Public Alerts
335.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for alerting the public to important information and soliciting public aid when appropriate.
335.2 POLICY
Public alerts may be employed using the Emergency Alert System (EAS), local radio, television and press organizations and other groups to notify the public of incidents, or enlist the aid of the public, when the exchange of information may enhance the safety of the community. Various types of alerts may be available based upon each situation and the alert system’s individual criteria.
335.3 RESPONSIBILITIES
335.3.1 EMPLOYEE RESPONSIBILITIES
Employees of the University of California Santa Cruz Police Department should notify their supervisor, Shift Supervisor or Detective Bureau Supervisor as soon as practicable upon learning of a situation where public notification, a warning or enlisting the help of the media and public could assist in locating a missing person, apprehending a dangerous person or gathering information.
335.3.2 SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES
A supervisor apprised of the need for a public alert is responsible to make the appropriate notifications based upon the circumstances of each situation. The supervisor shall promptly notify the Chief of Police, the appropriate Division Commander and the Public Information Officer when any public alert is generated.
The supervisor in charge of the investigation to which the alert relates is responsible for the following:
(a) Updating alerts
(b) Canceling alerts
(c) Ensuring all appropriate reports are completed
(d) Preparing an after-action evaluation of the investigation to be forwarded to the Division Commander
335.4 AMBER ALERTS
The AMBER Alert™ Program is a voluntary partnership between law enforcement agencies, broadcasters, transportation agencies and the wireless industry, to activate urgent bulletins in child abduction cases.
335.4.1 CRITERIA FOR AMBER ALERT
The following conditions must be met before activating an AMBER Alert (Government Code § 8594(a)):
(a) A child has been abducted or taken by anyone, including but not limited to a custodial parent or guardian.
(b) The victim is 17 years of age or younger, or has a proven mental or physical
(c) The victim is in imminent danger of serious injury or death.
(d) There is information available that, if provided to the public, could assist in the child’s safe recovery.
335.4.2 PROCEDURE FOR AMBER ALERT The supervisor in charge will ensure the following:
(a) An initial press release is prepared that includes all available information that might aid in locating the child:
- The child’s identity, age and description
- Photograph if available
- The suspect’s identity, age and description, if known
- Pertinent vehicle description
- Detail regarding location of incident, direction of travel, potential destinations, if known
- Name and telephone number of the Public Information Officer or other authorized individual to handle media liaison
- A telephone number for the public to call with leads or information
(b) The local California Highway Patrol communications center should be contacted to initiate a multi-regional or statewide EAS broadcast, following any policies and procedures developed by CHP (Government Code § 8594).
(c) The press release information is forwarded to the Sheriff’s Department Emergency Communications Bureau so that general broadcasts can be made to local law enforcement agencies.
(d) Information regarding the missing person should be entered into the California Law Enforcement Telecommunication System (CLETS).
(e) Information regarding the missing person should be entered into the California Department of Justice Missing and Unidentified Persons System (MUPS)/National Crime Information Center (NCIC).
(f) The following resources should be considered as circumstances dictate:
- The local FBI office
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)
335.5 BLUE ALERTS
Blue Alerts may be issued when an officer is killed, injured or assaulted and the suspect may pose a threat to the public or other law enforcement personnel.
335.5.1 CRITERIA FOR BLUE ALERTS
All of the following conditions must be met before activating a Blue Alert (Government Code § 8594.5):
(a) A law enforcement officer has been killed, suffered serious bodily injury or has been assaulted with a deadly weapon, and the suspect has fled the scene of the offense.
(b) The investigating law enforcement agency has determined that the suspect poses an imminent threat to the public or other law enforcement personnel.
(c) A detailed description of the suspect’s vehicle or license plate is available for broadcast.
(d) Public dissemination of available information may help avert further harm or accelerate apprehension of the suspect.
335.5.2 PROCEDURE FOR BLUE ALERT
The supervisor in charge should ensure the following:
(a) An initial press release is prepared that includes all available information that might aid in locating the suspect:
- The license number and/or any other available description or photograph of the vehicle
- Photograph, description and/or identification of the suspect
- The suspect’s identity, age and description, if known
- Detail regarding location of incident, direction of travel, potential destinations, if known
- Name and telephone number of the Public Information Officer or other authorized individual to handle media liaison
- A telephone number for the public to call with leads or information
(b) The local California Highway Patrol communications center is contacted to initiate a multi-regional or statewide EAS broadcast.
(c) The information in the press release is forwarded to the Sheriff’s Department Emergency Communications Bureau so that general broadcasts can be made to local law enforcement agencies.
(d) The following resources should be considered as circumstances dictate:
- Entry into the California Law Enforcement Telecommunication System (CLETS)
- The FBI local office
335.6 SILVER ALERTS
Silver Alerts® is an emergency notification system for people who are 65 years of age or older, developmentally disabled or cognitively impaired and have been reported missing (Government Code § 8594.10).
335.6.1 CRITERIA FOR SILVER ALERTS
All of the following conditions must be met before activating a Silver Alert (Government Code § 8594.10):
(a) The missing person is 65 years of age or older, developmentally disabled or cognitively impaired.
(b) The department has utilized all available local resources.
(c) The investigating officer or supervisor has determined that the person is missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances.
(d) The investigating officer or supervisor believes that the person is in danger because of age, health, mental or physical disability, environment or weather conditions, that the person is in the company of a potentially dangerous person, or that there are other factors indicating that the person may be in peril.
(e) There is information available that, if disseminated to the public, could assist in the safe recovery of the missing person.
335.6.2 PROCEDURE FOR SILVER ALERT
Requests for a Silver Alert shall be made through the California Highway Patrol (Government Code § 8594.10).
335.7 MUTUAL AID
The experiences of other law enforcement jurisdictions that have implemented similar plans indicate an AMBER Alert or Blue Alert will generate a high volume of telephone calls to the handling agency.
The Sheriff’s Department Emergency Communications Bureau facilities and staff can be made available in the event of a high call volume.
If the Shift Supervisor or Detective Bureau Supervisor elects to use the services of the Sheriff’s Department, the following will apply:
(a) Notify the Sheriff’s Department Shift Supervisor of the incident and the request for assistance. He/she will provide you with a telephone number for the public to call.
(b) In the press release, direct the public to the telephone number provided by the Sheriff’s Department Shift Supervisor.
(c) The Public Information Officer will continue to handle all press releases and media inquiries. Any press inquiries received by the Sheriff’s Department will be referred back to this department.
The University of California Santa Cruz Police Department shall assign a minimum of two detectives/officers to respond to the Sheriff’s Department Emergency Communications Bureau to screen and relay information and any clues received from incoming calls. As circumstances dictate, more staff resources from the handling law enforcement agency may be necessary to assist the staff at the Emergency Communications Bureau.
