Loading...
204 Bank Alarm Procedure (Issued 05-15-2008)FRIDLEY POLICE DATE OF ISSUE NUMBER: GENERAL ORDER May 15, 2008 204 SUBJECT: REVISION DATE SECTION: Robbery or Hold Up Alarm Procedure May 15, 2008 Orange I. PURPOSE To provide policy guidelines and procedural steps for robbery or hold up alarm response. II. PROCEDURE A. Upon receipt of a robbery or hold-up alarm, Central Communications will activate an alert tone advising Fridley squads of a robbery or hold-up alarm at the respective location. The area squad will then acknowledge the call. If the area squad is not available, the closest squad will advise that he/she is taking the call. Additionally, the primary squad should insure a back-up squad is also responding. B. The following guidelines are developed to increase the safety of employees, citizens, and police officers, and to heighten the chance for apprehension of any robber(s): 1. All alarms should be considered as “in progress” until verified otherwise. 2. If a false alarm occurs, an employee will be directed to meet an officer outside the business. Caution should be maintained until the officer makes positive identification. C. In response to the alarm, the primary squad will proceed to an area that affords the officer the most visual coverage of the building while limiting, as much as practical, the ability of a suspect inside from observing the officer or squad. D. The second squad will proceed to an area that affords the officer visual coverage of that area of the building that is not visible to the primary squad while limiting, as much as practical, the ability of a suspect inside from observing the officer or squad. E. Depending on the size of the building and nature of the call, it may be necessary for additional squads to assist in setting up a “perimeter” around the building using deployment tactics that limit as much as practical, the ability of a suspect inside from observing the officer or squad. F. Additional squads will coordinate response to nearby streets and remain mobile for possible pursuit purposes, or to be directed as necessary by the primary squad or supervisor. G. Officers will observe the scene for a short period of time in attempt to determine what may be occurring. H. Once sufficient squads are in position, the primary squad will have Central Communications attempt to make phone contact with the business. Generally, the dispatcher will not place a call until instructed by the officer. I. If in approaching the location, the officer does not observe the employee standing outside the building, and phone contact has unusual or no response, it will be assumed that a robbery is in progress. The following course of action will be followed: 1. The perimeter of the building will be secured. 2. The field supervisor will be notified and dispatched to the scene. 3. If necessary, thoroughfares will be blocked and traffic detoured away from the location. 4. The safety of citizens, employees, and police officers will be of the first priority and no unnecessary steps will be taken that threaten the lives of innocent persons. Once the scene is contained there is no immediate need for haste, and well planned actions should be employed. J. If responding officers and/or the on scene supervisor determine a robbery is in fact “in progress”, the following additional procedures should be employed. 1. Supervisor should consider hostage situation and set up command post. 2. Supervisor should call for additional units as necessary and consider requesting that the SWAT Team respond. 3. Have site survey diagrams, photos, and other information on file at the City be brought to the scene. K. If officers observe a crime in progress with suspect(s) in the process of leaving the location, the following procedures are to be used: 1. If not seen by the suspect(s), officers are to wait for suspect(s) to be clear of the doorway and building, allowing the employees to lock the doorway, and then attempt to effect the arrest. 2. If seen by suspect(s), officers should obtain cover and attempt to effect arrest. 3. If suspect(s) return to the interior of the building before the doors can be locked, handle as a hostage situation. L. If a confirmed robbery and suspects are seen fleeing either on foot or in a vehicle: 1. At least one officer will respond to the scene of the robbery to: a. verify no suspects remain at the scene b. check for casualties c. Preserve the crime scene d. detain witnesses e. obtain descriptions of suspect(s) and suspect vehicle f. ascertain other pertinent information 2. Attempts will be made by other officers to locate any suspect vehicle and will respond as directed by field supervisor. M. If the business robbed was a bank or credit union, officers shall: 1. Secure scene 2. Check for casualties 3. Notify supervisor 4. Detain and/or identify witnesses 5. Supervisor will notify communications of the situation by telephone and request FBI. 6. An officer will stand by until arrival of FBI. 7. Cars not needed at the scene will return to service. N. A report will be completed by the assigned officer on each alarm received. If the occurrence is a false alarm, the report will include the reason for the alarm being activated.