Call Prioritization Policy - Kansas City Missouri Police Department (PI 17-10)

A set of Question-and-Answer flashcards covering the Kansas City MO Police Department's Call Prioritization policy (PI 17-10), including purpose, roles, priority definitions, dispatch procedures, Annex A/B details, and recall guidance.

To efficiently deploy police resources by screening calls for service, ensuring adequate patrol units for emergencies, and allowing officers to problem solve and partner with the community.

What is the purpose of the call prioritization system?

Dispatched personnel have discretion to use the alternative method as outlined; officers may request an assisting officer(s) if the situation dictates the need for additional officers.

Who has discretion to utilize an alternative method to handle a call, and what may officers request if needed?

To efficiently utilize patrol resources; may amend or discontinue dispatching to avoid unnecessary use; must inform the citizen if an officer will not respond.

What is the Field Supervisors' responsibility under this directive?

They determine processing methods for calls, and call priorities can be upgraded or downgraded depending on the situation.

What authority do Communications Unit personnel have regarding call processing?

Calls are not dispatched from patrol division stations except during emergency situations; all calls must be forwarded to the Communications Unit for dispatching.

Where should calls for service be dispatched from, and when are exceptions made?

Dispatched by the closest divisional car when practical; sector integrity is not a consideration.

How are Priority 1 and Priority 2 calls dispatched, and what factor is not considered for these calls?

The call will be dispatched to other officers for handling.

What happens if an officer is not available to answer a call within their sector within the allotted time (four hours)?

Assist the Officer; dispatched immediately.

What does Priority 0 designate?

Calls that present extreme danger to human life, known danger, or potential danger; examples include shootings, rape in progress, armed robbery just occurred.

What are Priority 1 calls, and can you give examples?

Calls where the potential for danger or injuries exists but has not yet occurred; examples include prowlers, bomb threats, disturbances, domestic violence assaults.

What are Priority 2 calls, and can you give examples?

Non-life threatening but require a timely police response; examples include welfare checks, 911 hang-ups, holding a person for shoplifting.

What are Priority 3 calls?

Calls where a reasonable police response will not detract from service; no immediate danger; examples include burglaries, car prowlers, thefts just occurred, intrusion alarms; dispatched when a division officer is available.

What are Priority 4 calls?

Calls where a delayed response will not detract from investigation; often assignable as a report; examples include noise disturbances; dispatched when officers from the division are available, generally not outside division boundaries.

What are Priority 5 calls, and what is their typical dispatch pattern?

Priority 6 is self-initiated activity, Priority 7 is administrative activity, and Priority 8 is walk-in reports; none are used for dispatching.

What are Priority 6, 7, and 8, and how are they used for dispatching purposes?

Alternative handling (advised calls) where absence of police at the scene will not detract from investigation or service; may involve referrals, telephone reports, or non-response handling; includes examples like theft, forgery, fraud, non-injury assaults, etc.

What is Priority 9, and what does Alternative Handling entail?

Ten alternatives are available; they are processing options for handling calls based on personnel availability.

How many alternatives are available to Communications Unit personnel for processing calls, and what are they generally called?

Immediately dispatched with officers sent code one based on the closest divisional units, not sector assignments.

How is Priority 1 dispatched according to Annex A?

An attempt to dispatch within 2 minutes; officers dispatched code one if the call is in progress, based on closest divisional units, not sector assignments.

How is Priority 2 dispatched according to Annex A?

An attempt to dispatch within 5 minutes; dispatched only by event type; details broadcast only if suspect information exists.

How is Priority 3 dispatched according to Annex A?

May be delayed until a unit within the division becomes available; the on-duty Communications Unit Supervisor determines if it will be dispatched outside division boundaries; dispatched only by event type.

How is Priority 4 dispatched according to Annex A?

Dispatched when a unit responsible for the call within the sector becomes available; attempt to dispatch within four hours; if no officer in sector is available, it may be dispatched to other sectors; dispatched only by event type.

How is Priority 5 dispatched according to Annex A?

Priority 6, 7, and 8 are not used for dispatching purposes.

Which priorities are explicitly not used for dispatching in Annex A?

Referral to a Patrol Division, Referral to Another Agency, Phone-In Report, and Informational Broadcast.

What are the four ways Priority 9 (alternative handling) can be processed?

To provide guidance for recalling personnel when demand reduces police response capability and to maintain supervisory monitoring of recall operations.

What is the purpose of Annex B (Recall of Personnel) in this policy?

The Communications Unit Supervisor contacts the Assistant Division Commander or designee to recall officers; field commanders and supervisors determine the priority of recall within their units.

Who has the responsibility to contact personnel for recall, and who designates recall priorities during an recall?