ss PHILADELPHIA POLICE DEPARTMENT DIRECTIVE 4.11 Issued Date: 01-24-94 Effective Date: 01-24-94 Updated Date: 01-16-98 SUBJECT: POLICE RESPONSE TO ALARM SYSTEMS 1. POLICY A. It will be the responsibility of all police personnel responding to an alarm to do so in the safest and most expedient manner possible. The Philadelphia Police Department will recognize only burglary, robbery, fire, medical and vehicle alarms. B. In an effort to provide an effective police response to actual emergency alarms, Section 9-305 of the Philadelphia Code has been instituted to assist Police responding to burglary and robbery alarm systems. This ordinance DOES NOT cover audible motor vehicle alarms or medical alert or fire alarms, whether their status if False or Non- False. C. In order to fulfill the mandate established by this ordinance, police personnel must thoroughly survey the premises and accurately complete a Complaint or Incident Report (75-48) for each response to an alarm, if needed. 2. DEFINITIONS A. False Alarm - an alarm system activated in the absence of an emergency (robbery, burglary or life-threatening situation) either willfully, negligently, accidentally or through electrical/mechanical failure, to which the Philadelphia Police Department must respond. (e.g. A business operator activates a silent alarm to call police who then find that a nonemergency, such as a disturbance or a retail theft, has taken place.) B. Non-False Alarm - an alarm system activated to alert police to an actual burglary, robbery or attempt thereof, OR a life-threatening situation OR activated because of severe weather conditions, "Acts of God," power outage or extraordinary circumstances beyond the control of the user. NOTE: Fire alarms or medical alert alarms can be either False or Non-False. A 75-48 will still be required. False alarms of this kind will be prepared as in Section 4-D-7. DIRECTIVE 4.11-1
C. Alarm User - any person, business or organization in control of any building, facility, etc. where an alarm system is installed, operated or maintained. D. False Burglary/Robbery Alarm Notification Cards (75-613) notices provided to an alarm user alerting them to the fact the Philadelphia Police Department has responded upon the activation of an alarm that was determined to be false. EXEMPTION: THESE CARDS WILL NOT BE ISSUED FOR ANY FALSE MEDICAL OR FIRE ALARM OR TO ANY FALSE ALARM SOUNDING AT A FEDERAL BUILDING OR INSTALLATION. City and State facilities are not exempt and may be issued a Notification Card when violations occur. 3. PROVISIONS OF ORDINANCE 9-305 OF THE PHILADELPHIA CODE A. It is unlawful for any alarm user to install, operate or maintain any alarm system for a building or premise that has not been registered with the Department of Licenses and Inspections. An annual fee is required. B. The activation of an alarm, in a manner as outlined in Section 2-A, is a violation of the ordinance and each incident WILL be considered a false alarm. C. More than three (3) false alarms within a registration year (to begin July 1 of each year) may require the user to pay a fine. More than seven (7) false alarms within a registration year may result in additional fines and revocation of the user's registration. False alarms that are in continuous violation may be disconnected by Licenses and Inspections upon court order. D. Other alarms, as defined in Section 1-B or 2-B are NOT violations of this ordinance and the user cannot be fined for the activation. E. Violators will receive notification by mail from Licenses and Inspections and do have the right to appeal to the Code Violation Enforcement Division located at 913 Filbert Street. F. All audible alarm systems (excluding motor vehicle alarms) must have an automatic disengage that will shut off the alarm after a maximum of 15 minutes. G. Upon registering an alarm system, the alarm user will be provided with an official registration number. Each individual alarm system will have its own number. DIRECTIVE 4.11-2
4. PROCEDURES A. Police Radio Call Taker will: 1. Ask caller for alarm registration number and verify information. 2. Enter number into CAD system (This will provide additional information.) 3. Categorize incoming alarm calls using one of these Nature Codes: *Burglary Alarm *Vehicle Alarm *Robbery Alarm *Fire Alarm *Medical Alarm B. Police Radio Dispatcher will: 1. Dispatch officers to the identified location. NOTE: If, after the initial call but before the dispatch of police personnel, an alarm company notifies Police Radio that the alarm has been activated in error and the police are not needed, the dispatcher will notify a supervisor who will "cancel" the assignment. If Police Radio is notified after police personnel have been dispatched, the assignment WILL NOT be cancelled. If the alarm is false, it will be recorded as such. 2. Use terms such as "silent" or "audible" only to assist responding officer. Place in remarks section of CAD. 3. Provide responding officer with the following: a. Registration number, if known b. Exact time Police Radio received call c. Alarm user's name, if known d. Other essential information from computer screen 4. Request from responding officer: a. Proper disposition code (Use False or Non-False terminology ONLY) b. Exact location of incident, if initially dispatched as an intersection. 5. Notify Patrol Supervisor whenever a repeat alarm has continuously sounded for a period longer than 15 minutes. Request permission to downgrade assignment to priority level 4 for all calls to that location on that tour of duty. DIRECTIVE 4.11-3
REDACTED - LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE 6. Where the location of an "audible" alarm is unknown, dispatch assignment as either a Burglary or Vehicle alarm. Change the code as information is obtained from responding officer. C. Radio Room Supervisor may: 1. Declare, with the approval of the Patrol Supervisor, a "severe weather condition alert" thereby ensuring that all alarms sounded while these conditions exist are coded as Non-False alarms. Convey this alert to all Patrol personnel affected. The assignment will be dispatched. D. Responding Officers will: 1. Survey area for suspects, illegal entry, evidence, complainants, witnesses and/or damage. 2. Be alert to conditions that may have activated alarm. 3. Determine whether the activation is False or Non-False. 4. Leave "False Burglary/Robbery Alarm Notification" card (75-613) at location of false alarm ONLY as defined in Section 2-A. NOTE: Give card to user or place in secure location, such as mailbox or main entrance. The card should be placed on the outside of the building, using the adhesive back, only as a last resort. Security dictates that officers use discretion in the placement of these cards so as not to alert potential offenders to a defective alarm. 5. If alarm is false or user is on location, courteously inform them of the proper use of and responsibility for the alarm system. 6. Prepare a 75-48 for EACH response to a False or Non-False alarm. 7. Note the following on the 75-48: a. Proper disposition code (False or Non-False) b. Registration number, if known c. Existing conditions and cause of activation (open property, broken window, severe weather) d. Brief description of officer(s) actions (e.g. Checked windows and doors on DIRECTIVE 4.11-4
ground floor and found them secure OR building surrounded by locked fence through visual inspection indicates building is secure). e. Exact numerical address. Intersections are not acceptable. f. Time Police Radio received alarm call (Place in Description of Incident block g. Name of business or alarm user, if know h. Name of person activating alarm, if known i. Contact person to terminate alarm/secure property, if known. NOTE: Since violators of the alarm ordinance may appeal, an officer may be called to testify. Therefore, as much information as possible about the incident must be included on the 75-48. If the alarm has been registered this information may be available from Police Radio. Also, this information is important to ensure accurate billing of violators so that the ordinance can be enforced effectively. *2 j. Whether a "False Burglary/Robbery Alarm Notification" card (75-613) was left at the location. 8 Always use the term "False" alarm or "Non-False" alarm when communicating with Police Radio. THIS MUST BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO RETURNING TO SERVICE. 9. Ensure a SECOND 75-48 is prepared for an alarm (non-vehicular) that has sounded for longer than 15 minutes. This is a separate violation under the ordinance. NOTE: Police personnel will not take themselves out of service to await the expiration of this time period. 10. When called to respond to an "audible" alarm that is not sounding upon arrival, inform Police Radio the disposition code will be "Non-False" and complete a 75-48 accordingly. E. District Patrol Supervisors will: 1. Where necessary, respond to alarm incidents and review alarm incident 75-48s. 2. Determine whether or not to downgrade repeat calls on non-vehicular alarms that have continuously sounded for longer than 15 minutes. May be downgraded to a level 4. Inform Police Radio. DIRECTIVE 4.11-5
3. Ensure a second 75-48 is prepared, with DC numbers, on alarms described in above step. Complete as per Section 4-D-7 and include: a. length of time alarm sounded b. residential or non-residential area 4. Request, when necessary, that Police Radio call for a "severe weather condition alert" when it is obvious that alarms are sounding as a result of such conditions. Such alarms will be coded Non-False. F. Operations Room Supervisor (ORS) will: 1. Ensure all 75-48s include disposition code (False or Non-False) and description of incident as per Section 4-D-7. 2. Check "Founded" block of 75-48 "yes" since all alarms are founded incidents. 3. Code 75-48 as follows: a. False Alarm 3105 b. Non-False Alarm - Code either for founded criminal occurrence OR Code 3116, Investigation Premises/Objects for alarms resulting from circumstances described in Section 2-B. *1 5. DISTRIBUTION OF ALARM 75-48s BY OPERATIONS ROOM SUPERVISOR A. White copy - as outlined in Directive 12.11, "Complaint or Incident Report (75-48) Yellow copy - as outlined in Directive 12.11, "Complaint or Incident Report" (75-48), Pink copy - retain in district/unit file. RELATED PROCEDURES Directive 12.11, Complaint or Incident Report (75-48) BY COMMAND OF THE POLICE COMMISSIONER FOOTNOTE GENERAL# DATE SENT REMARKS *1 6921 03-27-95 Deletion/Change *2 9683 01-16-98 Addition DIRECTIVE 4.11-6