GARFIELD COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
POLICY / PROCEDURE
PATROL



SUBJECT: CALL-OUT / NOTIFICATION

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 15, 2003
Revised: January 01, 2004

POLICY:
Patrol personnel will adhere to a consistent chain-of-command structure when situations present themselves that require either additional assistance or, notification of supervisory personnel. Personnel are encouraged to contact the next level of supervision anytime a question exists as to the correct action to be taken.

PURPOSE:
The supervisory level of personnel required to be notified is directly proportional to the seriousness of the situation. Since the responsibilities of each level of supervision vary, mandatory notification of certain types of situations is necessary to maintain proper decision making and insure that correct action is taken by the acceptable level of supervision. Supervisory personnel are available as a support mechanism for all personnel.

METHOD:
When attempting to contact any personnel via telephone, pager or cell phone, a reasonable amount of time should be allotted for a response before attempting the next person on the list.

All personnel may, at any time, attempt to contact supervisors or those members with specialized duties or training for questions or advise. These personnel may include the Emergency Operations Commander, Detectives, Task Force Officers, various instructors, k-9 handlers, Drug Recognition Experts, etc. If it is determined that additional personnel are needed, follow the notification process below. When notification is being made, each level of supervision is responsible to notify the next level.


Since the call-out / notification process should be implemented when no supervisory personnel are on duty or readily available, the following procedures will apply:

When a Deputy is required to notify a supervisor:
• The Patrol Deputy shall first attempt to contact the next Sergeant scheduled for a duty shift.
• If no response is received, attempt to contact the Sergeant on the opposite side of the schedule assigned to the same shift (day shift-day shift, night shift-night shift).
• If no response is received, attempt to contact the remaining Sergeant.
• If no response is received, attempt to contact the Detective Sergeant.
• If no response is received, attempt to contact the Undersheriff.
• If no response is received, attempt to contact the Sheriff.
• If no response is received, attempt to contact the EOC.
• If no response is received, attempt to contact a senior Deputy.


When a Deputy or Sergeant is required to notify a Detective:
• The Deputy or Sergeant shall first attempt to contact the “On call” Detective.
• If no response is received, attempt to contact the Detective Sergeant.
• If no response is received, attempt to contact additional Detectives.
• If no response is received, attempt to contact the Undersheriff.
• If no response is received, attempt to contact the Sheriff.
• If no response is received, attempt to contact the EOC.


When a Deputy or Sergeant is required to notify the Emergency Operations Commander:
In any situation regarding the immediate involvement of the EOC (Search and Rescue missions, fires, haz-mat spills, etc)
• The Deputy shall first attempt to contact the EOC. (For SAR missions, the Deputy shall notify the on call SAR person, too, if any credible information is available to believe that SAR might be needed, if at a later time).
• If no response is received, attempt to contact the Undersheriff.
• If no response is received, attempt to contact the Sheriff.
• If no response is received, follow procedure for contacting a Sergeant.



MANDATORY NOTIFICATIONS
Supervisory personnel will be notified for the following events:

Patrol Sergeants:
• All felony assaults.
• All major property damage crimes.
• All burglaries (exception: third degree burglary only).
• All felony narcotics violations.
• All robberies.
• All sexual assaults.
• All child abuse cases.
• All death investigations (homicides, suicides, attended or unattended deaths, fatal motor vehicle accidents, other accidental deaths).
• All vehicular pursuits.
• All duty related motor vehicle accidents.
• All duty related injuries to a Deputy.
• All injuries to suspects as a result of arrest or confinement.
• All instances in which deadly force was used by a Deputy.
• All instances in which less-lethal force was deployed by a Deputy.
• All requests for mutual aid requiring personnel to leave our jurisdiction.
• All structure fires that have substantial duration and /or damage.


Detectives:
• All felony assaults.
• All major property damage crimes.
• All burglaries.
• All felony narcotics violations (contact TRIDENT personnel, too.)
• All robberies.
• All sexual assaults.
• All child abuse cases.
• All death investigations.
• All instances in which deadly force was used by a deputy.
• All fires suspected of arson (fire department should determine cause and origin).


Emergency Operations Commander (EOC):
• All Search and Rescue missions or call-outs. Notify both the EOC and the on-call SAR person if there is any credible chance that SAR might be needed, even if not until a later time.
• All wild land fires including structural fires that spread into wild lands (public or private).
• All haz-mat situations.
• All terrorist or homeland security issues.
• All floods, rockslides and other natural disasters.


Undersheriff:
• All felony assaults.
• All burglaries.
• All felony narcotics violations.
• All robberies.
• All felony sexual assaults.
• All felony child abuse cases.
• All death investigations.
• All vehicular pursuits.
• All duty related motor vehicle accidents.
• All duty related injuries to a Deputy.
• All injuries to suspects as a result of arrest or confinement that require medical attention.
• All instances in which deadly force was used by a Deputy.
• All instances in which less-lethal force was deployed by a Deputy.
• All requests for mutual aid requiring personnel to leave our jurisdiction that might result in enforcement action or sustained absence.
• All structure fires that have substantial duration or damage.
• All situations which requires the response of the EOC.
• All situations where specialized personnel are called out.
• All situations where additional personnel are called out (excluding filling shifts due to illness, etc.).


Sheriff:
• Death investigations other than attended or unattended natural causes.
• All vehicular pursuits.
• All duty related injuries to a Deputy.
• All injuries to suspects as a result of arrest or confinement that require medical attention.
• All instances in which deadly force was used by a Deputy.
• All structure fires that have substantial damage or duration.
• All situations which require the response of the EOC.
• All instances which require the call out of additional personnel to contain a situation.
 

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