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E.P.P. 033 LONGWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT ENFORCEMENT POLICY & PROCEDURE NUMBER: EPP – 33 SUBJECT: GENERAL ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES EFFECTIVE: SEPTEMBER 10, 2001 REVISED: JULY 1, 2023 ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE GENERAL ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES EPP – 33 Page 1 of 14 I. PURPOSE The purpose of this directive is to define the general functions and responsibilities of uniformed members of the department; to include a description of the circumstances that require the notification of specialized personnel, telecommunications procedures, and uniform and dress codes applicable to all enforcement personnel. The term “uniformed patrol” as used in this directive includes units that are designated as traffic officers. II. FUNCTIONS OF UNIFORMED PATROL Proactive neighborhood patrol and interaction with members of the community is a major role of the department’s uniformed patrol function. With respect to the organizational philosophy and values of the police department, specific duties of uniformed patrol include: A. Developing and maintaining satisfactory relationships with the public and working for the reduction of the fear of crime; B. Preventing crimes and accidents; C. Maintaining the public peace and order; D. Discovering hazards and delinquency-causing situations; E. Responding to calls for community service; F. Engaging in crime prevention activities; and, G. Investigating crimes and offenses, including the arrest of offenders. ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE GENERAL ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES EPP – 33 Page 2 of 14 Ill. GENERAL PATROL OPERATIONS A. Zone Assignments: 1. Personnel are assigned to patrol by the chief or his designee, who retains the authority to assign personnel as he deems appropriate. 2. The patrol lieutenant will assign personnel to the shift where they shall subsequently be assigned to a zone. Assignments will be made with the goal of providing the most effective coverage and accountability and/or to accomplish or enhance the mission of the police department. 3. Personnel should be assigned to a zone so as to provide for the most efficient distribution of resources. Personal factors that should be taken into consideration are: a. Special talents and training, such as canine capability, trained in range/water, or foreign language ability; b. Familiarity with a particular area; c. Compatibility with other members of the shift; d. Seniority by rank, or time employed by the department. B. Shift Rotation: In order to provide stability for the employee, to encourage continuing or upper- level education, etc., shifts should not be rotated except when the patrol lieutenant or higher authority deems a change necessary to further the mission of the department. C. Shift Assignments (Tour of Duty): 1. Shift assignments will be established so that law enforcement response to emergencies is continuously (twenty-four hours a day) available to the citizens of Longwood. 2. Lieutenants have the authority to set their own duty hours to provide sufficient supervision of their personnel. 3. Shift sergeants work twelve hour shifts. The Patrol Lieutenant has the authority to adjust hours of sergeants within the twelve hours framework; however, shifts should generally coincide with the following duty hours: ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE GENERAL ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES EPP – 33 Page 3 of 14 a. 0600 - 1800 hours; b. 1800 - 0600 hours. c. Shifts maintain a continuing cycle of 2 days on and 2 days off, with every other weekend consisting of 3 days on and 3 days off. d. The total number of duty hours worked by officers in any one pay period is eighty-four hours. 4. Uniformed patrol officers work twelve-hour shifts according to the above schedule. IV. “BRIEFING” (MEETINGS) A. “Briefing” is defined as that time within the first 10 minutes of a shift when the shift supervisor brings together all of his/her command for the purpose of: 1. Providing personnel with information; 2. Group inspection; 3. Notifying personnel of changes in policy, schedules or assignments; 4. Provide training and instruction; and, 5. Other official business as deemed necessary. V. SPECIAL NOTIFICATIONS Special circumstances and events that mandate extra consideration on behalf of an officer, or when an officer requires additional assistance from outside sources, include; A. Next of Kin Notifications: 1. Timeliness of family notification is essential. It is imperative that the immediate family be notified prior to learning of the situation from outside sources, such as the news media. 2. Notifications involving death, serious injury or a critical illness shall be accomplished in such a manner so as to cause the least discomfort possible to the individual notified. ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE GENERAL ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES EPP – 33 Page 4 of 14 3. Notifications involving death or serious injury relative to a traffic crash shall be made by the agency investigating the crash. An exception to this would be if a request for notification was received by the police department from an out-of-county police jurisdiction. 4. Notification involving death or serious injury relative to a criminal investigation shall be made only upon approval of the officer/investigator in charge of the investigation or a supervisor. 5. When practicable, notification should be made in person by the originating officer. 6. Victim advocates may be utilized to convey the notification. 7. Line of duty death or serious injury notification of any law enforcement officer or Longwood Police Department employee shall be handled as outlined in the General Order “Line of Duty Death or Serious Injury’. B. Federal and State Law Enforcement Agencies: 1. Instances requiring assistance from the F.B.I., F.D.L.E., D.E.A., Secret Service, U.S. Customs will usually involve only major or very complex crimes in which those agencies would have an interest. 2. In these instances, an investigator will usually be on the scene and will make the determination as to whether notification must be made. 3. If no investigator is on the scene, the patrol lieutenant (or next available higher authority) will make the determination. C. City/State Highway Departments: 1. In the event of a hazardous road, bridge or highway obstruction or other dangerous condition requiring immediate correction, responding personnel will request the telecommunications section to call out the appropriate emergency crew. 2. On-scene enforcement personnel will take appropriate action to protect the public from harm in accordance with the Enforcement Policy and Procedure “Traffic Direction”. D. Public Utility/Works Department: ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE GENERAL ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES EPP – 33 Page 5 of 14 1. Hazardous conditions created by power lines, telephone or cable lines, sewer, water or gas lines must be corrected to ensure the public safety. Responding enforcement personnel will request that the telecommunications section call out the appropriate emergency crew. 2. On-scene enforcement personnel will take appropriate action to protect the public from harm in accordance with the Enforcement Policy and Procedure “Traffic Direction”. VI. PATROL AND TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT VEHICLE EQUIPMENT A. Enforcement personnel must be prepared to meet a variety of needs during a normal tour of duty. Personnel are directed to replenish exhausted supplies or broken equipment as soon as possible. B. Vehicles assigned to patrol and traffic officers which are involved in enforcement actions are required to be equipped with no less than the following equipment: 1. Emergency lighting, siren, PA system, which is in good working condition; 2. Vehicle registration and insurance card; 3. Spare tire (excluding motorcycles); 4. Reflective Traffic Vest; 5. Fire Extinguisher (excluding motorcycles); 6. First Aid Kit; 7. Infectious disease protection kit including a pocket mask; 8. Flares (excluding motorcycles); 9. Flashlight (issued to each officer) 10. Any additional equipment requested by the chief of police or his designee. C. Supervisors assigned to the road patrol shall have the same required equipment as listed above. ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE GENERAL ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES EPP – 33 Page 6 of 14 VII. APPEARANCE A. In accordance with the General Order “Employee Dress and Appearance”, the following additional policy is established for ALL OFFICERS (including officers assigned to uniform and plain-clothes investigative duty) assigned to the enforcement function. This chapter also applies to all personnel working off-duty details where they are functioning in the role of an officer. B. The supervisor of the investigations division may amend this chapter as necessary in order to fulfill any covert investigatory needs of their respective commands. C. Uniforms and clothing will be clean and neat when reporting for duty. D. Gold/silver or other metallic chains worn around the neck will not be worn in such a manner that allows them to be visible. E. Unless authorized due to a specific duty assignment, employee’s hairstyles will be conservative and kept clean, trimmed, and combed. Generally, personnel shall not wear their hair longer than collar length. The chief of police reserves the right to alter or revise hairstyle requirements at any time. F. No earrings will be worn by male employees. Female officers are permitted to wear only ‘stud’ style earrings. G. Beards, moustaches and sideburns will conform with the standard provided in G.O. 16. H. Sunglasses may be worn while on-duty, but only if they do no bear iridescent or incandescent colored frames, lenses or accessories. I. Fingernails shall not extend more than 1/4 inch beyond the end of the fingers, and may only be polished with a neutral or clear color. J. Any makeup or other cosmetic aides, if used, shall be applied very lightly and shall be very conservative in nature. K. Black crew or v-neck t-shirts shall be worn under the uniform shirt. No other types of shirt are permitted. Shirts are not permitted to have any writing, logos, or designs visible while being worn under the uniform. VIII. UNIFORMS A. Class “A” (formal) uniform: ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE GENERAL ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES EPP – 33 Page 7 of 14 1. The Class “A” uniform for an officer is designed to present a formal appearance during ceremonial occasions when such attire would best represent the officer and the department. 2. The Class “A” uniform shall consist of: a. Long sleeve shirt, blue in color (The chief may authorize white shirts to be worn at his discretion.); b. Blue clip-on or self knotted tie; c. Department approved tie clip; d. Blue trousers; e. Basket-weave leather uniform belt and accessories; f. Chrome collar buttons and insignia (gold is authorized for supervisors); g. Badge; h. Name tag; i. Citation (award) ribbons; j. All footwear must be kept in good condition at all times, including being kept scuff-free and polished. k. All footwear worn with a uniform shall be black in color and will be consistent with the following: 1. Patent leather (or Corfam) shoes; 2. Motorman boots for Traffic Officers; I. Black socks (white under socks may be worn for documented medical reasons). B. Class “B” uniform: 1. The Class “B” uniform is designed for use during the course of conducting routine police department business. 2. The Class “B” uniform shall consist of: ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE GENERAL ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES EPP – 33 Page 8 of 14 a. Short or long sleeve shirt, blue in color (The chief may authorize white shirts to be worn at his discretion.) b. Blue trousers; c. Basket-weave leather belt and accessories; d. Chrome collar brass insignia (gold is authorized for supervisors); e. Badge; f. Name tag; g. Citations (award) ribbons; h. All footwear must be kept in good condition at all times, including being kept scuff free and polished. i. All footwear shall be black in color and will be consistent with the following: 1. Patent leather (or Corfam) shoes; 2. Motor boots for Traffic Officers; 3. Black leather low cut combat style boot; 4. Black leather combat style boot; 5. Any other footwear authorized by the chief of police. C. Class “C” uniform: 1. The Class “C” uniform is designed for specific enforcement assignments that require an officer to perform duties in inclement weather (heat) or relative to bicycle or watercraft patrol. This uniform shall only be worn with prior approval of a supervisor, and is not considered appropriate attire for attendance at any type of court related proceeding. 2. The Class “C” uniform shall consist of: a. Blue bicycle uniform shorts; b. Blue polo style uniform shirt; ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE GENERAL ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES EPP – 33 Page 9 of 14 c. Badge (May be embroidered); d. Name tag; e. Black leather low cut uniform shoe; f. Black or navy blue socks; g. Uniform nylon duty belt and accessories. D. Class “D” uniform: 1. The Class “D” uniform is designed for specific enforcement assignments that require an Officer to perform duties relative to canine activities. 2. The Class “D” uniform shall consist of: a. Solid blue shirt and trousers; b. Nylon duty belt and accessories; c. Name tag; d. Badge (May be embroidered); e. Issued combat style boot, black in color; f. Black sock (white under socks may be worn for documented medical reasons). E. Clothing to be furnished at the expense of the employee: 1. Socks; 2. Black trouser under belt; 3. Underclothing. IX. UNIFORM ACCESSORIES AND EQUIPMENT A. Belt Keepers; B. Safety Holster; ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE GENERAL ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES EPP – 33 Page 10 of 14 C. Semi-Automatic Handgun with 3 Magazines and Ammunition (If Certified); D. Shotgun (If Certified); E. Tactical Expandable Baton with Holder (If Certified); F. Handcuffs, Case and Key; G. Latex Glove Holder; H. Rain Coat; I. Jacket; J. Written Directives Manual (Digital) K. Body Armor and Carrier; L. Identification Credentials with Case; M. Badge; N. Name Tag; 0. Chemical Spray with Case (If Certified); P. Portable Radio with Shoulder Microphone And Belt Holster; Q. Laptop Computer with Power Supply; R. Flashlight and Charger; S. Any other equipment the chief of police deems necessary to fulfill the mission and goals of the department. X. TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND RELATED PROCEDURES A. Certain circumstances exist when enforcement field personnel are to communicate with the telecommunications section. In general, these circumstances include; 1. Going on-duty and off-duty; 2. When busy and unavailable for calls; ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE GENERAL ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES EPP – 33 Page 11 of 14 3. Engaged in surveillance activities; 4. Responding to and clearing from calls; and, 5. When requesting teletype information. B. Radio transmissions by field personnel are governed by the following procedures: Note: The Following Procedures may be completed via the Micad System 1. All enforcement personnel will have a radio prior to engaging in enforcement activities. At the beginning of each tour of duty enforcement personnel shall advise the telecommunications section of their on-duty status and assignment. 2. At the end of each tour of duty enforcement personnel shall individually advise the telecommunications section of their off-duty status. 3. Field units are identified by and communicate with communication specialists through two sources: a. Radio communications; and, b. The MiCAD system computer system. 4. Some calls for service will be dispatched through the radio system. In many instances calls for service will be dispatched via the MiCAD system on the officer’s computer. 5. With the exception of supervisory personnel, all field personnel, when called by a dispatcher, will respond by giving their radio identification number and location. C. Assignment of officers to calls: 1. Calls are assigned to officers who are available in the zone where service is needed. Adjacent zones will provide personnel as needed, at the discretion of the shift supervisor. 2. Only one unit at a time will be dispatched to a call with the following exceptions: a. The need for additional, assisting units shall be determined by the primary responding officer, the officer in closest proximity to the primary officer, or their supervisor. ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE GENERAL ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES EPP – 33 Page 12 of 14 b. Supervisors may authorize additional units at their discretion. c. Responding assisting officers will be canceled by the primary officer if their assistance is not required. D. Response of a supervisor: 1. Certain circumstances exist that mandate the response of a supervisor for the express purpose of assuming command and control over incidents of a serious or complicated nature. 2. Field supervisors are required to respond to the following types of events. a. Riots or other civil disorders; b. Homicides or other violent crimes; c. Natural or man-made disasters; d. Hostage taking; e. Shooting incidents involving police department personnel; f. Barricaded suspects; and, g. Traffic crashes that involve agency vehicles. E. Enforcement personnel may request telecommunications section personnel to: 1. Notify other law enforcement agencies, ambulance services, fire/paramedic personnel, taxis, wrecker services or other persons from whom assistance is needed. 2. Supply case numbers and other information required for report writing; 3. Research N.C.I.C. / F.C.I.C. / C.A.F.E. databases. F. All personnel are required to use proper radio protocols. Shift supervisors are required to continually monitor the quality of radio communications by field personnel. Any deficiencies will be immediately corrected by appropriate means. G. Emergency button activation: ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE GENERAL ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES EPP – 33 Page 13 of 14 1. In the event there is an activation of an emergency alert button, the dispatcher will attempt to verbally contact the unit in order to determine if there is a need for additional assistance. If there is no response from the unit the dispatcher will: a. Multi-transmit on all channels; b. Depress the secondary alert tone; c. Clearly broadcast “EMERGENCY BUTTON ACTIVATION”, state the unit’s identification number, area assignment and last known location. d. In the event of a confirmed “OFFICER DOWN” (10-24) situation, the dispatcher will also multi-select on all sub-fleet frequencies and broadcast the unit’s location. 2. In situations where personnel accidentally activate an emergency button, the emergency status will be cleared by: a. Depressing and holding the emergency button down until a steady, audible tone is heard. b. Advise the telecommunications section when the radio has been cleared. 3. If the status of a unit is recorded as being off-duty when an emergency button is activated the radio dispatcher will: a. Re-verify the employee’s status screen and attempt to call the employee; b. Direct that the person be called at home; c. Notify the appropriate supervisor of the action taken and requested that a field unit attempt to make personal contact with the person; and, d. When the person assigned the radio is located, he/she will follow the above listed procedure to reset the radio. H. Emergency traffic: 1. Emergency conditions or circumstances surrounding an incident may cause a field unit to request “Emergency Traffic”; ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE GENERAL ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES EPP – 33 Page 14 of 14 2. Non-involved units will not transmit on the channel reserved for “Emergency Traffic” situations unless an emergency requires otherwise. I. Access to central records information: Police department enforcement personnel have the ability to access certain records contained in the central records system through the CAFE or the telecommunications section. At least the following records may be accessed on a twenty-four hour basis: 1. Central Booking Records (Seminole County); 2. Drivers License Status; 3. Domestic Violence Injunctions; 4. Evidence/Article Log; 5. Criminal History Records; 6. Criminal History Information; 7. Missing Person Information; 8. Pawn Ticket Information; 9. Warrants/Capias Information; and, 10. Field Contact Information (C.J.I.S.). NOTE: Records shall not be accessed or reviewed by any unauthorized person. If any citizen makes a request for a public records, they are to be referred to the records division during regular business hours.