LSPD DEPARTMENT MANUAL - LINE PROCEDURES COMMUNICATIONS

• Officer Needs Help. This emergency call shall be broadcast when an officer requires immediate aid for a life-threatening incident or an incident that requires immediate aid because of serious bodily injury, death, or a serious threat to public safety is imminent. The officer requesting shall include the location, followed, if possible, by the unit identification and all other pertinent information. A specific unit shall be dispatched "Code Three." ALL additional responding units may also respond "Code-Three."

The Department will provide assistance and respond to "Officer Needs Help" calls within the City when requested by the CHP. The senior officer of the agency requesting emergency assistance shall be in charge of the incident unless the incident involves a situation which is the responsibility of the other agency, in which case the senior officer of the responsible agency will be in charge.

• Firefighter Needs Assistance. This emergency call shall be broadcast when police assistance is required due to hostile crowd action or other incident. A specific unit shall be dispatched "Code-Three,", and other available units in the vicinity shall respond, when practicable and ALL additional responding units may also respond "Code-Three."

• Back up Unit Request. This emergency call shall be broadcast when an officer requires additional units immediately, but the situation does not rise to the level where serious bodily injury, death or serious threat to public safety is imminent.

Examples:  Active perimeter, foot pursuit, 415 group, a crime-in-progress, etc.

The officer requesting shall include the location, followed by the unit identification designation and all other pertinent information, including the reason for the request. A specific unit shall be dispatched "Code-Three," and ALL additional responding units may also respond "Code-Three."

• Additional Unit Request. An "Additional Unit" broadcast is when an officer requires an additional unit for a non-emergency situation. The officer requesting shall include the location, followed by the unit identification and all other pertinent information. An "additional unit" request is not an emergency call and responding officers shall obey all traffic laws when responding.

Examples:  "Code-6 George" with no indication of violence toward the officers, L-Unit involved in a traffic stop, follow up for a criminal investigation, etc.

• Pursuit Procedure.  The Department pursuit procedures are revised as follows:

* Officers engaged in a pursuit should request a Back-up unit; and,
* Responding back-up units may respond "Code-Three." However, once all authorized units have joined the pursuit, all other units shall discontinue their "Code-Three" response.

All other existing pursuit procedures remain the same.

A unit announcing a "Pursuit" shall begin the message by stating that the unit is in "Pursuit" and giving the location, followed, if possible, by the unit identification, description of pursued vehicle, and/or suspects, direction taken, and reason for pursuit. The pursuing unit shall give frequent and comprehensive progress reports as conditions permit. Any unit having information regarding the "Pursuit" may transmit. Communications Division will broadcast advisory information concerning pursuits within the City. Department personnel shall not become involved in pursuits on the freeways unless for serious felonies committed within the City of Los Santos.

• Code One. When the control operator fails to receive an acknowledgment of a communication, a "Code One" shall be given. The unit to which a "Code One" is directed shall acknowledge immediately upon hearing a "Code One."

• Code Two. A radio call accompanied by a "Code Two" designation is an urgent call and shall be answered immediately. The red light and siren shall not be used, and all traffic laws shall be observed.

• Code Three. A radio call accompanied by a "Code Three" designation is an emergency call. It shall be answered immediately, but in a manner which will enable the unit to reach the scene as quickly as possible with safety. Exemption is granted only when officers sound a siren as reasonably necessary and the officers’ vehicle displays a lighted red lamp visible from the front.

Any call may justify a "Code Three" if any of the following elements are present:

   • A serious public hazard.

   • The preservation of life.

   • A crime of violence in progress.

   • The prevention of a crime of violence.

   • An immediate pursuit.

   • A unit at the scene requests another unit "Code Three."

The final decision for the use of "Code Three," other than in response to a directed radio call, shall be made by the vehicle operator.

An officer shall immediately broadcast his intention to proceed "Code Three" when the decision is based on other than a directed police radio call. The "Code Three" broadcast shall include the nature and location of the activity and, when known, the starting point, route of travel, and destination.

When the "Code Three" has been terminated, the officer shall notify Communications Division as soon as practicable.

When more than one unit is "Code Three" in the same general area, they shall be notified by Communications Division that other units are "Code Three" in the vicinity.

• Code Four. When additional assistance is not needed at the scene of an "All Units" call, a "Code Four," followed by the location of the call, shall be broadcast. Radio units which are not assigned to the call and which are not at the scene shall return to their assigned patrol area when a "Code Four" is broadcast.

• Code Four Adam. When additional assistance is not needed at the scene of an "All Units," call but the suspect is still in the vicinity, a "Code Four Adam," followed by the location of the call, shall be broadcast. This should then be followed by a description of the suspect. Radio units which are not assigned to the call but which are on the way to the scene shall, when a "Code Four Adam" is broadcast, patrol or post themselves at strategic locations near the scene.

• Code Five. A unit intending to "stakeout" shall notify the control operator of the location and request a "Code Five." The control operator, upon receipt of the message, shall immediately broadcast that there is a "Code Five" at the particular location. All units shall avoid the vicinity except in an emergency or in response to a call.

• Clearing Code Five. When the need for a "Code Five" no longer exists, the originating unit, or the last unit to leave the scene, shall request the control operator to clear the "Code Five" at the particular location.

• Code Six. When a unit is conducting a field investigation and no assistance is anticipated, a "Code Six", followed by the location, shall be broadcast. A unit shall not go "Code Six" until it arrives at the scene of a call.

Units on "Code Six" status shall remain available for reassignment to priority calls by monitoring their radio frequencies. A unit on "Code Six" status may indicate to the dispatcher additional circumstances which will make the unit unavailable for assignment to a priority call. These circumstances may include:

   • Suspect in custody;

   • Primary unit at a crime scene; and/or,

   • Required at a back up, assistance, or help location.

Note: The unit shall notify the dispatcher as soon as it is again available for radio calls.

• Code Six George. When an officer may need assistance in conducting an investigation concerning possible gang activity, the officer should broadcast "Code Six George" and the location. An available "CRASH" or gang unit should respond, while other radio units in the vicinity should then patrol in the general direction of the location given. Officers should not ordinarily leave their assigned districts but should deploy to an advantageous position in the event that assistance is later requested. When a unit broadcasts "Code Six George" and later finds that assistance will not be needed, a "Code Four" and the location shall be given without delay.

• Code Seven. When a unit desires to go out of service for free time, a request for "Code Seven," accompanied by the location his/her assigned vehicle will be parked, shall be transmitted to the control. The control operator shall instruct the unit to "Stand By" until it can be determined whether the request can be immediately granted. If the request cannot be granted, the control operator shall instruct the unit to "Continue Patrol." If the request is granted, the control operator shall inform the unit "OK for Seven."

• Code Eight. This call is broadcast for general information when a fire has been reported at a specific location where there is a high fire hazard or a threat of personal danger to firefighters from hostile groups. Units in the vicinity should respond to the call but remain on the air available for calls unless it is necessary to assist or investigate. "Code Six" shall be used when it is necessary to go off the air.

• Code Eight Adam. This call is broadcast when Communications Division has received notification from the Fire Department confirming an active, verified fire at a specific location and the senior officer at the scene has requested additional fire units. A specific police unit shall be assigned the call to assist with traffic or crowd control.

• Code Ten. This call is broadcast when a clear frequency is required to check a suspect for wants and/or warrants. When an officer desires a clear frequency to check a suspect for wants and/or warrants, he/she shall:

     • Determine that the frequency is not in use;

     • Identify himself/herself with his or her unit number;

     • Request "Code Ten," and state the number of suspects to be checked; and,

     • Indicate whether suspects are juveniles.

Note: A "Code Ten" designation shall not be used to request a clear frequency for crime information broadcasts or any other information, except as specified above.

• Radio Communication Terms:

      • 211: Robbery.

      • 390: Drunk male.

      • 390W: Drunk female.

      • 415: Disturbance.

      • 484: Theft.

      • 502: Under the influence driver.

      • 507: Minor disturbance.

      • 586: Illegal parking.

      • Roger: Message received; will comply.

      • Come In: You are being called.

      • Stand By: Wait until a suitable answer is determined-or do not transmit.

      • Go Ahead: Proceed with your message.

      • Repeat: Repeat your message.

      • Out: Out of service; not available for call (used when no other specific code applies and shall be followed by the reason).

      • Clear: No calls outstanding against unit; available for call.
                 Note: When reporting on duty, units equipped with two way radios and engaged in either uniformed or plainclothes patrol shall report “Clear” and indicate the watch to which they are assigned.

      • Want: Determine whether a vehicle is wanted or is to be held.

      • No Want: No want or hold on subject or vehicle of inquiry.

      • Juvenile Check: Determine whether there is want, hold, or criminal record for juvenile subject.

      • End of Watch: Unit has completed tour of duty.
                Note: When a unit goes off duty, the control operator shall be notified of the location and that the unit is "End of Watch." When a unit has worked beyond the normal tour of duty, the watch to which the unit is assigned shall also be reported.



Note: Revisions may be made at anytime without warning. It is up to the officers and commanding staff to fully read through this section, once a month, carefully.