warrants acceptance. Collect calls accepted will be documented on a
long-distance phone call slip.
IV. CELLULAR PHONES AND CAMERA USE:
A. Assignment:
Cellular phones are provided to enhance member efficiency and to provide a reliable
communications link. Members will be assigned a cellular phone as required by official duties.
B.
In order to prevent distractions in the workplace and help ensure the safety and privacy of all personnel. We serve,
c
ellular phone use and use of personal digital assistants (PDAs) while on duty shall be limited to necessary work-
related calls made on department issued phones.
C.
Personal use of cell phones – whether personal or department issued – is only permitted during limited times when
work responsibilities are not being performed.
D.
Personal cellular telephones are permitted to be carried while on duty, but must be placed on silent mode, and
allow voice mail to answer the call. Messages may be checked when not actively involved in a call or about to perform
or in the process of performing work duties.
E.
Cellular phones may be used for personal purposes only on a very limited basis, and conversations shall be limited
to five (5) minutes. Personal cell phone use is prohibited when responding to or during a call for service, and must
never be cause for a delayed response.
F.
While engaged in the performance of official duties or while operating a Department vehicle or watercraft,
personnel shall not, under any circumstances, respond to (or make) a personal cellular telephone call, send text
messages, or check electronic mail on PDAs or other such devices.
G.
Personnel are prohibited from using personal cellular telephones or PDAs between the dispatch of a call and the
time that the call is cleared. This is to prevent any distractions while engaged in an official duty.
H.
Under no circumstances shall any personnel be permitted to use the camera function of a personal cellular
telephone while on duty.
I.
Personnel are only permitted to use cameras or other picture taking or image generating devices authorized and
issued by Tequesta Police Department while on duty. The department issued devices are intended to be used for law
enforcement purposes only such as to document the location, nature, quantity, and position of evidence, etc. No other
picture taking devices including personal electronic devices, PDA’s, cameras, or other personal computers (not issued
or authorized by Tequesta Police Department shall be used by personnel while on duty.
J.
All on-scene photography shall be for evidentiary and/or documentation purposes only and conducted only at the
direction of the officer in charge of the scene.
K.
Any on-scene images and any other images taken by an employee in the course and scope of their employment are
not
solely the property of Tequesta Police Department and the property of the individual member. This includes any
image inadvertently taken with a member’s personally owned cell phone camera or other digital imaging device.
L.
No images taken by an employee in the course and scope of their employment may be used, printed, copied,
scanned, e-mailed, posted, shared or distributed in any manner without the express, written approval of Chief of Police.
Example: This prohibition includes posting photos on personal web sites, such as FaceBook or MySpace, or on other
public safety agency web sites, or e-mailing images to friends, colleagues or others in the Public Safety industry.
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G.O. 6.8
M. Bill Verification:
Members assigned a cellular phone will be held responsible for any charges in conjunction
with personal calls. The administrative division will check the monthly billing statement and have the member verify
any personal call charges. The total of any such personal calls will be the responsibility of the member making the
calls.
INDEXING:
AGENCY TELEPHONES
CAMERAS
CELLULAR PHONES
COLLECT PHONE CALLS
TELEPHONE ETIQUETTE
TELEPHONE REIMBURSEMENT
TELEPHONES
DRAFTED:
djr May 2008/Filed: tele6.8
APPROVED:
Pete Pitocchelli, Chief DATE: November 05, 2011
Tequesta, Florida
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