41P-Dealing with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons 2019

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Policy & Procedure Page 1 of 7 Lexington Police Department Subject: Dealing with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons Policy Number: 41P Accreditation Standards: Reference: Effective Date: 11/1/10  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 2.19, “Dealing with the Hearing Impaired.” GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS AND GUIDELINES Employees encountering people they believe are deaf or hard of hearing should never assume that the person understands what is being communicated and should make sure that [s]he understands. This caution applies to all forms of communication, whether sign language, speech, writing, or reading. Communication problems in police-public encounters provide the basis for misunderstandings and potential problems, frustration, and embarrassment. Therefore, it is important that employees are able to recognize persons with hearing and communication handicaps, differentiate their actions and symptoms from other causes, and take measures to facilitate communication. Some persons with hearing difficulties also suffer from inner ear impairments that can affect their balance, and speech may be slurred or otherwise difficult to understand. It is the policy of the Lexington Police Department that:  Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing - whether they be victims, witnesses, or suspects – shall be treated with respect, and in any encounters with such individuals, an officer’s conduct shall conform to applicable provisions of federal and state law and conditions articulated within this policy.  This department shall make available access to speech language interpreters as coordinated by the Office of Deafness. i  All calls from persons who are deaf or have hearing loss or speech impairments must be accepted through the department’s enhanced 9-1-1-communication center.