A.    The purpose of this General Order is to describe the authority and to establish guidelines for operating emergency vehicles. It is intended as a broad guide to the application of these procedures during the operation of an emergency vehicle.

B.   Situations exist that require officers to respond quickly to life threatening emergencies and/or engage in pursuit of violators. In any situation, an officer must always base the decision to pursue on probable cause, known facts, and circumstances that can be articulated by the officer.

A.    Vehicles equipped, at a minimum, with a siren and externally mounted red and blue emergency warning lights that have been installed in a manner approved by the Chief of Police will be authorized emergency vehicles.

1.    An exception to externally mounted red and blue lights will be made for designated SUV model vehicles equipped with interior red and blue lights mounted at the top, and extending across the width of the windshield. Additional emergency warning lights will be mounted on these vehicles in accordance with specifications approved by the Chief of Police to allow the vehicle to operate as an emergency vehicle.

2.    Public Service Officer trucks are not authorized emergency vehicles.

B.Vehicles equipped with red and blue lights that are not externally mounted are also authorized emergency vehicles, but these vehicles will be used for traffic stops only and will not be used for any other type of emergency response.

C.    Vehicles not equipped with serviceable emergency equipment as provided in section A or B above will not be operated in an emergency manner.

A.    Code 1 - The operation of an emergency vehicle in normal traffic without using emergency lights and siren. All departmental personnel operating emergency vehicles in this mode will comply with the posted speed limit and obey all traffic control devices and signals.

B.    Code 3 - The operation of an emergency vehicle using the emergency warning devices, as well as activating the emergency vehicle’s headlights. This method of operation is authorized by the State Transportation Code and is outlined in General Order 301.05.

1.    The general guideline shall be that officers operating their vehicles in this manner shall not exceed the posted speed limit by more than 20 miles per hour on major streets and freeways and shall observe the posted speed limit in residential neighborhoods and school zones.

2.    Officers operating their vehicles in this manner shall come to a complete stop to ensure an intersection is clear prior to disregarding any stop signal or stop sign.

3.    While operating a vehicle Code 3, an officer is not bound by the requirements listed in 301.03 B. 1-2 above in the following situations:

a.  When responding to cover another law enforcement officer where an imminent threat to the officer’s safety is present.

b.  When responding to an Officer Assist.

c.  When an officer is involved in an authorized pursuit.

However, in all situations, an officer is not relieved of the duty to operate the vehicle with appropriate regard for the safety of all persons or the consequences of reckless disregard for the safety of others.

A.    In all operations of emergency vehicles, situations will exist which, in the responding officer’s opinion, need an immediate and effective response. In these situations, the responding officer may determine that a delay in response could jeopardize the safety of a citizen or officer and upgrade from a Code 1 to a Code 3 response. When upgrading a response, the responding officer will notify the dispatcher, and upon acknowledgment, immediately activate the emergency equipment and headlights.

B.    When operating Code 3, the operator of the emergency vehicle is responsible for the safe operation of the vehicle. The officer must be able to articulate the facts and circumstances justifying the Code 3 decision.

C.    The authority to drive contrary to regulatory codes when operating an authorized emergency vehicle Code 3 does not relieve the operator of the responsibility of exercising due care. When regulating their speed, officers should give consideration to such things as the nature and seriousness of the offense or suspected offense and be consciously aware of weather conditions, traffic control devices, character of the neighborhood (residential or business), traffic volume, and road and vehicle conditions.

D.    After providing necessary assistance at a Code 3 or Assist Officer incident, the initial responding element will notify the dispatcher when the need for emergency assistance is over.

1.    Dispatcher will immediately sound an alert tone that Code 3 response has ended.

2.    Authorization for all other responses utilizing emergency warning devices will end.

3.   Other officers may proceed to the scene, driving at the posted speed limit and obeying all traffic control devices.

4.    Except when driven Code 3 or to an Assist Officer, no emergency vehicle will be driven faster than the posted speed limit.

E.    Officers requesting a cover element will advise the dispatcher if the response needed is Code 1 or Code 3, and the number of elements required. No other terminology will be used.

1.    When an officer requests cover elements to respond Code 3, it will be implied that the officer is requesting for an Officer Assist response.

2.    If an Officer Assist response is deemed not necessary by the requesting officer, the officer making the request will state that an Officer Assist response is not needed, and the cover elements will respond Code 3 by the requirements listed in 301.03 B. 1-2 above.

3.   A Code 3 response is appropriate when an officer reasonably believes that a delay in response could jeopardize the safety of a citizen or officer.

4.    Officers responding to a Code 3 cover request will notify the dispatcher, and upon acknowledgement, immediately activate the emergency equipment and headlights.

F.    In all Assist Officer incidents, responding officers will be authorized an emergency response as indicated in 301.03 B.3 without the need to notify the dispatcher of their intent to respond.

G.    Officers will hold Code 3 or Officer Assist responses to the essential minimum and terminate a Code 3 or Officer Assist response at the earliest possible time. When the emergency warning devices are deactivated, a Code 1 response is in effect.

A.    The State Transportation Code permits authorized emergency vehicles to be operated in an emergency manner in response to an emergency call and in immediate pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law.

B.    The following will be considered emergencies within the meaning of Section A above:

1.    Calls assigned by the radio dispatcher that are designated as emergencies and only when dispatched as emergencies by the designation Code 3.

2.    Calls or situations wherein the personal knowledge of an officer justifies the reclassification of a Code 1 assignment to an emergency level Code 3.

3.    Situations wherein a supervisor directs that response be made Code 3.

4.    Routine Traffic Stops-

Pursuit of a violator when the use of both emergency warning lights and siren is necessary to alert other traffic and/or to command the attention of the vehicle operator so that the he/she can be directed to stop. Officers may clock speeding traffic violators without using emergency lights and siren when they can do so safely and only for short distances.

5.    Chase Pursuit- Pursuit of a violator wherein the violator refuses to stop and the continuing use of both emergency warning lights and siren is necessary in the interest of warning others. The authority to drive contrary to traffic regulations requires the emission of an audible signal and activation of emergency warning lights. At the conclusion of the chase pursuit, all visible emergency warning lights will remain on at the scene.

C.     Authorized Levels of Response - The only authorized levels of response are Code 1 and Code 3, which are defined in GO 301.03.

D.    Authorized Operators - No Police Department vehicle will be operated with emergency equipment activated unless operated by a sworn member of the Police Department:

E.    The law enforcement goal of protection of life may be better served if an in-the-act offender is not alerted to an officer’s arrival. When the siren and emergency warning lights are deactivated, the Code 3 response will cease and a Code 1 response will be in effect, and the officer must begin considering a tactical approach.

A.    When an officer in the field is requested to escort a private vehicle carrying an injured or ill person, the officer will determine the severity of the injury or illness. The officer should offer to call an ambulance and offer to administer first aid.

B.    If the driver and patient refuse the officer's offer and want to continue to the nearest hospital or medical facility, the officer may escort the vehicle Code 1. The dispatcher will be notified prior to the escort.

C.    If the situation is not of a life threatening nature, the officer will politely suggest that the driver proceed carefully and obey all traffic regulations, and if appropriate, suggest the quickest and safest route to the hospital. Should the driver not know the way to the hospital, the officer may furnish an escort Code 1.

D.   An officer will not escort a private vehicle Code 3.

A.     Purpose - The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines for making decisions with regard to vehicular pursuits.

B. Philosophy - General Order 906.01 B., states “Protection of human life is a primary goal of the Police Department; therefore, police officers have a responsibility to use only the degree of force necessary to protect and preserve life.” Initiating or participating in a vehicular pursuit presents a danger to the officers involved, the suspect, and the general public. Accordingly, the decision to initiate a pursuit must be based on the pursuing officer’s conclusion that the immediate danger to the officer, public and suspect created by the pursuit is less than the immediate or potential danger to the public should the suspect remain at large.

C. Definition - A Pursuit is defined as an active attempt by an officer in an authorized emergency vehicle to apprehend a fleeing suspect in a motor vehicle who is attempting to elude the officer. A suspect is considered to be fleeing upon making any overt action intended to avoid arrest. For the purpose of this order, violators who follow all traffic regulations after an officer initiates a traffic stop and are merely failing to yield to the authorized emergency vehicle are not considered to be fleeing. The term “Chase” will be considered synonymous with “Pursuit.”

D. Decision to Initiate Pursuit

1. The decision to pursue must be based upon facts and circumstances known to the officer.

2. In deciding whether to pursue, an officer must take the following pursuit risk factors under consideration:

a. road, weather and environmental conditions,

b. population density, vehicle and pedestrian traffic,

c. relative performance capabilities of both the authorized emergency vehicle and the suspect’s vehicle,

d. seriousness of the offense,

e. presence of other persons in the police vehicle,

f. age of offender,

g. whether or not the offender’s identity is known, and

h. any circumstance under which the pursuing officer will be unable to maintain control of the emergency vehicle.

3. An officer may initiate a pursuit under the following circumstances:

a. when the officer has probable cause to believe that a felony involving the use or threat of physical force or violence has been, or is about to be, committed, or

b. to assist another law enforcement agency that has initiated a pursuit under the same circumstances, or

c. an outside agency has initiated a pursuit which has entered the City of Dallas and there is only one police vehicle involved, or

d. an officer on-views a suspect discharge a firearm in a public place or displays a firearm in a public place in a threatening manner, and

e. the officer reasonably believes that the immediate need to apprehend the offender outweighs the risk to any person of collision, injury or death.

f. all other pursuits are prohibited.

4. Officers will not pursue a motorist whose only offense is driving while intoxicated if the actions of the driver escalate beyond merely failing to yield to the emergency vehicle.

E. Manner of Operation While in Pursuit

1. The emergency warning lights, siren, and emergency vehicle headlights will be used at all times while operating Code 3.

2. Only police vehicles equipped with operable emergency warning lights and sirens will participate in the pursuit of a fleeing vehicle.

3. Unmarked vehicles without roof mounted emergency warning light systems will not become involved in a pursuit. Supervisors in unmarked vehicles will follow the chase using a Code 1 response.

4. If a pursuit is initiated by a motorcycle, the motorcycle will abandon the pursuit when a four-wheel unit with roof mounted emergency warning light systems joins the pursuit.

5. Vehicles with passengers (prisoners, witnesses, suspects, complainants or other non-police personnel who have not signed a waiver of liability) will not become engaged in pursuits.

6. Paddy Wagons will not become engaged in pursuits.

F. Pursuit Termination

1. Pursuing officers shall continually assess the pursuit risk factors and terminate the pursuit when the danger to the officer, public or suspect becomes greater than the immediate need to apprehend the suspect.

2. If visual contact is lost other than momentarily, officers will discontinue the pursuit.

3. Officers will terminate a pursuit when directed to do so by a supervisor.

4. Once the decision has been made to terminate a pursuit, officers will immediately disengage emergency warning lights and siren and reduce to Code 1.

G. Prohibited Practices

1. Setting up roadblocks to stop violators.

2. Attempting to force the vehicle from the roadway by driving alongside or in front of the fleeing vehicle.

3. Bumping or ramming the fleeing vehicle in an attempt to force it from the road.

4. Discharging weapons at a moving vehicle unless an occupant of the vehicle is using or attempting to use deadly force on an officer or other persons.

5. Pursuing violators the wrong way on any freeway, one-way service road, one-way street, or divided roadway. This order is not intended to prohibit pursuit on an adjacent roadway where the officer is driving with the traffic flow.

6. Following so closely that adequate reaction and braking time is insufficient to prevent collision with any leading vehicle.

H. Responsibilities of Pursuing Elements

1. Any element initiating a pursuit will immediately notify the police dispatcher of the following information:

a. Element number.

b. Direction of travel.

c. Reason for pursuit to include offense that has been, or is about to be, committed.

d. Description and number of occupants.

2. No more than the following three vehicles will be involved in a pursuit - the pursuit element, one support element, and a supervisor (either the Controlling Supervisor or another supervisor). The officer in the primary vehicle or the supervisor engaged in the pursuit may request approval from the Controlling Supervisor to add additional elements to the pursuit. The Controlling Supervisor may grant this request and has the option to add additional elements based upon personal judgment. Factors to be considered before requesting or allowing additional elements to join the pursuit include, but are not limited to:

a. The nature of the offense.

b. The number of suspects.

c. Whether to add a third element to the pursuit if no supervisor is able to join it.

d. Whether the participating elements have more than one officer per vehicle.

e. Any factor that could reasonably cause an increased hazard.

3. Other police vehicles will not enter a pursuit to assume the lead or secondary vehicle position unless these factors apply:

a. The lead or secondary vehicles have fallen far enough behind the suspect's vehicle that it may be reasonably assumed the lead or secondary vehicle cannot maintain contact with the suspect's vehicle.

b. The vehicle can enter the pursuit without causing other pursuing squad cars to take evasive action.

c. If a police vehicle assumes the lead or second vehicle position (after meeting the above conditions), the vehicle entering the pursuit will immediately inform the dispatcher of the action taken. The last or third police vehicle (unless it is a supervisor) will then leave the pursuit and notify the dispatcher of this action.

4. Officers involved in a pursuit will immediately inform the dispatcher of any collision or other injury observed by the officer as a result of the pursuit.

5. Vehicles trailing a chase at a distance and at legal speed limits will not follow the chase beyond their Operations Division geographical boundaries and will obey traffic control devices. Sufficient vehicles to provide this support will be available in the Operations Division in which the chase continues.

6. Officers not directly involved in a pursuit will not respond Code 3 to catch up to a pursuit unless directed to do so by a supervisor.

I. Responsibilities of the Controlling Supervisor

1. When an element becomes involved in a pursuit, the field supervisor of the responding element, if available, will be assigned by the dispatcher as the Controlling Supervisor. If this supervisor is not available, another first line supervisor will be assigned. If another first line supervisor is not available, the watch commander will be assigned.

2. Command the pursuit from either a stationary position or while proceeding Code 1 toward the pursuit.

3. Have the option of joining the pursuit, if another supervisor has not done so. If the supervisor joins the pursuit, another supervisor, if available, will become the controlling supervisor.

4. Monitor all radio communications to ensure that only those elements authorized and designated by the dispatcher participate in high-speed pursuits.

5. Consider the nature and seriousness of the offense for which the suspect is being pursued and assess the potential, if any, for identifying and arresting the fleeing offender at a later time.

6. Order a pursuit discontinued when any of the following are applicable:

a. The known circumstances or facts do not justify continuing the pursuit.

b. The actions of other police agencies or individuals increase the danger to officers or the public. This includes actions of other police agencies that violate the Inter-Jurisdictional Pursuit Agreement, whether or not the violating agency is a signatory to that agreement.

c. Upon receiving a recommendation by the primary pursuit element, the supervisor involved in the pursuit, or a superior officer.

d. The risk to any person of injury, collision or death outweighs the immediate need to apprehend the offender.

7. Police motor vehicle pursuits are only authorized in very limited circumstance. However, these circumstances involve potential violent offenders who in some cases may pose a substantial danger to pursuing officers at the conclusion of the pursuit. When these circumstances exist, a controlling supervisor is authorized to add additional elements to the pursuit. Factors to be considered before requesting or allowing additional elements to join the pursuit include, but are not limited to:

a. The nature of the offense.

b. The number of suspects.

c. Whether to add a third element to the pursuit if no supervisor is able to join it.

d. Whether the participating elements have more than one officer per vehicle.

e. Any factor that could reasonably cause an increased hazard.

8. If a supervisor authorizes additional elements in a pursuit, either based on his or her own judgment or in response to a request by involved elements, the justification for the authorization must be documented in the Vehicle Pursuit form.

9. Completion of the Vehicle Pursuit form located on the BlueTeam link under the Dallas Police Department intranet home page. Supervisors must attach the Evading Offense report and Chase report to the Vehicle Pursuit form. If available, supervisors must provide any DVR video, AVL reports, and arrest reports with the Vehicle Pursuit form through the chain-of-command to the Division Commander for review.

J. Responsibilities of the Patrol Watch Commander or Acting Watch Commander

1. Monitor active pursuits to ensure a controlling supervisor has been assigned and pursuit polices are followed.

2. Ensure the justification for the pursuit and decisions made regarding the pursuit are consistent with the Department’s overall pursuit philosophy.

3. Immediately terminate a pursuit which causes substantial danger to the officers or the public that outweighs the need to apprehend the offender.

4. Evaluate all requests to add additional elements by the pursuing officers and authorization for additional elements by the controlling supervisor to ensure the additional elements do not create an unjustified risk to the involved officers and the public.

K. Responsibilities of the Communications Division

1. Develop and maintain standard procedures for a Pursuit Management Team to include a Communications Supervisor, Dispatcher and Service Desk.

2. The radio dispatcher will:

a. Transmit all information pertinent to the pursuit to other police elements.

b. Immediately designate the sector supervisor of the initiating element, if available, as the Controlling Supervisor.

c. Notify the helicopter duty officer.

d. Advise pursuit vehicles of any known or potential hazards in the path of the pursuit (accidents, street closures, repairs, etc.).

e. Attempt to determine the reason why a vehicle is fleeing (e.g., a robbery that may have occurred near the initiation point of the chase, etc.).

f. Sound the alert tone at the cessation of pursuit to audibly emphasize the requirement to reduce to Code 1 driving.

g. Ensure a patrol watch commander is made aware that a pursuit is occurring.

3. When it becomes evident a pursuit may cross into another dispatch area with a different radio frequency, the originating dispatcher will notify the dispatcher responsible for the area into which the pursuit may continue. This dispatcher will activate the Alert Tone to warn elements in his/her dispatch area that emergency radio traffic will be forthcoming. Activation of the alert tone will include two short beeps of this signal followed by pertinent information regarding the pursuit.

4. When a pursuit enters another Operations Division, that channel’s dispatcher will keep the division officers informed of the location of the pursuit. No officer will join a pursuit without obtaining approval from the dispatcher and/or the Controlling Supervisor of the channel and/or division where the pursuit originated. Normally, all pursuits will be maintained and controlled on the radio channel where the pursuit originated and under the direction of the original Controlling Supervisor. The only exceptions to this policy will be:

a. If radio transmissions become weak or unreadable, a Communications Section supervisor will direct elements to a channel where transmissions are improved.

b. If a pursuit continues for an excessive length of time, the Communications Section Supervisor may direct elements to another channel so that operations on the primary channel may return to normal.

c. If the Controlling Supervisor advises that a pursuit should be broadcast on another channel for officer safety, the Communications Section supervisor will direct the elements to another channel.

5. Notify Fusion with all available information so that intelligence can be developed while the pursuit is occurring.

L. Responsibilities of the Station Sergeant

1. Ensure no element within the division is attempting to overtake the pursuit from an impractical distance or with excessive speed.

2. Ensure officers are not trailing pursuit in violation of GO 301.07, H. 5.

3. If the chase proceeds into another division, the station sergeant of that division will also begin monitoring the AVL in addition to the station sergeant from the division where the chase originated.

4. Monitor all elements for violations of the general order.

5. Ensure all elements observed to be violating or attempting to violate department emergency vehicle operation policy are immediately directed to cease the activity.

6. Ensure all violations observed from monitoring the AVL are documented on the chase report.

M. Helicopter Involvement

1. Whenever possible, the helicopter will join a pursuit after notification by the dispatcher. Upon joining the pursuit, the helicopter will:

a. Advise the dispatcher and Controlling Supervisor of the helicopter's presence, its ability to maintain contact while directing the pursuit, and the number of vehicles in the pursuit.

b. Direct ground units to the fleeing vehicle's termination point.

2. If practical and safe, the helicopter will:

a. Maintain a position that allows the pilot and/or observer to see an area several blocks in front of and behind the suspect's vehicle.

b. Notify pursuing officers of any upcoming traffic hazards.

c. Be aware of the number of police vehicles in the pursuit and notify the Controlling Supervisor and/or the dispatcher of any changes in the number of vehicles involved in the pursuit.

A. If it becomes evident the pursuit might cross into another jurisdiction or if elements from another police agency become involved in the pursuit, the dispatcher will determine whether the jurisdiction being entered or agencies participating in the pursuit are signatories to the Inter-Jurisdictional Pursuit Agreement. This information will immediately be broadcast to the pursuit vehicles and Controlling Supervisor.
B. Before a pursuit enters another jurisdiction, the dispatcher will notify the other agency with the following information:

1. The pursuit is about to enter their jurisdiction.

2. Reason for the pursuit and nature of violation.

3. Location and direction of the pursuit.

4. Complete description of occupants and vehicle.

5. Number of elements involved in the pursuit.

6. Whether or not assistance is needed.

7. If applicable, notify that agency when the pursuit is leaving their jurisdictional boundaries or the location of termination.

C. The initiating agency will have control and be responsible for the pursuit. Other agencies will not participate unless requested to assist.
D. A total of no more than three vehicles from the combined jurisdictions will be involved in any pursuit - two elements and one supervisor.
E. During a pursuit involving more than one agency, the following practices are prohibited:

1. Roadblocks.

2. Ramming.

3. Forcing pursued vehicle off roadway.

4. Shooting at pursued vehicle (except to protect against the use of unlawful deadly force).

F. Responsibility of the initiating agency:

1. Arraignment of arrested persons.

2. Disposition of any passenger.

3. Disposition of arrested person's vehicle.

4. Coordination of all reports, citations, and criminal charges.

G. Without unnecessary delay, the apprehending officer will take the arrestee or have him/her taken before one of the following:

1. The magistrate who issued the warrant or the magistrate named in the warrant - if the magistrate is in the same county where the person is arrested.

2. Some magistrate in the county in which he/she was arrested - if the issuing or named magistrate is in another county.

3. A magistrate in a county bordering the county in which the arrest was made - if it is necessary to provide the required warnings more expeditiously to the arrestee.

H. As a matter of professional courtesy, Dallas Police Department personnel will provide police personnel from the agency where the pursuit terminated pertinent information regarding the pursuit.

A. Offense Report

1. At the conclusion of each vehicular pursuit, officers will obtain a service number and prepare a direct entry offense report titled Evading Arrest. This report will be prepared regardless of whether the suspect was arrested or escaped.

2. Officers will prepare an offense report titled Evading Arrest-No Pursuit whenever a suspect fails to stop for an authorized emergency vehicle but a pursuit was prohibited by departmental policy.

3. These offense reports will fully describe the particulars of the incident and actions taken by the officers involved.

4. In instances where the suspect escapes, the offense report will contain as much information as available regarding suspect and vehicle descriptions and any other pertinent identifying data.

5. Information contained in the offense report will be used by detectives to develop a case against an offender who may have escaped. This information may result in the suspect being arrested at a later time and in a safer manner.

B. BlueTeam Vehicle Pursuit Incident Report

1. The Controlling Supervisor will complete a Vehicle Pursuit incident report in BlueTeam prior to the end of their shift. If a Controlling Supervisor is not assigned, the primary pursuit element will advise their assigned supervisor of the details of the pursuit. If the assigned supervisor is not available, the primary pursuit element will then advise the sector relief supervisor or a late relief supervisor assigned to that watch. The supervisor will then be responsible for completing the Vehicle Pursuit incident report in BlueTeam before the end of their shift.

2. The BlueTeam Vehicle Pursuit incident report, offense report, AVL report, any arrest reports, and any video recording of the pursuit will be reviewed by the initiating officer’s chain of command through the Division Commander level.

3. The Division Commander will:

a. Review all pursuits for adherence to departmental policy;

b. Ensure that any appropriate follow-up including commendation, correction or training is taken;

c. Notify the Departmental Safety Officer of any recommendations that may enhance officer or citizen safety.

d. Forward the BlueTeam Vehicle Pursuit incident report to the Program Administrator for review by the DVR ReviewTeam.

4. An annual report of vehicle pursuit incidents will be completed and forwarded to the Chief of Police. The report will analyze available information related to vehicle pursuits in order to reveal patterns or trends that may indicate additional training needs or changes in departmental procedures.

A. This order establishes a mechanism for field personnel to effect an apprehension of suspects in a moving vehicle or under circumstances that do not meet the criteria for a pursuit per General Order 301.07.D(3). In this circumstance, the violation must be of a serious nature and the officer believes there is an immediate need to apprehend the suspects. (This will not include traffic or Class C offenses). As with all operations, the safety of police personnel and the community is the primary goal.
B. Tactical Apprehension: a coordinated and supervised operation involving one or more departmental workgroups in the apprehension of a suspect (s) with vehicular mobility or other similar circumstance. An apprehension of this type may be conducted with the helicopter, covert elements and marked units along with a controlling supervisor. To initiate a Tactical Apprehension an officer must do the following:

1. Determine probable cause exists that an offense has been or is about to be committed.

2. Determine that a Code 3 operation is not authorized and no emergency warning lights or siren will be utilized.

3. Notify the dispatcher and a controlling supervisor of the need to tactically apprehend a suspected violator. Ideally, the patrol deployment squad supervisor will control a Tactical Apprehension; but a patrol field supervisor may also assume control if a deployment supervisor is not available. Officers will give the controlling supervisor as much information as possible, including the suspected offense (burglary, auto theft, non-violent felony warrant etc.), element number, direction of travel, reason for request of Tactical Apprehension, description and number of occupants and any other available information.

4. Request helicopter involvement immediately.

C. Covert elements and the helicopter will respond to positions where they will be conducting the moving surveillance of the suspect vehicle, while marked elements will disengage and be directed to trail or perimeter positions by the controlling supervisor. All elements (covert and marked) will operate code 1.
D. Helicopter Involvement – Whenever possible the helicopter will join the tactical apprehension. Upon joining, the helicopter will:

1. Advise dispatcher and controlling supervisors of their presence.

2. Be aware of the number of marked units and their positions. The helicopter may direct marked elements away from the suspect vehicle.

3. Direct ground units to the vehicles termination point.

E. The controlling supervisor will:

1. Be involved in the tactical apprehension to the greatest extent possible and will determine how to coordinate the operation.

2. Have the helicopter and/or covert elements follow the vehicle until the suspect(s) abandon the vehicle or direct marked patrol elements to initiate the stop as dictated by the individual circumstances.

3. Coordinate information directing elements to a suspect’s position for an arrest opportunity. Uniformed officers may be directed by covert elements or the helicopter to the suspect and will be provided with a physical and clothing description of the suspect. Uniformed officers will affect the arrest of the designated suspect (s) and provide transport for those suspects.

4. Ensure no pursuit will be initiated without circumstances that would authorize a pursuit under General Order 301.07.D (3).

F. For safety reasons covert officers will refrain from being part of the arrest and will only expose themselves in an emergency. If an emergency exists and covert officers deploy, they will wear a Dallas Police Identification Jacket or Vest with identifying marks and verbally identify themselves as Dallas Police Officers.
G. A controlling supervisor may also decide that an extended moving surveillance is required prior to an arrest opportunity. This surveillance consists of: the covert and accurate observation of persons, places or things for the purpose of obtaining physical and visual evidence concerning identities or activities of subjects for evidentiary or intelligence gathering purposes. At this point the supervisor will announce this decision on all affected radio channels to ensure involved personnel, field elements and the dispatcher are informed.
H. The controlling supervisor will determine the number of marked patrol elements required for the tactical apprehension of the suspect(s). All other patrol elements shall stay out of the operating area unless requested by the controlling supervisor, or circumstances develop that would require an immediate police response.
I. In some cases the helicopter or divisional deployment assets will not be available in a timely manner. The controlling supervisor should check with dispatch and request assistance from another division. If these resources are not able to respond the supervisor will make the decision to initiate a traffic stop or felony stop. If the suspect vehicle then flees or evades, General Order 301.07 will apply and no pursuit will be initiated.

A. Age Limitations on Citations

1. Traffic citations will not be issued to persons under twelve years of age or to persons over 65 years of age for pedestrian violations.

2. Citations may be issued to persons over 65 for moving traffic violations.

B. Officers should exercise discretion when taking enforcement action on out-of-town or out-of-state visitors. Traffic citations may be issued to out-of-town or out-of-state visitors. If the violation appears intentional or flagrant, the violator may be taken into custody and required to post bond. If unable to post bond, the individual may be placed in jail.

C. Obtaining Arrested Person's Name and Address

1. If a violator is unable to produce proper identification showing name and address, or satisfy the officer as to his/her identity, such person may be taken into custody and required to post bond. If the violator is unable to post bond, he/she may be placed in jail.

2. After arrival at jail, if the violator is able to establish identity and proper address to the satisfaction of the jail supervisor, the jail supervisor will instruct the officer to issue the violator a citation and release the individual.

D. If a violator refuses to sign a citation, he/she may be arrested and required to post bond.

E. When an officer is in the process of having a parking violator's vehicle impounded and the driver returns to the scene before the wrecker leaves with it, a citation will be issued, and the vehicle released to the driver. No wrecker fee will be charged.

F. Officers will not take minor traffic enforcement action when transporting a citizen on a Signal 62 (Public Service), unless public safety would be adversely affected by lack of action.

G. Warnings: Written warnings are not utilized by the Department. Verbal warnings may be used when there is a new enforcement program going into effect and the preliminary phase calls for a period of public education. Newly enacted laws or regulations may be enforced on their effective date. A verbal warning may be sufficient in certain minor violations.

H. Officers responding to a vehicular accident incident with a disturbance between principals will:

1. Determine if an assault has occurred at the scene

2. Investigate the assault, request Dallas Fire Rescue for any injuries and prevent any further assaults prior to investigating the accident.

3. Notate in the narrative section of the state crash form the case or incident number used for any assault that might have occurred during the disturbance.

I. Officers that come into contact with a licensed driver who demonstrates symptoms of a possible health condition that may interfere with the safe operation of a motor vehicle will:

1. Determine if the driver is capable of continuing to operate a motor vehicle at the time of contact, if so record the full name, date of birth and Texas driver’s license number of the driver and release them, if the officer determines that it is not safe to allow the driver to continue to operate a motor vehicle the officer will find a safe alternative to releasing the driver.

2. Report the driver to the Texas Department of Public Safety Driver Improvement and Compliance Bureau by completing a memo with the driver’s information and a description of the contact and the medical or other condition that the officer feels may interfere with the safe operation of a motor vehicle. The memo will be forwarded through the officer’s chain of command to the commander of the Tactical Operations Division.

3. The Commander of the Tactical Operations Division or their designee will forward the information to the Texas Department of Public Safety Driver Improvement and Compliance Bureau.

J. When completing the race/ethnicity field on a citation, officers will use the race or ethnicity category listed in the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 2.132 that most accurately reflects that individual’s race/ethnicity. Officers will not ask an individual for their race, but will make that determination to the best of their ability.

RACE/ETHNICITY	Citation Code
Black	B
Asian or Pacific Islander	A
White	W
Hispanic or Latino	H
Alaska Native or American Indian	I

A. During the investigation of traffic accidents, any officer who on-viewed and witnessed an accident may issue a citation for any violation occurring in his/her presence.

B. During the investigation of traffic accidents, the investigating officer, although not a witness to the accident, will issue citations for “No Operators License” and “No Liability Insurance”, when these violations have been committed. If any party wishes to file additional charges, he or she will be referred to the City Attorney’s Office. Officers issuing “No Operators License” and “No Liability Insurance” citations will be guided by the following:

1. The officer must have a ‘fact witness’ who is willing to testify in City Court that the violator was, in fact, operating a motor vehicle on a public street, or the violator must admit to the investigating officer that he or she was the operator of the vehicle.

2. The name of the witness, his/her address, zip code, and telephone number will be placed in the space provided on the court’s copy of the citation.

3. Any corroborating information, (such as statements of witnesses, direction of travel of vehicles, lane of traffic, block numbers) should be placed in the narrative portion of the court's copy of the citation.

C. In all cases involving serious injury or death, the appropriate state law covering the incident will be used.

D. Enforcement action will not be taken under the following circumstances:

1. When a motor vehicle overturns in the roadway or runs off the roadway without colliding with another vehicle or object and only the driver is injured and/or the overturned vehicle is damaged.

2. When ice or snow is on the street and is the principal cause of an accident and no reckless disregard of safety is indicated.

3. When an unforeseen hazard exists without forewarning and the hazard is the principal cause of the accident and no reckless disregard of safety is indicated (such as oil slicks, unusual mud deposits, unlighted barricades, piles of dirt or debris, objects left or fallen onto the street).

4. Sections 2 and 3 above do not apply if persons other than the drivers are injured or killed. In this type of accident, the drivers at fault may be charged as appropriate under Chapters 19, 22, or 49 of the Penal Code. The officer conducting the accident investigation will make a reasonable attempt to ensure that the next-of-kin is notified when:

a. An adult or juvenile is killed.

b. An adult is injured or incapacitated to the point that he/she is unable to make his or her own notification.

c. A juvenile is injured.

E. DART Bus Accidents

1. Non-injury and Non-fatality Accidents

a. The bus driver may continue on the route after exchanging all necessary information with the other driver and reporting the accident by telephone to a DART supervisor.

b. Any traffic ticket issued to a DART bus driver, out of the driver's presence, will be delivered to a DART supervisor. It will be noted on the Accident Report that the ticket was Delivered to a DART supervisor.

2. Injury and/or Fatality Accidents

a. The DART driver will remain at the accident scene until released by the investigating officer.

b. A DART adjuster will be ordered through the police dispatcher.

A. The investigating officer will complete an Accident Report Form ST-3 for any minor accident when:

1. Any person involved in the accident is injured or claims injury.

2. There is damage to public or private property other than the involved vehicles.

3. An unattended vehicle is involved or damaged.

4. Any criminal action, other than the issuance of citations for “No Operators License” and “No Liability Insurance”, is involved. This will include, but is not limited to, FSRA, FLID, DWI, or when a stolen vehicle is involved. As a rule, officers will investigate FLID and FSRA accidents when either/or both parties have left the scene to:

a. Pursue the suspect;

b. Seek medical attention; and/or

c. Call the police from a telephone in close proximity.

5. There is damage to City equipment. The accident investigator will determine the type of report to be made in accordance with state law and Traffic Section Standard Operating Procedure.

6. A vehicle belonging to any governmental agency is involved.

B. When an accident involves disabled or non-movable vehicles, a field element will be dispatched to the location. If necessary, the element may order a city contract wrecker. Unless the accident involves a situation outlined in 302.03A, an Accident Report is not required. A Miscellaneous Incident Report (MIR), outlining owner information and disposition of vehicle, will be completed instead. An MIR will be completed on any impounded vehicle.

C. When the vehicles can be driven and none of the exceptions listed in 302.03A or B exist, the field element will notify the dispatcher to clear the call with an N-5 (non-police incident) designation.

D. If the damage to the vehicle/property of any one person exceeds $500 and the accident is not investigated by an officer, the responding field element will do one of the following:

1. Provide state blue forms (ST-2) to the persons involved in the accident and advise them that in accordance with state law, they must complete and submit the form to the Statistical Services Bureau of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

2. Direct the parties to any of the police substations where they may pick up a state blue form.

E. When Fire Department 911/311 personnel receive a call reporting an accident, they will:

1. Determine if either Section 302.03A or B is applicable.

2. If the call does not meet the criteria established in Section 302.03A or B, advise the person that the Police Department does not investigate minor accidents.

3. Advise the person that the damage to the property of any one person is $500 or more, the accident must be reported to the state in accordance with 302.03D, and explain where the state blue forms may be obtained.

A. Officers will be required to complete an Offense/Incident Report in conjunction with the Accident Report on FLIDs (Duty to Give Information) or FSRAs (Duty to Give Information and Render Aid). The Offense/Incident Report will be entered on a station RLN, an MDC, or called in to Direct Entry.

B. State and Departmental Reporting Requirements

1. Two service numbers are required: one for the Accident Report and another for the FLID or FSRA Offense Report. Each report must contain a complete narrative of what occurred and be cross-referenced to its related service number.

2. A Polaris Report must be completed and submitted through the reporting officer’s chain-of-command to the Traffic Section. The Accident Report must be completed according to the guidelines in ST-100 (State of Texas Instructions [To Police] for Reporting Accidents on the Texas Peace Officer’s Accident Report Form and Commercial Motor Vehicle Supplement Form).

C. Unless an exception is indicated, each FLID or FSRA Offense Report will contain the following:

1. Property Page - Include a description of the damage done to the complainant’s vehicle only.

2. Vehicle Page - Complete one for each vehicle involved in the accident. If more than two vehicles are involved, the report must be called in to Direct Entry as there are only two vehicle pages available via the MDC.

3. Suspect Page - Required only if suspect information is available.

4. Witness Page - Required only if a witness is located.

5. Narrative Page - The first sentence must be, “See Accident Report on Service #.” (Use the service number of the accident). Include all other information related to the offense such as directions of travel, collision points, vehicle damage, injuries, etc. Do not include any identifying information on witnesses or suspects in the narrative.

D. All other procedures pertaining to FLID offenses shall remain in effect.

E. FLID-type accidents involving property damage that occur on private property (if defined as a non-reportable area in the Patrol Bureau S.O.P.), will be investigated as Reckless Damage or Criminal Mischief incidents, as appropriate.

A. Police elements arriving at the scene of an accident may use the police vehicle to block off or protect the scene to determine if there are injuries and what type of assistance is needed.

B. The officer will determine if the police vehicle is needed to protect his/her safety and prevent further injuries. If not, flares will be set out to protect or block off the scene and then the police vehicle will be moved to the shoulder or center median of the roadway.

C. When police vehicles are used to protect the scene of an accident, they will be parked with emergency lights operating in a position that will be clearly visible to oncoming traffic. If possible, flares should also be put out to further secure the area.

D. All officers will ensure that the trunk lid of their squad car does not remain open at an accident scene. An open trunk lid will obstruct emergency lights and render them ineffective.

A. Employee Responsibilities

1. A City employee driving a city-owned vehicle involved in an accident will ensure that a supervisor is called to the scene.

2. The involved City employee will complete and submit an Accident Report Involving City Equipment or Privately Owned Equipment Used on City Business form (P-8 Rev.). All accidents involving privately owned vehicles used on City business (mileage reimbursed) will be handled as if city-owned equipment is involved.

B. Property Damage Accidents

1. Involving Only City-Owned Vehicle/Property - No Injuries

a. The investigating officer will complete and submit the following forms:

i. A computer-generated Miscellaneous Incident Report.

ii. Accident Investigator's Report Form 69-12R1 - as an Attachment.

b. The involved City employee is responsible for completing and submitting Accident Report Involving City Equipment or Privately Owned Equipment Used on City Business form (P-8 Rev.).

c. Drivers are not required to submit state blue forms ST-2 or SR-21.

2. Involving Private Property or Private Vehicle - No Injuries

a. Damage Less Than $500 Per Person

i. Unless a private citizen requests an Accident Report filed, the investigating officer will complete and submit the following forms:

(1) Miscellaneous Incident Report.

(2) Accident Investigator’s Report Form 69-12R1 – as an Attachment.

ii. When a private citizen requests an accident report be filed, the investigating officer will complete and submit the following forms:

(1) Motor Vehicle Accident Report Form ST-3.

(2) An Accident Investigator’s Report 69-12R1.

iii. The involved City employee will complete and submit Accident Report Involving City Equipment or Privately Owned Equipment Used on City Business form (P-8 Rev.).

b. Damage at Least $500 Per Person

i. The investigating officer will complete and submit the following reports:

(1) Motor Vehicle Accident Report Form ST-3.

(2) Accident Investigator's Report Form 69-12R1 - as an Attachment.

ii. The involved City employee will complete and submit Accident Report Involving City Equipment or Privately Owned Equipment Used on City Business Form (P-8 Rev.).

c. Drivers are not required to submit state blue forms ST-2 or SR-21 in the following situations:

i. Damage to property or vehicle is less than $500 per person.

ii. The investigating officer submits Motor Vehicle Accident Report Form ST-3.

C. Injury or Fatality Accidents

1. The investigating officer will complete and submit the following reports:

a. Motor Vehicle Accident Report Form ST-3.

b. Accident Investigator's Report Form 69-12R1 - Attachment.

c. A computer-generated Miscellaneous Incident Report - (required only on a fatality).

2. The City employee will complete and submit Accident Report Involving City Equipment or Privately Owned Equipment Used on City Business form (P-8 Rev.).

D. When a DART vehicle is involved, it is not necessary for the investigating officer to complete an Accident Investigator's Report (Form 69-12 R1).

E. Damage Estimates

1. It is unnecessary to call a city mechanic to the scene of an accident involving city- owned vehicles or vehicles working under contract with the City of Dallas.

2. Southeast Service Center body shop personnel will estimate vehicle damages at their office. The body shop will be open for estimates between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. The following vehicles, however, will not be estimated at the Southeast Service Center body shop:

a. DART vehicles.

b. Privately owned equipment (including city contract wreckers) on city business.

c. Fire Department vehicles.

d. Park Department vehicles.

3. City equipment vehicles that cannot be driven will be taken to the body shop.

4. If the City vehicle sustained very minor damage and will remain in service, the City vehicle driver will:

a. Report to the body shop with the damaged vehicle if the accident occurred during body shop hours.

b. Report to the body shop with the damaged vehicle the next day if the accident occurred after business hours or on Monday if the accident occurs on the weekend. If the driver will not be on duty, they will advise a supervisor who will designate someone to deliver the damaged vehicle to the body shop.

F. Supervisor's Report on City Equipment Accidents (SO2001-16)

1. After reviewing the employee’s P-8 form and the Accident Investigator’s reports concerning the accident, the employee’s immediate supervisor will complete a Supervisor's Investigation of Accident/Injury Report.

2. The employee’s immediate supervisor will assemble a collision packet according to the procedures outlined in General Order 419.06-Police Equipment Collision Guidelines.

G. Damage to Certain Types of Property

1. Fire Hydrant - The investigating officer will contact the dispatcher, who will then notify the Water Utilities Department.

2. Light Pole - The investigating officer will include the light pole number on the Motor Vehicle Accident Report Form.

A. The Department of Public Safety (DPS) will have primary responsibility for enforcement of traffic laws and investigation of traffic accidents on the Dallas North Tollway and President George Bush Turnpike. DPD officers may take traffic enforcement on the Dallas North Tollway and President George Bush Turnpike for those portions that lie within the Dallas City limits. DPD officers will not use fixed radar locations anywhere on President George Bush Turnpike, Dallas North Tollway or Parkway extension.

B. Criminal offenses, except traffic-related offenses, will be investigated by the local law enforcement officers in whose jurisdiction the offense occurred.

C. Should a vehicle pursued by DPD enter on to the Dallas North Tollway before it can be stopped, the officers may pursue the car. The dispatcher will call DPS and request their assistance in apprehending the driver of the wanted vehicle.

D. Dallas North Tollway Procedure

1. DPD officers who receive a call on the Dallas North Tollway will proceed to the call location. If the element receives an accident call on the Dallas North Tollway, the officers will request DPS officers to meet them at the scene. Immediately upon the arrival of the DPS officers, DPD officers will relinquish the investigation to the DPS officers and return to service.

2. The North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) equips DPD with non-revenue toll tags for official police department vehicles through the DPD liaison, stationed at the quartermaster. The liaison is responsible for coordinating all DPD toll tags and communications with the NTTA.

3. Fleet coordinators will be responsible for communications with the liaison regarding any toll tag inquiries, requests or changes (i.e. vehicles to be taken out of service). The liaison will be responsible for ensuring the DPD portion of the NTTA toll tag database is current.

4. All toll tags have individual identification numbers that are entered into the DPD portion of the NTTA database. A toll tag is issued to a vehicle and must remain with the vehicle and be accounted for at all times. Lost, stolen or damaged toll tags must be reported immediately.

5. Non-revenue Toll Tags are not accepted at:

a. Love Field

b. DFW Airport

c. The Harris County Toll Road Authority

6. By agreement, DPS jurisdiction on the Dallas North Tollway begins at the point where a vehicle leaves the City of Dallas right-of-way and enters the Tollway ramp and cannot reverse its action without backing up. The vehicle is said to have reached the point of decision and is thereby committed.

7. The same formula is applied when a vehicle leaves the Tollway right-of-way and completely enters the City of Dallas right-of-way. The vehicle is said to be committed.

A. Under 10 Years of Age

1. Upon detaining a traffic offender under ten years of age, the officer will take the youth home and release him/her to the parents, guardian, or other responsible adult. If no adult is at the location, the officer will take the child into Protective Custody and transport him/her to Child Protective Services at 8700 N. Stemmons Freeway #104.

2. The officer will complete a Field Interrogation Report (FIR) on the incident in accordance with Section 314.02 and forward it to the Youth Operations Unit.

3. If the initial traffic contact is within reasonable distance from the child’s home, the officer may allow the juvenile to push home any involved two-wheel, three-wheel, or four-wheel off-road vehicle/go-cart or impound the vehicle as circumstances warrant.

B. Ages 10 - 16

1. These juveniles detained as traffic violators will be issued a traffic citation that will be set in Municipal Court.

2. After the citation has been issued, a FIR will be issued and the juvenile will be released.

3. If the juvenile is issued a traffic citation for No Operator’s License during the initial traffic contact and is within a reasonable distance from home, the officer may allow the juvenile to push home any involved two-wheel, three- wheel, or four-wheel off-road vehicle/go-cart or impound the vehicle as circumstances warrant.

C. Juveniles Involved in Motor Vehicle Accidents

1. Officer may issue a driver (Ages 10 - 16) involved in a vehicle accident a Municipal Court citation for any violations occurring in the officer’s presence.

2. If the officer did not observe the accident, he/she may issue citations for No Operator’s License and/or No Liability Insurance if the officer has a fact witness. Officers will use the same guidelines established for adults in Section 302.02.

D. Juvenile Driving While Intoxicated procedures are described in Section 314.08.

A. General Provisions

1. Intoxicated juveniles (10-16 years of age) will be processed according to Section 314.08. Juveniles who are not intoxicated, but have any detectable amount of alcohol on their breath will be processed according to General Order 315.18 (Underage Alcohol Consumption Laws).

2. Adults (without obvious injury) will be taken to the Lew Sterrett Criminal Justice Center and processed according to the Detention Services Section Standard Operating Procedures, which will be available for reference. While at the scene, the arresting officer may read the Statutory Warning on Body Worn Camera or the In-Car camera. Once an adult is arrested for DWI the officer has the option to offer a breath and/or blood test. If the arrestee refuses a breath and/or blood test, an affidavit for an evidentiary search warrant will be prepared by the officer and submitted to the Magistrate at Lew Sterrett for signature to obtain a blood specimen to be tested for alcohol and/or drugs. Officers are required to have DWI blood draw evidence drawn at Parkland Hospital Emergency Room, or any of the Hospital Emergency Rooms in the area. If the arrestee voluntarily agrees to provide a blood specimen after being read the Statutory Warning at the scene, the officer may transport the arrestee directly to the hospital for the blood draw prior to going to Lew Sterrett for processing.

3. Adult minors (17 - 20 years of age) who have a breath/blood test result below .08 or adult minors with any detectable amount of alcohol on their breath will be processed according to General Order 315.18 (Underage Alcohol Consumption Laws). Adult minors who refuse to take a breath/blood test will be processed according to the provisions outlined in the remainder of this General Order.

4. Drivers involved in accidents may be charged with D.W.I. under either of these circumstances:

a. A fact witness, either an officer or another person, can identify that the suspect was the driver of the vehicle at the time of the accident.

b. The suspected driver admits to the investigating officer that he/she was driving when the accident occurred.

c. The officer has evidence that the suspect was the driver. Example: Seatbelt marks indicating the suspect was in the driver seat, abrasions on the arms from airbag deployment, etc…

5. The arresting officer is responsible for checking the arrested person's driving record for previous D.W.I. convictions. It will be noted in the Officer’s Comments section who checked for previous conviction information, or if not checked, the reason why (i.e. computers down, etc.).

6. D.W.I. Charges - If the arrested person has:

a. No previous D.W.I. conviction - charge will be DWI M/B.

b. Only one previous D.W.I. conviction - charge will be DWI-Enhanced M/A.

c. Two or more convictions for D.W.I., the charge will be DWI-Enhanced F/3.

7. For enhancement purposes, the following information is required on prior D.W.I. convictions:

a. Date of conviction;

b. County of conviction;

c. Convicting court name;

d. Case or docket number; and

e. Sentence.

8. A conviction prior to January 1, 1984 punished by probation, deferred adjudication, and suspended sentences cannot be used to enhance a D.W.I. case.

B. Procedures for Conducting a Drug Evaluation - This procedure will be used when a suspect is arrested for D.W.I. whether or not it was accident involved.

1. The arresting officer will take the suspect to Lew Sterrett where the subject will be offered a breath test. If the breath test is refused, the subject will be offered a blood test. If the subject refuses to be tested or the test result is .08 or higher, the suspect will be charged with D.W.I. and procedures from 302.09 A.4-7 will be followed.

2. Arresting officers may request a Drug Recognition Expert be called to evaluate a suspect who has a breath alcohol level below .08 and whose impairment is not consistent with the BAC.

C. Public Intoxication in Car

1. An intoxicated person involved in an accident may be charged with Public Intoxication if there is no fact witness and the person does not admit to driving the vehicle when the accident occurred.

2. An intoxicated person found in a parked vehicle may be charged with Public Intoxication if the vehicle is in a public place.

3. Drivers of motor vehicles will be charged with and placed under custodial arrest for Public Intoxication, whenever, in the officer’s opinion, the driver does not meet the statutory .08 limit, but is too impaired to drive.

D. Arrests on Parking Areas - An intoxicated person operating a motor vehicle on a private parking lot (either public or private property) may be charged with Driving While Intoxicated if the parking lot is a public place as defined in Section 1.07, Texas Penal Code. (This normally includes parking lots of apartment complexes, restaurants, bars, and shopping centers where a substantial portion of the public has ready access to such areas).

A. Mandatory Suspension

1. Definition: A D.W.I. charge is usually the cause of this type of suspension.

2. Procedure

a. When a subject check is made and it is determined the operator is Driving While License is Suspended (DWLS) with a mandatory suspension, the Communications Section personnel will notify the officer of the following applicable information:

i. Reason suspended.

ii. Location (county) of suspension.

iii. Expiration date of suspension.

b. The subject will be arrested for the county charge of Investigation of D.W.L.S., if driving with this type of suspension. The information provided in A.2.a above (reason, location, expiration) will be included in the Arrest Report.

B. Habitual Violator Suspension

1. Definition: Repeated violations are the cause of this type of suspension.

2. Procedure

a. When a subject check is made and it is determined the operator is D.W.L.S. with a habitual violator suspension, the Communications Section personnel will notify the officer of the following applicable information:

i. Location (county) of suspension.

ii. Expiration date.

b. The subject will be arrested for the county charge of Investigation of D.W.L.S. if driving with this type of suspension and the information provided in B.2.a above (location, expiration) will be included in the Arrest Report.

C. Safety Responsibility Suspension

1. Definition: A liability problem with a motor vehicle accident is the cause of this type of suspension.

2. Procedure

a. If a judgment number (i.e., a number containing a "J" that is listed after the SR Suspension on the printout) is present, a judgment has been rendered on the D.W.L.S. charge by the court. Regardless of the date given or the absence of one, the subject will be arrested on the county charge of Investigation of D.W.L.S.

b. If there is no "J" present in the number, the date of the suspension determines whether the subject may be arrested for the county charge of Investigation of D.W.L.S.

i. Prior to June 19, 1975, citizens did not have the opportunity to challenge a safety responsibility suspension. Therefore, it was ruled an illegal suspension and the subject cannot be arrested on the county charge of Investigation of D.W.L.S. if it is dated before June 19, 1975. However, the operator may be written a citation or arrested for No Valid Texas Driver's License.

ii. Since June 19, 1975, citizens have had the opportunity to challenge a safety responsibility suspension. Therefore, a subject who has had a license suspended since that date will be arrested on the county charge of Investigation of D.W.L.S.

c. When a check is made on a subject and it is determined the operator is D.W.L.S. with a safety responsibility suspension, the Communications Section personnel will notify the officer of the following applicable information:

i. Judgment number.

ii. Date the safety responsibility suspension was rendered if there is no judgment number.

d. When a subject with a safety responsibility suspension is arrested for the county charge of Investigation of D.W.L.S., the information provided in C.2.c above will be listed on the Arrest Report.

D. Occupational Driver's License

1. Definition

a. A restricted driver's license ordered by a court.

b. It specifies time and/or geographical conditions under which a person is permitted to operate a vehicle while the person's driver's license has a mandatory, habitual or safety responsibility suspension.

c. The fact that a subject has an occupational driver's license will not appear on the computer printout.

2. Procedure

a. If a subject has violated the restriction of the occupational driver's license, the operator will be arrested for the charge of Violation Code Restriction, Occupation License, M/B.

b. The type of suspension given to the individual prior to receiving the occupational driver's license will be listed on the Arrest Report.

c. The restrictions on the occupational driver's license will be listed on the Arrest Report.

E. Charging Suspects with Driving While License Suspended

1. Suspects may be charged with D.W.L.S. based on witness observation that the suspect was operating a motor vehicle. The suspect must be under arrest for an offense other than D.W.L.S. before the D.W.L.S. charge can be added.

2. The civilian witness may be used at the trial to testify that he/she observed the suspect driving the vehicle at the time in question. For that reason, the arresting officer must obtain the name and address of the civilian witness so that the witness can be contacted at a later date to testify, if needed.

3. D.W.L.S. arrests based on witness observation of driving cannot be made in situations where that is the only charge.

F. Revoked Driver’s License

1. Definition: Non-compliance with Administrative procedures outlined in the Texas Transportation Code is usually the reason for Driver’s License Revocation.

2. Procedure

a. When a Driver’s License check is made and it is determined that the license has been revoked, the Communications Section personnel will notify the officer of the following applicable information:

i. That the Driver’s License has been revoked.

ii. The reason for the revocation as defined in the Texas Transportation Code, Section 521.294

b. The Driver may be charged with No Valid Texas Operators License.

A. The primary goal of this program is proactive traffic enforcement to reduce the number of traffic accidents at high accident locations using a mandated zero tolerance approach. Each Patrol Operations Division will be assigned an unmarked vehicle to handle traffic problems, such as reducing the number of accidents at specific intersections, as identified by Traffic Section accident analysis. The unmarked vehicles will also be used in responding to neighborhood concerns of speeding, traffic violations at red light or stop sign controlled intersections, aggressive driving, road rage, and other non-traffic neighborhood concerns. Officer safety will not be minimized.

B. Definitions

1. Aggressive Driving - Inconsiderate and other forms of negligent driving that may include following too closely, speeding, unsafe lane changes, or failure to signal, etc.

2. Road Rage - That behavior that typically surfaces as an angry, frequently violent response to an aggressive driving incident.

C. Unmarked vehicles used in this enforcement are for traffic stops only and will be operated only under the exceptions as described in Section 301.02. If involved in a self-initiated pursuit, the operator of the STARR vehicle will immediately abandon the pursuit and reduce to a Code 1 status once a marked element is able to take over the pursuit. STARR vehicles will not become involved in a pursuit initiated by any other element.

D. When used for traffic enforcement, the unmarked vehicle may be staffed by one or two officers. If staffed by only one officer, that officer must have successfully completed a basic radar certification school. If staffed by two officers, one officer must have successfully completed a basic radar certification school.

E. To avoid citizen confusion, assigned officers must be in full uniform and carry their departmental identification cards.

F. Violators may be cautious when stopped by an unmarked vehicle; therefore, officers should not become offended or overly assertive if someone refuses to stop.

A. The goal of this program is to reduce the amount of paper citations that an officer must write out in order to complete an enforcement action against a violator in the field.

B. Officers will not place more than three violations on one citation.

C. Officers will inform the violator of the number and types of charges they are issuing to the violator

D. Officers will not add charges to the citation without providing the violator with documentation of the added charges at the time of contact.

During all motor vehicle stops (regardless if a citation is issued or not), officers are required to record and report the following information:

A. The gender of the individual stopped

B. The race or ethnicity of the individual

C. If the race or ethnicity was known prior to the stop

D. A reason for the stop

E. Location of the stop

F. If a search was conducted

G. The reason for the search

H. If any contraband was discovered

I. Description of discovered contraband

J. Result of the stop

K. If there was an arrest, what the arrest was based on

L. If any physical force resulting in bodily injury was used

Officers shall ensure all data is gathered from every motor vehicle stop and submitted prior to the end of their shift. Supervisors shall ensure officers comply with this order.

A. The purpose of the Alternative to Arrest Program is to allow the field officer the option of releasing, in the field, any person with a single Alias Warrant. It is designed to reduce jail activity, extend a courtesy to the citizens of Dallas, and create more street patrol time.

B. The ALTAR Program is designed to be an option for the field officer. Its use is left solely to the discretion of the officer.

C. This will not be used on Misdemeanor Class C Family Violence warrants.

A. Upon being notified by the Communications Group that a subject has a single misdemeanor warrant with the City of Dallas, an officer may opt to release the subject in the field.

1. The officer will request the OCA Number from the Communications Group. That 6-digit number is also the Citation Number.

2. For a misdemeanor Class C Family Violence warrant, officers will confirm the warrant and make the arrest.

3. The officer will then issue the subject a citation for Failure to Appear (F.T.A.). F.T.A., plus the OCA Number, will be written in the Other Violation area of the citation.

4. It is not necessary to confirm the warrant if the officer chooses not to arrest and instead issues a citation. If the warrant is invalid, the F.T.A. citation will be dismissed by Court Services personnel.

5. If the subject is to be placed in jail, then confirmation would be accomplished in the usual manner.

B. Failure to Appear is a non-traffic violation. It will be considered a city arrest when posting daily activity.

C. When issuing a citation for Failure to Appear under the ALTAR Program, the officer will inform the citizen that:

1. If, within 21 days, he/she adjudicates or otherwise disposes of the citation for which a warrant was issued, the

F.T.A. citation will automatically be dismissed.

2. If the F.T.A. citation is ignored, he/she will be prosecuted for both offenses and specifically targeted for arrest by the Office of the City Marshal.

A. Uniformed Operations Division officers will be responsible for conducting preliminary investigations in most cases. Any officer may perform this function on a need basis. Officers will be responsible for the following when conducting preliminary investigations:

1. Observing all conditions, events and remarks;

2. Locating, identifying and interviewing the complainant, witnesses and suspects;

3. Maintaining and protecting crime scene and contacting PES for collection of evidence.

B. Detectives will be assigned cases per General Order 210.05 and will be responsible for conducting the follow-up investigation.

C. Detectives from investigative units will attend shift briefings as needed; to share, obtain and disseminate intelligence information. Detectives from Property Crimes will attend and participate in shift briefings at their stations regularly, during working hours, as outlined in the Property Crimes SOP. Detective’s attendance should be recorded on the patrol daily detail and reported to their supervisor.

D. All crime scenes will be approached with caution to avoid damaging or destroying possible evidence. If a victim is involved, the officer's primary responsibility is protection of the victim and the scene until a search can be conducted.

E. The first officer arriving at any crime scene will be responsible for protecting the scene. If the responding officer determines that the Crime Scene Response Section’s Physical Evidence Squad (PES) is needed to process the crime scene, the officer will request PES through the dispatcher or by telephone. The officer will not leave the scene until relieved by other officers or released by detectives who have follow-up responsibility and PES personnel. Should the initial officer need to leave the scene, the relief officers will be briefed on the particulars of the crime so that they can relay this information to the PES personnel. In a medical emergency, the officer will, if at all possible, make a list of all Dallas Fire Department personnel entering the crime scene and provide a list to PES personnel on their arrival. This information will allow PES to eliminate fingerprints left at the scene by paramedics.

F. No personnel other than medical personnel, or personnel needed to preserve the victim's life or to protect other officers or citizens will be allowed to enter the scene until the arrival of PES or the detectives who have follow-up responsibility. The immediate supervisor of the officers responsible for protecting the scene may enter the scene if it becomes necessary.

G. No personnel shall take unauthorized photographs of crime scenes or other evidence.

H. The crime scene will continue to be secured by the initial responding officers and no one, including non-authorized police personnel and members of the news media, will be allowed to enter without authorization of PES and detectives who have follow-up responsibility for conducting the crime scene search.

I. The procedures outlined in sections D-F will be followed for all scenes in which the downtown PES is called. The exceptions will be theft, burglary, and criminal mischief offenses and in auto theft cases in which the vehicle is not taken to the pound, but PES is called.

J. When seizing digital evidence it is important to consider the many and differing types of items and electronic storage devices available for use. When seizing a personal computer, if the computer is turned off, do not power it on. If the computer is turned on; a normal routine shut down may be used to power down the computer. When seizing a laptop and/or PDA, the power supply must also be seized. If the evidence is on a larger system with a server, the Financial Investigations Unit – Computer Crimes Squad will be contacted and a certified digital forensics examiner will be consulted with, prior to the seizure. The investigating detective will determine what evidence is transported to the North Texas Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory (NTRCFL).

K. When following up on an offense, if a patrol officer obtains evidence related to the offense, the officer will complete a supplement on the offense case number in FBR documenting the evidence, who received it, and when/how it was obtained. The officer will communicate with the assigned case detective and ensure all evidence is uploaded to RMS, placed in the property room or transferred to the detective promptly.

Eyewitness identification will always be a significant tool in the investigation and prosecution of criminal cases. Most agree that it can be the most important, powerful, and convincing evidence in a criminal trial. Recent developments with DNA evidence however has shown that innocent people have been convicted, many based on misidentifications by eyewitnesses. As a result of these documented cases of witness error, there has been an ongoing national discussion centered on law enforcement practices in the identification process. The Dallas Police Department has monitored both the research on this topic and implementation of new policies by other agencies. It is our belief that implementation of new policies requiring “blind” administration of line-ups using the “sequential” method will assist in eliminating errors and restoring confidence in the eyewitness identification process. To that end, the following policies are adopted for the administration of line-ups. Even with implementation of this policy, our goal of verifying all eyewitness identifications through independent evidence will remain.

Definitions

Blind Administrator – The person administering the line-up has no knowledge of which person in the Photo Line-Up is the suspect.

Sequential – A method of administration where photographs are shown to the witness one at a time, with an independent decision on each, before the next photo is shown.

Line-Up Administration Squad – primary unit comprised of sworn and non-sworn employees who have successfully completed the appropriate training.

A. Photo Line-up Policy

1. All Photo Line-Ups will be conducted by Line-Up Administrators who have been specifically trained in the “sequential” method of administration.

2. Line-Up Administrators must not know the identity of the suspect to be included in the line-up.

3. The Investigations Bureau Commander will develop and administer appropriate training for all Line-Up Administrators in the “sequential” line-up process and will ensure that all trained administrators are promptly notified of any changes in protocols for “sequential” Line-Up Administration.

B. Preparation of Photo Line-ups

1. The detective assigned responsibility for investigative follow-up will remain the primary contact for all victims and witnesses to a criminal case. The detective will be responsible for identifying cases requiring a line-up and will assemble a line-up packet, which will require a sergeant’s or above approval from their designated unit, prior to contacting a trained Line-Up Administrator.

2. Prior to creating the line-up, the investigating detective will contact the complainant/witness and complete the “Line-up Creation Form” which is used to support the line-up in court and can be found on the DPD Intranet under Resources/Forms in the Photo Line-Up folder. (Link: Photo Lineup Packet.pdf) The Photo Line-Up packet has been updated and approved.

a. The sequential line-up packet will consist of a photograph of the suspect and 5 “filler” photos of persons unconnected to the incident under investigation.

b. The suspect and “filler” photographs should resemble the witness’s description of the suspect in significant features, such as race, sex, age, facial features, profile, height, weight, build, specific items of clothing, etc. to the extent applicable to the photo being used of the suspect.

i. If multiple photographs of the suspect are available, detectives will select the photograph that most resembles the suspect description or appearance at the time of the incident.

ii. Attention should be paid to unusual identifying marks described by the witness that are visible on the suspect’s photo. In these cases, photos containing a similar feature should be included, or the area of the feature may be covered on all photographs to be included.

iii. All photos should be the same size; no photo should unduly stand out from the others.

c. Once selected, all of the photographs will be copied individually onto the middle section of separate sheets of paper. The detective preparing the line-up packet will select one of the filler photos and will place the number “1” on the back of the photo in a manner that it cannot be seen by the complainant or witness when viewing the photos. In the subsequent line-up, the administrator will place this photo in the first position. The investigating detective will not number the suspect or other filler photos, as the Line-Up Administrator will later randomize and number them on the back of each photo, corresponding to their position in the line-up.

3. If multiple suspects are involved, a separate Line-Up Packet must be prepared for each suspect to be presented to the witness.

4. In cases where one witness will view multiple line-ups containing different suspects, detectives will ensure that different “filler” photographs are used in each line-up packet.

5. If multiple witnesses will be shown a line-up containing the same suspect, there also must be a separate line-up packet assembled for each witness. The detective may use the same “filler” photographs in each packet, (when there will be no time delay or opportunity for communication), color copies will be made and placed in a separate packet for each witness.

6. In cases where there is a time delay between showing the line-ups or when there is an opportunity for witnesses to communicate after one has viewed the line-up, the “filler” photo labeled as number “1” should be changed by the investigating detective and the Line-Up Administrator should randomize the remaining photos.

7. The detective will ensure the Photo Line-Up packet is complete and that a sergeant from their designated unit has approved and signed the Photo Line-Up packet before it is administered.

C. Administration of Photo Line-Ups

1. The Line-Up Administrator will ensure the packet has been signed by a sergeant before conducting the line-up. If the packet has not been approved; it will not be administered.

2. A line-up should be scheduled at the convenience of the complainant/witness. The investigating detective can arrange transportation for the complainant/witness to be brought to headquarters or if necessary, the line-up can be shown to the complainant/witness at their residence, place of employment, or other alternate location. Once a line-up is scheduled by the investigating detective, the Line-Up Administration Squad will be contacted and told of the time and place of the line-up. The Line-up Administration Squad will ensure that a trained administrator is at the location to administer the line-up. If a line-up needs to be shown after hours, the investigating detective can call the Fusion Center for an on-call Line-Up Administrator.

3. Determine before any Photo Line-Up presentation if the witness is deaf, illiterate, or has limited English proficiency. If the witness is deaf, illiterate, non-English speaking, or has limited English proficiency; then the detective will arrange for assistance to translate the Photo Line-Up Form in the language of the witness or otherwise assist the witness in understanding the instructions before proceeding. The identification of the assisting individual will be documented as well as the assistance provided.

4. No information on the identity of the suspect will be revealed to the Line-Up Administrator.

5. Detectives will attempt to schedule line-ups at facilities with video recording equipment if possible. Copies of the video recordings will be obtained by the Line-Up Administration Squad after completing the line-up and placed in the case file to be maintained for courtroom purposes.

6. The Line-Up Administrator will conduct the line-up following the process for “Sequential” administration established by the Investigations Bureau Commander.

7. The assigned detective, or anyone with knowledge of the suspect, will not be allowed in the room at the time of the Line-Up Administration.

8. The Line-Up Administrator will give instructions to the witness by verbally reading the admonishment form located in the Photo Line-Up folder to the complainant/witness and determine if they understand. The complainant/witness will then be asked to sign and date the form.

9. If the complainant/witness is a child and not capable of comprehending the instructions in the admonishment form, the Line-up Administrator does not have to read the form to the child. In these cases, the line-up must be conducted at a facility with video and audio recording capabilities.

10. The Line-up Administrator will avoid any actions or comments that could be construed as an attempt to influence a complainant/witness to select a particular photo.

11. If the complainant/witness identifies someone the Line-up Administrator will then ask the complainant/witness to describe in their own words how confident they are of the identification. Even if someone is identified all of the photographs in the series will be shown

12. Once the line-up is conducted, the Line-up Administrator will return the line-up packet to the investigating detective along with a copy of the results report.

13. The Line-up Administrator is prohibited from providing any feedback about the line-up results to the complainant/witness.

14. Once the sequential line-up process is complete, the Line-Up Administrator will record the results of the sequential line-up, initial the back of each photograph for line-up verification in court and sign the Results Report.

15. The investigating detective will return to the witness/complainant and answer any questions or conduct further interview with the witness/complainant.

16. The investigating detective will maintain the line-up packet in the case file or will place it in the property room to be maintained for review in subsequent court proceedings.

17. These procedures do not apply in the following circumstances:

a. On-scene identifications immediately after the commission of an offense. See One Person “Show Up” Identifications, G.O. 304.01 E.

b. When an officer is notified by a complainant and/or witness that a specific individual who the complainant and/or witness knows by true name and face is the person who committed the offense. See One-Person Photo Line-up, G.O. 304.01 D.

c. On rare occasions in which an alternate identification process is necessary for expediency and in the interest of public safety. This must be approved by a supervisor and justification must be documented in an investigative supplement. If the administration of a “Blind Line-up” is not possible then the sequential method will be utilized if possible.

d. Other specialized circumstances where alternative procedures are necessary and are reviewed by the District Attorney and approved by the Investigations Bureau Commander.

D. One-Person Photo Line-up

1. Introduction - Field investigations conducted by responding officers are vital and are often a major contributor in determining the outcome of a criminal investigation.

2. The identification of the unknown suspect in any crime can be determined by many factors such as:

a. Fingerprints

b. DNA Evidence

c. Eyewitness Identification

3. Each technique used to identify the unknown suspect has certain protocols that need to be completed to ensure that such evidence can withstand integrity tests/admissibility challenges in a future criminal trial.

4. Presenting a single photograph of a subject to a complainant/witness to determine if the subject is the unknown offender in the case is improper and will not be done by any officer. This type of identification will not withstand the admissibility challenges in court and can negatively affect the outcome of an investigation and/or prosecution.

a. When an officer has information and/or knowledge that could assist in the identification of the unknown suspect, it should be provided to the investigative detective responsible for the investigation, (MIR, supplement, email, etc.).

b. It is the responsibility of the investigative detective to determine what technique(s) is to be used to identify the unknown suspect.

5. In a criminal case where the complainant/witness knows the suspect by a true name and face, a presentation of a single photograph of the named person can be done. This procedure would be utilized to verify that the person depicted in the single photograph is the same person known by the complainant/witness and is the offender. This procedure is done for verification purposes only on known suspects.

6. The above policies are applicable to offenses in which an officer or the City of Dallas is the complainant such as evading on foot or in a vehicle.

7. Juvenile photographs (Techshare photos) can only be displayed if there is no identifying information or Techshare criminal history information visible when showing the photo.

8. When an officer has concerns regarding any identification technique(s) that should be utilized, the involved officer should contact the assigned investigator or the On-Call detective in the unit that will have investigative follow-up responsibility.

E. One Person “Show-Up” Identification

Philosophy - While allowing a crime victim or witness to view a potential suspect in a one person “show-up” identification may sometimes be necessary to establish probable cause for an arrest, it can be suggestive in nature and will only be used in very limited circumstances. Specifically, use of this process should be limited to those circumstances in which there is insufficient probable cause for an arrest or long-term detention, and there are public safety concerns if the suspect were to be released without attempting the identification.

1. “Show-Up” identification is the presentation of one suspect to a victim or eyewitness within a short time frame after the commission of a crime. This process is allowed under the law if the following criteria are present:

a. If the suspect is apprehended within a short time period and the “show-up” is conducted within a short window of time.

b. If the suspect is apprehended at or near the crime scene.

2. Policy - If probable cause exists to make an arrest for either the offense in question, for an unrelated charge, or warrants that will result in detention at the Lew Sterrett jail, then the one person “show-up” identification process will not be used. When the current investigation involves a felony offense, the on-call detective of the division who has investigative responsibility will be contacted and consulted. This consultation will be regarding what action will be taken prior to the possible suspect being placed in jail. In misdemeanor cases where the subject is arrested on unrelated charges, the possible suspect information will be forwarded to the appropriate investigative unit that has follow up responsibility.

a. When there is insufficient probable cause to secure the arrest of a suspect and there are public safety concerns if the suspect were to be released without attempting identification, the “show-up” identification procedure may be used. In these cases, the following policy must be followed:

i. A Sergeant must respond to the scene and supervise the process.

ii. Officers will attempt to gain consent from the suspect to be transported to the investigative division with follow-up responsibility. The detective at the investigative unit will create a Photo Line-Up and present the line-up to the witness or complainant for identification purposes.

iii. If the offense occurs after business hours and is an offense in which notification of an on-call detective is not required, Fusion will be notified, and the suspect will be transported to the appropriate investigative unit where a Photo Line-Up will be created. A Fusion Center detective will present the line- up to the witness or complainant for identification purposes.

iv. If the suspect refuses to be transported, the supervisor will contact the Watch Commander to obtain approval to conduct a “show-up” identification.

v. The supervisor will further direct the process to ensure:

(1) That the suspect was located near the crime scene and detained within a short time period before the “show-up” identification is conducted and within a short window of time after the offense occurred.

(2) That the witness or victim has provided a detailed description of the suspect and that the person to be placed in the “show-up” identification fits the provided description.

(3) That whenever possible, the witness should be transported to the detained suspect’s location rather than bringing the suspect to the witness location or crime scene. This procedure will limit the legal impact of the suspect’s detention and eliminate the possibility of crime scene contamination.

(4) That when the witness requests, or is concerned about possible retaliation, officers should attempt to conceal the witness during the “show-up” identification procedure.

(5) That an attempt to obtain a verbal consent from the suspect is made. Consent from the suspect is not required but should be obtained if possible.

(6) That an admonishment is provided to the witness prior to the “show-up” identification acknowledging that the person to be viewed may or may not be the offender and that the investigation will continue regardless of whether or not identification is obtained.

(7) That if there are multiple witnesses and one witness makes an identification during the “show-up” identification; further “show-up” identifications will not be done. (Other identification procedures will be used for the remaining witnesses)

(8) That the “show-up” identification is limited to one witness at a time and those witnesses have been separated and are not present when another witness is viewing the “show-up” identification.

(9) That the procedure is completed in such a manner to avoid suggestiveness, avoiding any statements suggesting that we have “apprehended the suspect” or have “who we think is responsible.”

b. Although it is not improper to have the potential suspect in a police vehicle and handcuffed if necessary for safety, it is preferred that the suspect is unhandcuffed and outside of any police vehicle during a “show-up” identification.

c. If the complainant/witness identifies someone, the officer conducting the “show-up” will then ask the complainant/witness to describe in their own words how confident they are of the identification.

d. The officer conducting the “show up” is prohibited from providing any feedback about the “show up” results to the complainant/witness.

e. At the conclusion of the process, the supervisor will be responsible for completing a “show-up” identification documentation form on all uses of this process. A copy of the form must be emailed to the Investigations Bureau Commander and the original forwarded through the sergeant’s chain of command to the Deputy Chief and then forwarded to the investigative unit with follow-up responsibility.

A. In incidents involving death or serious injury, the investigating section assigned to handle the incident is responsible for notifying the next of kin as soon as possible. This notification will be made in person by a DPD officer if the relative lives within the city limits of Dallas. If the nearest relative lives outside the City of Dallas, the law enforcement agency where the relative resides will be notified and requested to notify the relative. Notification by telephone will only be used when other methods are not feasible.

B. A supervisor will be called to all scenes where a death occurs.

C. The Medical Examiner will be notified as soon as possible by telephone in all death cases.

D. The Traffic Section has responsibility for conducting preliminary investigations in cases of accidental death attributable directly or indirectly to the motion of a motor vehicle or its load, whether or not the death occurs on a roadway.

A. Felony in progress calls demand three primary considerations:

1. To ensure the greatest level of safety available to all officers and citizens concerned with the call.

2. To contain the scene to prevent the escape of suspects.

3. To preserve the scene and all evidence.

B. The first element on the scene has responsibility for:

1. Ascertaining if it is a legitimate call and if it is not, disregarding other elements.

2. Advising the dispatcher what assistance is needed.

3. Immediately broadcasting descriptions of suspects and/or vehicles if they have left the scene.

4. Reporting on the DEFRS System.

C. Other elements will not go to the scene after the first element advises that the situation is under control.

A. An Operations Division supervisor and field element will be dispatched to the location to contact the person in charge of the premises. It will be left to the discretion of the person in charge of the premises whether or not the building will be evacuated and/or searched.

B. If the premises are to be searched, the patrol supervisor will ask for adequate elements to make a quick and thorough search. If explosives or anything resembling explosives are found, officers will evacuate all persons from the endangered area and stand by for a member of the Explosive Ordnance Squad.

C. Explosives will not be brought into Operations Division stations or the City Hall complex. The Explosive Ordnance Squad will transport all explosives to the Firearms Training Center. The explosives will be destroyed by the Explosive Ordnance Squad at the Firearms Training Center or stored until released to the Military Explosive Ordnance Disposal.

D. Ammunition that is .50 caliber and smaller will not be considered to be explosives and may be handled by the investigating officer.

E. In all incidents involving explosives, the protection of human life will be the key point dictating the procedure to be followed. Police supervisors who are not familiar with explosive disposal procedures will not order or direct the disposal of an explosive item without full consideration of the Explosive Ordnance Squad's opinion.

F. If a bomb threat involves a commercial airplane, the FBI will be in charge of the investigation. The Operations Division supervisor and elements assigned to the incident will offer assistance to the FBI representatives. The Operations Division supervisor and elements will not search the individual passengers' luggage. The airline will supply personnel for this purpose.

A. After the officers answering the call determine that a sexual assault may have occurred and they have control of the situation, they will inform the female victim that a female police officer will conduct any further interviews if the victim so desires. The responding officer will notify the dispatcher if the female victim requests a female police officer.

1. If no female police officer is available to interview the victim, a female officer from another division will be called in to conduct the interview.

2. If the only available female police officer is inexperienced in interviewing complainants, she will be present while an experienced police officer conducts the interview.

B. The responding officer will notify a supervisor and the Crime Scene Response Section.

1. The officer will advise the victim that they may have their examination performed at Parkland Memorial Hospital (PMH), Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, or any area hospital that has a SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) program.

2. The supervisor will arrange for transportation to and from the examination location for the victim if he/she so desires.

3. The supervisor will also determine whether the transporting officers will remain with the victim at the hospital until the examination has been completed.

C. The responding officer will notify the Crimes Against Persons Division under the following circumstances:

1. All sexual assault offenses where a suspect is arrested.

2. A stranger-on-stranger home invasion/sexual assault.

3. Any serial case.

4. Any abduction/sexual assault offense where the complainant is restrained, taken to a place and held, other than nearby the initial offense location.

5. The facts and/or evidence do not corroborate the victim’s account of the offense, or when there is insufficient information to establish the elements of a sexual assault. The detective and officers at the scene will discuss the case and determine what course of action should be taken. The detective will make the final determination if an offense, sexual assault preliminary investigation report, or a miscellaneous incident report is the most appropriate course of action to be taken.

6. An offense is reported more than five days after it has occurred (beyond the time when a sexual assault offense examination can be performed). The responding officer will also advise the victim that a Sexual Assault Unit detective will contact her/him as soon as possible to make an appointment to discuss the case. The officer will make a preliminary investigation report, list all complainant contact information, and request that it be routed to the CAPERS’ Sexual Assault Unit.

D. If taken to PMH, the victim will be taken to the Emergency Admissions Desk regardless of whether the assault was of an oral, vaginal, or anal nature. After routine admission papers have been completed, female victims will be taken to the OB/GYN Section of the Emergency Room, while male victims will be taken to Medicine A or B.

E. The patrol officers are responsible for identifying, obtaining, and properly submitting clothing or any other items of evidentiary value in sexual assault cases.

F. The interviewing officer will make the report on the DEFRS System.

G. The transporting officer will furnish the examining physician with the service number of the offense.

A. All recovered stolen vehicles that were reported stolen in Dallas will be canceled by the Records Section NCIC operator.

B. The unit assigned to an offense has the final responsibility for canceling the stolen vehicle through an NCIC operator. When notified of the recovery of a stolen vehicle, the procedure is to:

1. Notify the NCIC operator that the vehicle is recovered.

2. Enter information on the Daily Clearance Log Form in the Auto Theft Unit and forward the original to the Records Section.

C. Any telephone calls regarding the recovery in another jurisdiction of a vehicle reported stolen in Dallas will be referred to the Auto Theft Unit during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Communications Section will take calls during other hours and route the information to the Auto Theft Unit.

D. The teletype operator will record all teletypes regarding stolen vehicles in the logbook and forward a copy of the teletype to the Auto Theft Unit. The entry number will be on both the original and copy of the teletype.

E. When the Auto Theft Unit is not on duty, the Salvage Unit will send a list of impounded stolen vehicles to the Auto Theft Unit by fax.

F. Notification of Owners

1. The unit assigned to an offense is responsible for notifying the owner when a stolen vehicle is recovered.

2. The person making notification will inform the Auto Pound Section that the owner has been contacted.

3. The Auto Theft Unit will notify all initiating police agencies of any recovered stolen vehicle.