Policy
358
Alameda Police Department
Alameda Police Department Policy Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2021/09/26, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Alameda Police Department ***DRAFT*** Major Incident Notification - 1 Major Incident Notification
358.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance to members of this department in determining when, how and to whom notification of major incidents should be made. 358.2 POLICY
The Alameda Police Department recognizes that certain incidents should be brought to the attention of supervisors or other specified personnel of this department to facilitate the coordination of activities and ensure that inquiries from the media and the public may be properly addressed. 358.3 MINIMUM CRITERIA FOR NOTIFICATION
Most situations where the media show a strong interest are also of interest to the Chief of Police and the affected Bureau Commander. The following list of incident types is provided as a guide for notification and is not intended to be all inclusive:
• Homicides
• Traffic fatalities
• Unusual deaths
• Rapes
• Armed robberies
• Felony assaults with serious injury
• Vandalism to a place of worship as described per Penal Code 594.3(a) • Kidnappings
• Hate Incident or Hate Crime
• Major drug cases
• Officer-involved shooting - on or off duty (See Policy Manual § 310.53 for special notifications)
• Significant injury or death to employee - on or off duty • Death of a prominent Alameda official
• Arrest of Department employee or prominent Alameda official • Aircraft crash with major damage and/or injury or death • Bombings or explosive devices
• In-custody deaths
• Arrest of a City employee
Alameda Police Department
Alameda Police Department Policy Manual
Major Incident Notification
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2021/09/26, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Alameda Police Department ***DRAFT*** Major Incident Notification - 2 • Use of the Emergency Response Vehicle
• Other significant events as deemed appropriate by the Watch Commander 358.4 WATCH COMMANDER RESPONSIBILITY
The Watch Commander is responsible for making the appropriate notifications. The Watch Commander shall make reasonable attempts to obtain as much information on the incident as possible before notification. The Watch Commander shall attempt to make the notifications as soon as practicable. Notification should be made by calling the cellular telephone number first and then by any other available contact numbers, including their home telephone. 358.4.1 STAFF NOTIFICATION
In the event an incident occurs described in the Major Incident Notification Policy, the Chief of Police shall be notified along with the affected Bureau Commander and the Detective Lieutenant if that bureau is affected.
358.4.2 DETECTIVE NOTIFICATION
If the incident requires that a detective respond from home, the immediate supervisor of the appropriate detail shall be contacted who will then contact the appropriate detective. 358.4.3 TRAFFIC BUREAU NOTIFICATION
In the event of a traffic fatality or major injury, the Traffic Sergeant shall be notified who will then contact the appropriate accident investigator. The Traffic Sergeant will notify the Traffic Lieutenant. 358.4.4 PRESS INFORMATION OFFICER (PIO)
The Press Information Officer shall be called after members of staff have been notified that it appears the media may have a significant interest in the incident. 358.5 SIGNIFICANT POLICE INCIDENT REPORTING TO CITY MANAGER AND CITY
COUNCIL
The purpose of this order is to establish a procedure for disseminating information on significant police incidents to the City Manager, and City Council.
It is the policy of this Department as part of its command/control responsibility to ensure that police Executive Command Officers, the City Manager, and City Council are notified of significant police incidents in a timely fashion.
The On-Duty Watch Commander shall assume responsibility for preparing and forwarding the information at all other times.
During non-business hours, the Bureau of Operations Commander or other Bureau Commander should be notified of the significant police incident if, in the judgment of the Watch Commander, the incident is of sufficient gravity that notification is necessary before the regular business day.
Alameda Police Department
Alameda Police Department Policy Manual
Major Incident Notification
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2021/09/26, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Alameda Police Department ***DRAFT*** Major Incident Notification - 3 During non-business hours, the Chief of Police should be notified of the significant police incident if, in the judgment of the Bureau of Operations Commander or other Bureau Commander, the incident is of sufficient gravity that notification is necessary before the regular business day.
When notifying the City Manager or City Council of a significant police incident, the below procedure shall be followed:
Obtain the necessary information for completion of the Significant Police Incident form. Complete the form and e-mail it to the City Manager, each City Council Member, City Department Heads, the Chief of Police, both Captains and all Lieutenants via the SIGINFO address in the City of Alameda e-mail system.