G11.1.4 Communications with Officers and Field Personnel
Chapter: Chapter 11: Communications and Dispatch Services
Sub-Chapter: 11.1 - Communications
Effective Date: 02/16/2024
Revised Date: 09/10/2024
Rescinds: G11.1.4 – 2/16/2024
Purpose
To describe the procedures the Indiana University Police Department (IUPD) will follow for communications to and from personnel.
General Order
The IUPD uses radio transmissions as a primary form of communication between field personnel and the dispatch communications center. Uniform radio procedures and proper utilization of communications equipment are essential to ensure maximum effectiveness and safety. Radio transmissions should be clear and concise using plain language and only include necessary communications. Professional language will be used throughout all radio transmissions and personnel will refrain from displaying emotion or voice inflection to display or indicate irritation, disgust, or sarcasm. The use of profanity is prohibited.
Definition
Field personnel – as used in this general order, field personnel means any sworn or non-sworn employee who, by virtue of their assignment, have routine contact with the general public while not in a traditional office setting. Also referred to as a dispatchable unit, this includes personnel who are available for receiving and responding to calls for service or working special events.
Circumstances requiring communications by all field personnel (11.1.4 a)
Field personnel will monitor their radio at all times while on duty. Field personnel will promptly notify the dispatch communications center when initiating any action that may have the potential for violence or may place them in a situation where they are no longer able to respond to calls for service. Other circumstances under which communications by field personnel to the dispatch communications center are required include:
- acknowledgement of radio transmission received,
- upon arrival to the scene of an incident,
- backing up/assisting another unit,
- change in location of an incident,
- clearing an incident,
- upon initiating any official contact such as traffic stops or field interviews,
- requests for warrant, driver, or vehicle registration checks as needed,
- when leaving an assigned post or area,
- marking out of service and providing the location and general reason for being out of service (e.g. break, report writing, paperwork, training, vehicle or equipment maintenance, etc.),
- marking in service, and
- other circumstances as required by any other IUPD general order or written directive.
Recording of the status of field personnel when out of service (11.1.4 b)
The status of field personnel will be maintained as part of the computer aided dispatch (CAD) radio log. Field personnel may either place themselves in out of service status by creating an entry into CAD or by radio communications with the dispatch communications center. Public safety dispatchers will enter the status of field personnel upon receiving a radio communication.
Methods used for identifying personnel during communications (11.1.4 c)
Personnel are assigned a unique unit number based on their position assignment. Unit numbers are grouped as follows:
- 1-99 Bloomington division (unless otherwise noted below)
- 100-199 Northwest division
- 200-299 Central division, Kokomo campus
- 300-399 Central division, Indianapolis campus
- 400-499 Southern division, Columbus campus
- 500-599 Bloomington division part time officers and cadets
- 600-699 Southern division, Southeast campus
- 700-799 South Bend division
- 800-899 Central division, East campus
- 900-999 Bloomington division security officers
- 1100-1199 Southern division, Evansville campus
- 1200-1299 Superintendent’s office
- 1400-1499 Dispatch communications center personnel
The dispatch communications center is referred to as “IU” during all radio transmissions. Personnel are identified by their unit number during radio transmissions. Personal names should be avoided.
During radio transmissions, the first identifier (i.e. “IU” or unit number) is the dispatch communications center or unit being called and the second identifier is the dispatch communications center or unit transmitting. (For example, “IU – 1199” or “1190 –1199” where in both cases the unit number 1199 is the unit transmitting and attempting to contact the dispatch communications center or another unit.)
Criteria for the number of officers assigned in response to an incident (11.1.4 d)
Routine calls for service will have one officer dispatched to them. Response to certain calls, alarms, or incidents may require more than one officer to ensure safe and effective handling of the incident or situation. Officer and citizen safety will be considered when determining officer response needs. Mutual aid from another law enforcement agency may be requested as necessary. The dispatch communications center will, whenever possible, assign a minimum of two officers to any call for service that involves any of the following:
- crimes in progress,
- disturbances in progress,
- situations that present an immediate risk of injury or death to include alarms (fire with reported smoke or flames, panic, intrusion, etc.) and serious medical incidents,
- reports of suspicious persons or vehicles, and
- any situation likely to result in an arrest.
The severity or nature of a call can change at any moment. Field personnel may determine the need for additional officers to respond at any time for any call for service or incident.
Circumstances that require the presence of a supervisor at the scene for the purpose of assuming command (11.1.4 e)
A supervisor will respond to the scene of an incident of a serious nature for the purpose of assuming command and allowing for effective communications and control of the incident. Circumstances generally requiring the presence of a supervisor at the scene for purposes of assuming command include, but are not limited to:
- any incident involving serious bodily injury or death,
- any situation involving the discharge of a firearm by an officer,
- any incident involving the use of force resulting in serious bodily injury or death,
- any incident which results in the activation of the Incident Management Team (IMT),
- large scale demonstrations, protests, or disruptions of public order, and
- when an IUPD officer is or has been involved in a pursuit.
Responding to emergency requests for assistance from field personnel (11.1.4 f)
Public safety dispatchers will be cognizant of the severity of a call and that the nature of the call can change at any moment. A request for assistance from field personnel may be made at any time. A request for assistance is considered an emergency request when field personnel advise they are involved in a situation whereby a suspect is fleeing from an officer, assaulting an officer, resisting arrest, or threatening an officer. In addition, emergency requests also include the activation of an officer’s portable radio emergency button or the activation of the BodyWorn Down alert when it cannot be immediately confirmed the activation was accidental or any other instance where field personnel request urgent or expedited back up.
Upon receiving an emergency request for assistance from field personnel, public safety dispatchers will prioritize that call as the most important, request all other units to hold non-emergency radio traffic, and dispatch the appropriate personnel to respond to the location to assist