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E.P.P. 026 LONGWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT ENFORCEMENT POLICY & PROCEDURE NUMBER: EPP – 26 SUBJECT: PRISONER TRANSPORTATION EFFECTIVE: MARCH 30, 2002 REVISED: JULY 1, 2023 ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE PRISONER TRANSPORTATION EPP – 26 Page 1 of 8 I. PURPOSE The purpose of this directive is to establish guidelines for the safe and expedient transport of arrested persons. II. SCOPE Transportation of arrested persons will be done without unnecessary delay and in such a manner as to ensure that adequate safety and security are provided the transporting officer, the person arrested and the general public. III. TRANSPORT VEHICLES A. A person arrested by an officer shall only be transported in a department vehicle. B. If a passenger is accompanying the arresting officer, said passenger will ride in the front seat passenger compartment if a prisoner is being transported in the rear compartment. C. Department vehicles intended for use in transporting arrested persons shall be modified by the Fleet Maintenance in order to minimize opportunities for the prisoner to exit from the rear compartment of the vehicle without the aid of the transporting officer. All vehicles intended to be used to transport prisoners shall have the following factory installed equipment removed prior to being used for said transport: 1. Inside rear door handles; 2. Inside rear window handles and/or disconnection of electrical window connections; and, 3. Rear door lock mechanisms. ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE PRISONER TRANSPORTATION EPP – 26 Page 2 of 8 D. The rear passenger compartment of vehicles used on a routine basis to transport arrested persons shall be separated from the driver's compartment by a barrier that allows constant visual contact between the officer and the arrested person. 1. Officers will not lose sight of a prisoner during transportation. Officers will ensure that the visual barrier is kept free and clean of all items such as hats, clipboards, etc. so that he/she does not lose sight of the prisoner during transport. The rear-view mirror should be adjusted to facilitate this function. 2. If the prisoner lies down on the rear seat, the officer should order him/her to remain upright. If the prisoner continues to lie down because of intoxication, sleepiness or illness, the officer will visually observe the prisoner by slowing or stopping the vehicle at regular intervals in locations safe from traffic so that routine observations can be made. E. If it becomes necessary for an officer to transport an arrested person in a department vehicle not primarily used as a prisoner transport vehicle and not equipped with a safety barrier: 1. The prisoner shall be transported in the front seat of the vehicle and will be secured with the seat belt and shoulder harness. 2. If a second officer is accompanying the transport officer, the second officer will be seated in the passenger area of the front seat. 3. Arrested persons with a history of or display a propensity for violence will be transported only in a vehicle equipped with a safety barrier. F. Any vehicle used to transport arrested persons will be examined by its assigned officer prior to the beginning of each shift. If the vehicle is unassigned, it is the responsibility of the officer using the vehicle to examine it prior to going in service. The following shall be completed: 1. A check of the fuel level; 2. Verify that all required emergency and non-emergency equipment is in place and properly secured; 3. A search of the vehicle's prisoner confinement area, including under the front and rear seats for weapons and contraband; and, 4. General check of the entire vehicle's condition in compliance with the General Order "Vehicle Management". ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE PRISONER TRANSPORTATION EPP – 26 Page 3 of 8 G. Prior to and immediately after the transport of any arrested person, the area of the vehicle in which the person is to be or was confined shall be thoroughly checked for contraband, evidence and weapons. IV. TRANSPORT PROCEDURES A. A search of a prisoner will be conducted by the transporting officer prior to him/her being placed in department vehicle in accordance with the Enforcement Policy and Procedure "Arrest and Detention." B. Wallets, purses and other articles such as cigarettes and lighters will be confiscated from an arrested person by the officer before being placed into the vehicle. 1. All said property will be thoroughly inspected before it is taken into the correctional facility and turned over to correction's personnel. 2. Evidence and weapons collected from a prisoner shall not be taken into the confines of a correctional facility. C. Transporting officers will not necessarily assume that a search by another officer is sufficient for safe transport. All transporting officers should re-search the person before placing them in the transport vehicle. D. Restraints: 1. All arrested persons transported in department vehicles shall be handcuffed or restrained in accordance with the Enforcement Policy and Procedure "Arrest and Detention." 2. Under no circumstances will an arrested person be secured to any portion of a transporting vehicle. 3. Physically and mentally disabled persons present conditions for their transport that require special care and attention for the safety of the officer and the prisoner. a. Restraints will be used only on body parts not affected by a disability. Once restraints are in place, normal transport procedures will be followed. b. Arrested persons confined to wheelchairs will be removed from the wheelchair, placed in the vehicle and transported in the normal manner. The wheelchair will be searched and secured in the department vehicle trunk beyond the control of the arrested ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE PRISONER TRANSPORTATION EPP – 26 Page 4 of 8 person. The wheelchair will be off-loaded in the sally port and turned over to corrections personnel. c. If transport to the correctional facility by the officer's vehicle would place a disabled person at undue risk, a jail transport vehicle will be requested (through a district supervisor) to provide the necessary transport. d. Crutches, canes, prosthetic appliances, etc. may not be permitted in the correctional facility. Under these situations, assistance from the facility's receiving personnel should be requested upon arrival and before the arrested person is allowed into the sally port’s reception and search vestibule. E. Arrested persons taken into custody shall be transported directly to the correctional facility without delay. 1. During transport, the safety of the arrested person is paramount and is considered the primary responsibility of a transporting officer. Officers may divert from their transport function but only if an emergency situation occurs. Law enforcement assistance will be rendered by a transporting officer only when the risk to third parties is both clear and grave and any risk to the arrested person is minimal. Any stop made to render law enforcement assistance will be made only under such circumstances that allow the transporting officer to remain in constant visual contact with the prisoner. 2. Officers shall be cautious of diversions that may be instigated in an attempt to free their prisoner. 3. Routine dispatched complaints, disabled vehicles, traffic violations and other non-urgent situations are to be disregarded at all times while under transport conditions. F. A prisoner will not be allowed to communicate with anyone other than official investigative personnel during the actual transport operation. Should a prisoner request to speak with an attorney or other person they will be advised that they may do so after arriving at the correctional facility and after their registration (booking) at the facility is completed. Any communication at the scene in regard to the safekeeping of property shall be accomplished through the officer. G. After being placed in a department vehicle, arrested persons will not be left unattended. Once in transit, except in the case of emergency, prisoners should not be removed from the vehicle until reaching the transport destination. If an arrested person becomes violent or is in danger of escaping, demonstrates a ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE PRISONER TRANSPORTATION EPP – 26 Page 5 of 8 threat to the officer, or intends to cause serious injury to himself or the vehicle, the transporting officer will notify the radio dispatcher and request an assist unit. H. A female prisoner will not be transported with a male prisoner unless both were arrested during the same incident. I. When transporting persons of the opposite sex; immediately upon leaving the scene of the arrest, officer’s will notify the radio dispatcher of their vehicle's current mileage and their destination at the onset of the transport. Mileage will again be radioed to the dispatcher immediately upon reaching the transport destination. The times of these transmissions will be recorded by the Telecommunications Section. J. Upon arrival at the correctional/receiving facility the officer will: 1. Exclusive of shotguns carried in a locked vehicle rack, all weapons will be secured in the storage lockers provided by the facility or in the trunk of his/her department vehicle; 2. Restraining devices will not be removed from a prisoner until they are inside the sally port’s secured reception and search vestibule or within the confines of a cell and the doors are closed; if it is receiving facility, until turned over to security personnel. 3. Any non-evidentiary property or documentation taken from or being transported for a prisoner shall be turned over to the appropriate personnel upon delivery of the prisoner; and, 4. Copies of the arrest/detention documentation shall be left with facility personnel. K. Any information regarding the potentiality of escape, suicidal tendencies, personal traits that represent a security risk, or unusual illnesses shall be brought to the immediate attention of the appropriate personnel by the transporting officer. Such notification shall also be documented by the arresting officer in the arrest paperwork. L. When available, at least one of the assigned department personnel shall be of the same sex as the prisoner. If personnel of the same sex are unavailable, the prisoner may still be transported provided the Telecommunications Section is provided with the following information when transporting: 1. Point of departure; ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE PRISONER TRANSPORTATION EPP – 26 Page 6 of 8 2. Destination; 3. Starting mileage; and, 4. Ending mileage. V. JUVENILE TRANSPORT PROCEDURES A. Juvenile arrestees are not to be transported in a department vehicle at the same time as an adult arrestee. VI. TRANSPORT OF SICK OR INJURED PERSONS In order to safely and securely transport a sick or injured person the nature of his/her illness or injury must first be determined by the transporting officer. A. If an individual known to be sick is to be taken into custody, officer shall inquire as to the nature of their illness. If the person is taking medication, it will be necessary for the officer to transport the person's medicine, if available, or any other special items necessary for the person's well being. B. If an arrested person is or becomes in need of immediate medical attention prior to being transported, rescue personnel will be summoned to the scene. Arrested persons requiring further medical treatment than can be provided at the scene by rescue personnel will be transported to the nearest hospital by ambulance. The ambulance will be followed by the arresting officer. C. Persons requiring further medical treatment, but not requiring transport by ambulance, shall be transported by the arresting officer to South Seminole Hospital (depending upon which facility is closest to the location of the arrest or detention) for medical clearance before proceeding to the correctional facility. D. If a medical emergency occurs during transport to the correctional facility, the prisoner shall be taken to the nearest hospital emergency room: 1. If the transport vehicle is to be stopped in order for the officer to render first aid within the limits of his/her training, an assist unit will be summoned. 2. If transport is occurring from a location distant from the nearest hospital, rescue personnel will be summoned to meet the officer and take over the transport of the person. 3. The supervisor will be notified. ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE PRISONER TRANSPORTATION EPP – 26 Page 7 of 8 4. The officer will follow the ambulance to the hospital. E. Hospital Security and Control Procedures: 1. The officer will maintain control over the prisoner's actions at all times. The prisoner shall be kept in restraints unless the attending physician requests that they be removed for medical examination and the officer determines that it is safe to do so. 2. The officer will stay with the prisoner unless the attending physician requests that the officer remain clear. At such time, the officer will maintain a post as near as possible to where the prisoner is being treated. 3. If the person is not to be admitted for treatment, the arresting officer will transport said person to the correctional facility upon their being medically cleared. 4. The supervisor will be notified by the officer if a prisoner is to be admitted to the hospital for treatment by the examining doctor. The supervisor shall immediately request that a Correctional Officer respond from the Department of Corrections to assume responsibility for guarding the prisoner. The officer will continue to guard the prisoner until relieved by a Correctional Officer; an officer will not "release" a prisoner to hospital security personnel under any circumstances. 5. If the prisoner is to be admitted, the arresting officer shall refer to the Enforcement Policy and Procedure "Arrest and Detention" in regard to the procedures to be followed for absentee booking. F. Persons who are bleeding or complaining of injury or illness upon arrival at the correctional facility will be examined by on-duty corrections medical personnel prior to admission to determine if further treatment by a physician at a hospital is necessary before booking may commence. If the arrested person cannot be accepted by the correctional facility, the transporting officer will be responsible for transporting the arrested person to South Seminole Hospital for further examination and/or treatment. VII. ESCAPE OF A PRISONER DURING TRANSPORT A. In the event a prisoner escapes while being transported, the officer will: 1. Secure any remaining prisoners; ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE PRISONER TRANSPORTATION EPP – 26 Page 8 of 8 2. Immediately notify the Telecommunications Section and provide the following information: a. Name and date of birth; b. Exact location of the escape; c. The direction of travel of the escapee; d. A full description of the escapee, including clothing description; e. A description of the charges against the escapee; and, f. Any additional pertinent information pertaining to the escapee. 3. If only one prisoner was being transported at the time of the escape, the officer will attempt to capture the escapee. If there are remaining prisoner(s), the officer will remain with his/her vehicle to ensure their security and safety. B. Whether or not initial attempts to retake the escapee are successful, the supervisor will respond to the scene. Upon being notified of an escape the responding supervisor will: 1. Ensure that the chief or his designee is notified through the chain of command; 2. Request any necessary assistance from specialized units (e.g. canine, range and water, helicopter, etc.) and other law enforcement agencies as appropriate; 3. Establish and maintain an appropriate perimeter and supervise a search of the area; 4. In the event an escape escalates outside the jurisdictional boundaries of Seminole County, the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction will be notified as soon as practicable; and, 5. Ensure that the incident is documented, including obtaining statements from the transporting officer and/or other persons as necessary. Said report shall be completed before going off-duty. C. If the escapee is recaptured, the original arresting officer should file additional criminal charges as appropriate. If the escapee is not recaptured, a Capias Request will be initiated.