41G-Police Response to Calls 2019

Browse Search

Policy & Procedure Page 1 of 6 Lexington Police Department Subject: Police Response to Calls Policy Number: 41G Accreditation Standards: Reference: 41.2.1; 41.2.4 Effective Date: 9/1/11  New  Revised Revision Dates: 1/24/19 By Order of: Mark J. Corr, Chief of Police The Municipal Police Institute, Inc. (MPI) is a private, nonprofit charitable affiliate of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association. MPI provides training and model policies and procedures for police agencies. This policy is an edited version of MPI Policy 4.08 “Response to Calls.” GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS AND GUIDELINES The manner in which officers respond to calls for services will vary according to the nature and gravity of the call. This is necessary to satisfactorily address the safety needs of the general public and for responding officers. Police calls for service can be classified into three categories: routine, urgent, and emergency. The number of officers sent to a call, and how quickly, depends on how the call is classified and/or reclassified if new information has developed. The purpose of this policy is to provide personnel with clear guidelines as to what calls will generally fit into which category, thus determining the degree of response and the number of officers to be assigned. None of these procedures will preclude the possibility of circumstances that will alter normal and expected reactions. Response to any type of call requires an officer to utilize the shortest and safest route of travel. It is the policy of the Lexington Police Department that:  The Department will evaluate the urgency of the police response to a given situation and assign the appropriate number of officers; and,  In situations when the Department is unable to respond to calls with sufficient on-duty personnel, it may have to rely on off-duty officers, non- regular personnel and officers from neighboring Departments via Mutual Aid Agreements.