Personal
Safety - How to Work Well with Your Police Department
Laws and
police procedures vary from city to city and state to state.
The information given here is of a general nature and is not
intended in any way to replace the procedures and recommendations
of your law enforcement agency. Refer to your law enforcement
agency if there is any doubt as to the procedures to be followed.
Help
The Police Help You
1. Keep
an inventory of all valuables including descriptions and serial
numbers and photographs.
2. Using
a permanent marker, invisible ink pen, or etching tool, mark
your valuable possessions with your driver's license number
preceded or followed by your two-letter state abbreviation
(or use whatever ID number your department suggests such as
social security number). A driver's license number is probably
best. A police officer a thousand miles away finding your
TV in the trunk of a car will have your name in a matter of
minutes using the driver's license number. If you have reported
the theft to your department, the description and ANY serial
number will be entered into the National Crime Information
Center computer.
3. If
you do not know that an item is missing, and thus have not
reported it stolen, then the driver's license number becomes
even more valuable. The police in any state can inform your
local police department about the questionable property. In
this scenario, you could receive a call that your stolen property
has been recovered before you even realized it was missing
in the first place.
Calls
For Service
1. Know
the telephone number for your police department. Not just
911, but also their regular number for routine business.
2. Use
911 only for emergencies involving imminent danger to life
and/or property. Most agencies do not have unlimited personnel
to answer 911 calls. If several people are using 911 to report
their cat in the tree or their neighbor's loud music, then
your real emergency will have to wait until a line comes open.
3. Don't
get upset when you call to report an incident or inquire about
a case and are switched to several different people. The larger
the agency, the more specialized it is. Your call may be routed
to the division handling your type of problem or question
such as traffic, juvenile, detectives, burglary, and the list
goes on. You may have to talk to several people before finding
the officer actually assigned to your case, or to take your
report.
4. Don't
request that an officer come to your house if the report you
wish to give can be handled over the phone. If there is nothing
for the officer to see at your home or other location, then
give the report over the phone. Many agencies have hired and
trained civilian employees to give information and take simple
reports over the phone.
If your
car has just been stolen, give the information by phone as
quickly as possible using 911. Officers on the street can
be notified immediately and the information entered into the
national computer. Demanding to see an officer in person will
only delay this process and who's to say the officer wont
pass your car on the way to your house to see what kind of
car you own! It has happened!
Document
All Calls
5. If
you have a problem important enough to call the police for,
insist that a report be made, and ask for the case or report
number. Refer to this number when inquiring about your case.
If you want to take action against your neighbors for their
loud parties or barking dogs, you'll be in a better position
to do so if all your calls to the police concerning these
matters are documented. This goes for other types of "problem"
cases also.
6. Don't
expect police to make arrests for minor offenses that are
not occurring when they arrive. Police must usually observe
any minor violations in order to make an arrest. Reports must
be written, witnesses interviewed, evidence reviewed and warrants
obtained. Felonies may be a different matter. If you point
to a fleeing suspect and say "he just robbed me"
or "he just broke into my house," there will probably
be an arrest made if the suspect can be caught.
7. Police
generally have no authority in "civil" matters such
as landlord/tenant disputes, property line disputes, breaches
of contract, employer/employee disputes over pay and other
matters, and similar disputes. The police will respond to
prevent violence if necessary, and will inform involved parties
of their need to consult attorneys, small claims court, etc.
Information
Usually Released To The Public
1. Details
of a crime, including the location, date and time.
2. The
name of the victim.
3. The
facts surrounding an arrest such as any resistance encountered,
and if any weapons were involved.
4. Identifying
facts about a suspect. (except name until formally charged)
5. A general
description of evidence.
6. Names
of investigating and/or arresting officers.
7. The
nature of the charges to be filed and the court they will
be filed in.
INFORMATION
NOT USUALLY RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC
1. Names
of witnesses.
2. Information
about confessions and statements, etc.
3. Lab
results.
4. Criminal
history information.
5. Names
of juveniles.
6. Names
of persons killed or injured until next-of-kin have been notified.
7. Any
information that, if released, would jeopardize an investigation.
