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HomeMy WebLinkAbout0037 - ALARM RESPONSE POLICYRed Wing Police Department Policy SUBJECT: POLICY NUMBER W RESPONSE TO BURGLARY AND HOLDUP ALARMS 37 Oxr, EFFECTIVE DATE May 23, 2008 REFERENCE(S): APPROVED BY: Minnesota CHIEF ROGER D. POHLMAN PURPOSE: To establish guidelines for a safe and effective response to burglary and holdup alarms. To develop a deployment plan for response to alarm calls. POLICY: The Red Wing Police Department encourages the use of burglary and holdup alarms to better assist in apprehending criminal offenders. Officers should respond to alarm calls in a safe manner keeping in mind the high propensity of false alarms and the potential tactical problems involved if the alarm is bonafide. PROCEDURES: 1. Residential and Commercial Property (Not Financial Institutions) A. Generally, two (2) units will be dispatched to a burglary alarm call. However, consideration shall be given to time of day, day of week, and the number of recent false alarms at that location and availability of personnel. B. Officers shall follow departmental policy #18, EMERGENCY VEHICLE OPERATION, if responding in an emergency manner. Officers shall also be aware that emergency response to alarms is not always necessary and that time of day, day of week, and the number of recent false alarms at that location shall be taken into account. C. All alarms will be considered holdup alarms during normal business hours. After normal business hours they will be considered burglary alarms. D. Generally when arriving at the scene of a burglary alarm, the first unit will generally make a cursory check at the front of the business and then go to the rear of the building and park so the rear and side can be watched. If an open door or window is discovered, the officer will wait for the second unit. The second unit arriving will park near the front of the building. A check of the exterior of the building should be made after both units have arrived at the scene. The officer(s) should check all exterior doors, windows, and openings for evidence of entry. E. Generally when arriving at a residential alarm, the first unit should park as near as possible to the residence without being conspicuous and attempt to get a view of the most logical escape route. If an open door or window Page 1 of 3 RESPONSE TO BURGLARY AND HOLDUP ALARMS -POLICY 37 is observed, the officer will wait for the second unit. Upon arrival of the second unit, both officers should approach the residence simultaneously to check the house. F. After the responding units have arrived on the scene and the outside of the commercial establishment or residence has been checked and no signs of tampering or forced entry can be found, the owner or manager will be contacted and given the opportunity to check the interior of the building. G. If after an alarm is received by dispatch, the alarm subscriber calls to say they caused an accidental alarm, the dispatcher will so advise the responding units. Upon arrival, if the responding officer knows the occupants, this will suffice. If the responding officer does not know them, they must be able to identify themselves. The first officer on the scene may advise dispatch to have the second unit disregard. H. If responding officers determine that the commercial establishment or residence has been forcibly entered, the supervisor or senior officer shall be contacted to see if a police K-9 should be dispatched to the scene. 2. HOLD-UP ALARMS AT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS A. When a holdup alarm is received, the dispatcher will broadcast bank alarm at, giving the name and address of the bank. The first and second unit on the scene will be designated as the primary and secondary unit. The supervisor or senior officer or their designee will respond to the scene. B. Officers shall follow departmental policy #18, EMERGENCY VEHICLE OPERATION, if responding in an emergency manner. Officers shall also be aware that emergency response to alarms is not always necessary and that time of day, day of week, and the number of recent false alarms at that location shall be taken into account. C. The first unit on the scene will state their position when they announce their arrival. Other responding units will likewise provide their locations and complete the outer perimeter, covering all entrances and exits. Units should attempt to locate a site where they can observe the business while keeping themselves and their vehicles out of sight. Officers should be mindful that other offenders might be located outside and away from the business. A cursory check of the surrounding vicinity during arrival should be made to note persons or vehicles near the business. D. Upon securing the perimeter, the primary officer will notify the dispatcher of the apparent status. The officer will attempt to determine if a robbery is in progress by observing the exterior and interior of the building. The dispatcher will call the financial institution to determine why the alarm was sounded. If there is a false alarm, the manager (or official) will exit the building and talk with an officer. The employee exiting will be described by gender and clothing prior to leaving the building and this information will be given to the meeting officer. Officers will maintain their positions Page 2 of 3 RESPONSE TO BURGLARY AND HOLDUP ALARMS -POLICY 37 until they are advised the alarm is false. In the event the manager or official does not exit the building, it should be assumed that a robbery is in progress. Responding officers will not enter the business unless directed to do so by the supervisor or senior officer. If the offenders are still at the scene, any apprehension efforts should be made after they have exited the business to avoid a hostage situation. If no offenders are apparent, it may be that they have left and locked the employees and customers in the vault or other room. No one is to go in until directed to do so by a supervisor or senior officer or designee. E. If an actual robbery has occurred and the offender has left the bank, the bank employees shall lock the door. They will unlock the door only to known police personnel. No police personnel will enter the building unless under the direction of the supervisor, senior officer or investigator. Once inside the bank, the officers will secure the scene and broadcast appropriate information. An investigator shall be contacted as soon as possible to respond to the scene. Secondary units should begin searching for the offender(s) and check close areas where a secondary getaway car may have been picked up and the involved vehicle abandoned. F. If it is a false alarm, the supervisor or senior officer will cancel the alarm by broadcasting "false alarm at" giving the bank name and address. All alarms will be considered bonafide until proven otherwise. 3. HOLD-UP ALARM AT A NON-FINANCIAL INSTITUTION A. Officers will respond in fundamentally the same manner as for financial institutions. Page 3 of 3 RESPONSE TO BURGLARY AND HOLDUP ALARMS -POLICY 37