In active attack situations, where ongoing deadly force is reasonably likely to be employed by a suspect(s) and delay in taking police action could result in injury or death, immediate action by officers at the scene is necessary when such actions are deemed reasonable to prevent further injuries or loss of life.

These documents provide protocols for assessing the threat and immediately responding during an active attack to limit serious injury or loss of life. While the term “active attack” is used throughout, these documents apply to all situations where there is an active assailant or assailants posing an ongoing deadly threat, to include, but not limited to, those from firearms, vehicles, explosives, and knives.

The mind-set of a person with AD/D is much different than that of other missing persons. Therefore, questioning, report-taking, investigation and search considerations should be appropriately expanded. Agencies should develop policies and procedures that ensure 1) during agency employee contacts and encounters with older adults, consideration is given to the potential that the individual is lost but is not yet reported missing, or is spatially disoriented and at high risk of becoming lost; 2) persons found with AD/D, whether by an agency employee or a Good Samaritan, are provided with assistance that is appropriate for the AD/D medical considerations; and 3) reports of missing persons with AD/D are treated as an emergency and a search will begin as soon as reasonably possible.

These documents provide guidance for the response and investigation of missing persons with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (AD/D).

Law enforcement officers must understand their powers, duties, and responsibilities when interacting with members of the public. The range and goals of possible interactions can span from building positive relationships with community member during voluntary contacts to making arrests. Regardless of the situation, officers should be prepared to interact appropriately, professionally, and according to policy. These documents provide law enforcement officers with guidelines for engaging in voluntary contacts, investigatory detentions, pat-downs, and arrests.

It is essential that all law enforcement officers understand their role and responsibilities when responding to robberies of banks and related financial institutions and the inherent dangers involved. Therefore, when responding to robbery alarms at these establishments, officers should follow established procedures in order to enhance arrest possibilities of suspects and observe proper precautions for the safety of officers, employees and bystanders.

These documents provide law enforcement officers with guidance for responding to and handling alarms at banks and other financial institutions.

This topic has been archived - it is intended for reference purposes only and will not be updated.

A barricaded individual is a person who has taken a position in a physical location, most often a structure or vehicle, that does not allow immediate police access—and who is refusing police orders to exit. These types of situations can be highly volatile and have the potential to endanger the lives of officers and others.

This document provides information regarding the use properly trained, equipped, and supervised field officers to respond and contain a potential barricaded suspect or subject incident.

Bicycle patrol officers are an important component of an agency's strategy for accomplishing its enforcement objectives due to their mobility and stealth as well as their ability to facilitate a variety of law enforcement and crime prevention operations. They are also advantageous in community policing efforts because they are generally perceived as less authoritarian than officers in police motor vehicles.

These documents provide guidance on the use, utility, and deployment of police bicycles and the general management of police bicycle operations.

Agencies should establish a written directive system in order to inform officers of what is expected of them in the performance of their duties, to provide guidance to them in performing such duties, and to establish the basis for employee accountability and the means to fairly evaluate officer and unit performance. Agencies should formally document the structure and component parts of the written directive system in a manner that will increase its utility and application and provide for continuity in its development. 

These documents define the structure and application of an agency’s written directive system (WDS) and provide officers and other employees with a better understanding of its importance, use, and applicability. 

This topic has been archived - it is intended for reference purposes only and will not be updated.

Volunteers can be a valuable addition to any law enforcement agency by providing a variety of services at little cost to the agency. They allow law enforcement agencies and officers to focus on policing and enforcement functions by providing a wide range of supplemental or support services. Volunteers can also enhance community-law enforcement relations by gaining a better understanding of the agency and law enforcement as a whole. These documents provide agencies with guidance regarding the utility, management, and administration of volunteer programs.

As first responders, law enforcement personnel are uniquely positioned to provide trauma-informed care and support to victims of crime as required by law. These efforts can have both an immediate and a long-term impact on the victim’s emotional recovery by developing a sense of security and stability and potentially mitigating the traumatic effects of the crime.

An effective response to the needs of crime victims is an integral part of the law enforcement mission. This essential function, performed by both sworn and civilian personnel, should address victims’ needs by establishing a continuum of support and resources as victims’ progress through the various phases of the criminal justice process.

Agencies should develop policies and procedures to recognize and address the needs and rights of crime victims during each contact; support, provide access to resources, and assist victims as they continue to interact with the criminal justice system; and act as a liaison to appropriate victim assistance and service agencies.

The primary mission and sworn duty of every police agency and officer is to protect and to serve the public. When determining whether to initiate a vehicular pursuit, agencies must consider whether a pursuit will further that goal, especially considering the inherent danger of pursuits to both the public and the officers.

Police officers and agencies must determine whether the public is best protected by engaging in a pursuit or by taking some other form of action. This document will provide agencies with information on balancing the risks, considering all the factors that go into a decision to pursue, and reaching a decision that is best suited to their jurisdictions.

Motor vehicle crashes involving agency vehicles present serious potential risks to agency personnel and the public as well as considerable financial loss due to injury, loss of manpower, vehicle damage, and possible tort liability. Therefore, a motor vehicle crash review process should be established for evaluating crashes involving agency motor vehicles in order to determine cause and to institute corrective and preventive actions where possible. Administrative reviews and hearings concerning these crashes should be conducted according to established policy and procedures.

These documents provide the authority, and operating procedures for review of agency motor vehicle crashes.

This topic has been archived - it is intended for reference purposes only and will not be updated. Individuals seeking updated guidance on Vehicle Crash Review Process should reference the Traffic Management policy guidance.