Transporting Arrestees

Arrestee searches

• Officers will carefully and thoroughly search arrestees, including removal and search of any footwear (the arrestees will remain handcuffed while the officer removes and checks the shoes and socks for weapons and/or contraband) and take possession of all weapons and evidence prior to placing arrestees in vehicles

• When practical, arrestees will be searched by officers of the same sex

Officer/arrestee seating:

• vehicles without partition cages

  • Police officer transporting an arrestee in a standard vehicle w/o a partition cage will place the arrestee in the front passenger seat.

  • In a two officer unit, the arrestee will be placed in the rear seat behind the passenger’s position and the second officer behind the driver. A second arrestee would be placed in the front seat.

  • Officers will not transport more than one arrestee nor a two-officer unit more than two arrestees without supervisory approval

• Vehicles with partition cages:

  • Cages are not bullet resistant and are not intended to replace good safety practices such as thorough searches of suspects and vehicle interiors, proper handcuffing techniques, and monitoring arrestee activities.

  • In a standard one- or two-officer patrol vehicle equipped w/cage, up to two arrestees of the same or opposite sex may be transported in the rear seat. In a two-officer unit, second officer in front passenger seat will periodically monitor arrestees. No more than two arrestees will be transported w/o supervisory approval

  • When two arrestees are combative, officers may, at their discretion, restrain the arrestees with leg restraint devices or transport them separately

  • If an arrestees is to be held in a parked vehicle for an extended period, consideration should be given to leaving the safety barrier in the lowered position and the front windows opened slightly for air circulation an arrestees will not be left alone in a vehicle unless under close observation.

Special arrestee transport vehicles:

• officers will place arrestees in the rear of special arrestee transport vehicles, not to exceed the manufacturer’s specifications. Contingent upon the assignment, one or two officers will be assigned and seated in the front. Discretion is allowed of supervisors in transporting situations based on the functions to be performed, number of arrestees, security and safety of arrestees, and the anticipated violence level of the arrestees.

Resident Section Vehicles:

• may transport two people in rear of vehicle. If two ppl are combative, least violent arrestee will be placed in the front passenger’s seat. More than two people may be transported with permission of a supervisor

Transport without Delay

A. Due to the relatively short distances involved, officers will transport arrestees to the appropriate facility without delay and will not accompany them to their homes, eating establishments, restroom facilities, etc. where sight and control of the arrestees could be compromised. Arrestees will be denied public contact with others and may not smoke, eat or drink while being transported. Officers will not be diverted to any other law enforcement activities while transporting unless the risk to third parties is both clear and grave, and risk to the arrestees(s) is minimal, and supervisory approval is given. Under no circumstances will an arrestees be held in a transport vehicle longer than two hours before being transported to a detention facility and booked

B. Conversely, patrol officers assigned to operate arrestee transport vehicles are to engage in other law enforcement activities (ex. Traffic and pedestrian stops, writing citations, field investigations, assisting citizens, advising of hazards, making arrests) when not transporting arrestees.

Escape of an arrestee:

A. In the event of an arrestee escape, the transporting officer will notify communications and attempt to recapture the arrestee. The officer may request additional units to establish a perimeter and/or conduct a search, taking into consideration the original charge for which the arrestee was in custody and the level of threat to citizens in the area.

B. Should the escape occur in another jurisdiction, the transporting officer will notify communications, if possible, and the agency in whose jurisdiction the escape occurred. An officer’s report (LVMPD 82) will be completed, detailing the events of the escape.

Procedures at the Detention Facility:

A. At the destination point, officers will secure their weapons in gun lockers. Handcuffs will not be removed until the arrestee is placed in a holding cell or placed in the custody of a corrections officer, court security officer, medical officer, etc. documentation accompanying the arrestee will be turned over to the receiving officer and their signature obtained

Transporting to a medical facility:

A. Arrestees taken to medical facilities for admittance or examination will be kept under close security at all times

Vehicle Search and Examination:

Vehicles will be searched at the start of the shift, immediately prior to and after transporting arrestees to ensure that no contraband, weapon, or other such items are present. Special transport vehicles will also be checked for condition, operating, and presence of tools and safety equipment as applicable

Use of BWC during transport:

Patrol officers assigned BWC will activate it for the duration of an arrestee’s transportation

Special Transport Situations:

1. Arrestees of the opposite sex:

   1. When arrestees is transported by an officer’s report of the opposite sex, the start/stop mileage, to include tenths of a mile, will be entered on the tablet (see LVMPD 7.235 voice radio communications). If an arrestees of the opposite sex is transported in a vehicle without a tablet, the start/stop mileage will be voice reported to the dispatcher

   2. Arrestees of both sexes may be transported together if the ability to restrict contact exists. Every effort should be taken to prevent an opportunity for an allegation of misconduct.

2. Handicapped, sick, mentally ill, or injured arrestees:

   1. Whenever possible, handicapped, sick, injured, or mentally ill arrestees will be transported and restrained in the same manner as other arrestees. In emergency situations, ambulance services may be required. Treatment of arrestees incurring injuries during the arrest process and other medical services will be handled in accordance with LVMD medical care and billing of prisoners 7.127.

Restraining Devices:

1. Handcuffs

   1. Except under extraordinary situations approved by a supervisor, no member will permit an arrestee to enter a department vehicle without first being handcuffed. Arrestees in police vehicles will be handcuffed behind the back, unless impractical or impossible due to obesity, handicap, or other reason. Special restrains will not be used unless approved by a supervisor

Restraining Devices cont.:

1. Leg restraints:

   1. Officers may restrain the legs of combative arrestees with soft leg restraints. Rope will not be used. Officers must receive DT training in proper leg restraint procedures before securing arrestees

   2. When an arrestee’s legs are restrained, the trailing end of the restraint will be anchored out of the passenger door of the vheicle to not catch anything while the vehicle is in motion. Officers will not attempt to restrain an arrestee’s legs without the assistance of another officer.

   3. Restraints will not be used to secure an arrestee’s legs to fixed positions inside a vehicle, as this could result in serious injury in the event of an accident. Restraining devices will not be affixed to the arrestee’s handcuffs, nor will arrestees be transported facedown with their hands behind their back and their legs restrained. Transporting an arrestee’s facedown on an ambulance gurney is permissible when attending medical personnel determine it will not harm the arrestee

Seat belts:

• unless physically impossible because of size, handicap, etc, all arrestees transported in department vehicles equipped with seat restraints/belts will be secured with the restraints before vehicles are set in motion