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Phone Calls, Visitation, Crime-Scene & Perimeter Containment – Deputy Sheriff Lecture Notes

Policy on Prisoner Telephone Calls

  • Source: Policy Manual – Section 4 “Phone Calls & Visitation”.
  • Who MAY conduct interviews in detention:
    • Public-facing personnel (police, peace officers, court workers, legal counsel, representatives of provincial agencies, etc.).
    • Manager can authorize other individuals at personal discretion.
  • Documentation requirements:
    • Every call logged with date, time, number dialed, name of member dialing.
    • Local Orders/SOPs must spell out the exact logging procedure.
  • Priority order for granting calls (only “when time & staff permit”):
    1. Calls ordered by the court.
    2. Calls related to cash-bail / release orders set by a judge.
    3. Calls to legal counsel.
    4. All others — purely discretionary.
  • Discretion vs. Right:
    • Policy phrase “the following are authorized” means “may”, not “must”.
    • All phone calls are at the officer’s discretion, except where a court order exists.
    • Right to counsel/phone is triggered at arrest/detention, NOT once the person reaches the jail hours or days later.
  • Practical guidance / scenarios:
    • Court-ordered call? → Always comply immediately.
    • Cash bail posted? → Facilitate quickly; reduces transports & workload.
    • Detainee just “wants” to call counsel? → Zero legal obligation; discretionary.
    • Humanitarian exceptions encouraged (e.g., parent needs to arrange day-care pickup) –> Get supervisor approval.
    • Visitation is a separate matter (in-person, higher resource cost). No statutory duty to provide it; treat case-by-case.
    • Lawyers insisting on access: helpful for justice system flow, but you are “not a taxi service.”

Containment, Crime Scenes & PPS Activation (Course “420” Objectives)

  • Two broad deployment contexts covered:
    1. Crime-scene containment & evidence preservation.
    2. Suspect/hostage perimeter containment.

Foundational Legal Authorities

  • Common Law: Power to direct & control people during emergencies or active crime scenes.
  • Traffic Safety Act (TSA) / Highway & Vehicle Ops:
    • Use patrol vehicle as barricade.
    • Drive wrong way on a one-way or block an intersection if reasonably necessary for public safety.
    • Policy normally requires emergency lights activated when a vehicle is used for scene protection.
  • Criminal Code: No explicit “contain a scene” clause; rely on common-law peace-officer powers.

Crime-Scene Control & Evidence Preservation

  • Purpose: Keep evidence intact, keep unauthorized people out.
  • PPS has a dedicated Crime-Scene Policy (mirrors police best practice).
  • Core tasks for deputies:
    • Establish inner tape line & outer public line.
    • Log Sheet: Every entry/exit (name, badge, agency, reason, time in/out).
    • Keep notes / sketches; photograph initial state if moving evidence due to weather.
    • Expect unpleasant sights & odours (dead bodies, serious injury).
    • Example: Instructor performed CPR on cyanotic casualty; ribs will crack.
  • Death in custody = automatic serious-incident (SiRT/Circ) investigation; entire cell area becomes a crime scene.
  • Public death in courthouse lobby = not a custody death; handle medical, resume operations when cleared.
  • Supervisor push-back (“I’m your boss, let me in”):
    • No current written policy, but scene integrity outranks hierarchy.
    • Log supervisor’s entry; remind them the record will show it.

Perimeter Containment Theory

  • Goal: Keep threat area as SMALL as safely possible so resources can focus on resolution.
  • Perimeter = defensive action; not the rescue/assault team.
  • Three Zones (basic model):
    1. Inner Perimeter – smallest space that still contains the threat.
    2. Frozen Zone – no movement except tactical operators; zero civilian presence.
    3. Outer Perimeter – buffer keeping public, traffic and media out.
    • May extend several city blocks or 1 km in rural settings.

“ICE” Principles (4-part mnemonic repeated in class)

  1. Isolate – separate threat from general public; deny media soapbox.
  2. Control – stop situation from getting worse; seize initiative, cut off communications unless tactically useful.
  3. Evacuate / Extract – route non-involved persons out via blind spots or protected corridors (wheelchair, mobility issues require custom plan).
  4. ?? (Issue/Engage) – Final problem-solving stage done by trained tactical team; frontline sheriffs do NOT initiate hostage-rescue.

Communication With the Subject

  • If subject initiates (“I give up!”):
    • Assess whether replying reveals your position or undermines tactics.
    • Options: order them to stay put & disarm, or talk them to a pre-designated surrender point.

Perimeter Geometry & Terminology

  • Buildings have 4 sides; standardized call-outs:
    • #1 / White Side – the “front” (defined by initial team leader).
    • #2 / Green, #3 / Red, #4 / Black progress clockwise.
    • RCMP often uses colour; municipal teams use numbers – clarify over radio if confused.
  • Maintain line-of-sight with nearest partner; invisible “gate” between you shows any escape.
  • Use patrol car (stacked on the A-pillars) or natural cover if nothing else available.

Incident Command System (ICS) & Chain-of-Command

  • Ministry moving toward mandatory ICS 100 (and recommended ICS 200) for all frontline sheriffs.
  • Massive events (oil-spill, active shooter, wildfire + courthouse) will re-assign you under an ad-hoc structure:
    • You might report to a fire-captain, tactical sergeant, etc., not your usual staff-sergeant.
  • Core ICS rules:
    • Single chain of command – each member has one immediate supervisor.
    • Information flows up & down briefly, fact-based ("Just the facts, Jack").
    • Units/teams/assets → Group supervisor → Branch → Incident Commander.

Radio & Talk-Group Discipline

  • Use plain language; confirm side/colour references.
  • Keep transmissions short; include who, where, what, direction (“Suspect matching description moving northbound across wheat field from Range Rd 3050 at Twp 1.”).
  • Know your precise location as soon as you dismount.

Ethical, Psychological & Practical Considerations

  • You will encounter death, severe injury, mental-health crises; prepare emotionally.
  • “Not a taxi service” – balance legal rights with manpower & public-safety efficiency.
  • Greasing the justice system (facilitating lawyer calls, plea discussions) often benefits everyone; still discretionary.
  • Liability: Improper evidence handling or contaminated scenes can tank prosecutions.

Quick Reference Cheat-Sheet

  • Phone call obligation exists ONLY when:
    1. Court order.
    2. Cash-bail requirement.
  • Visitation: 100 % discretionary unless ordered by court.
  • Dead body in cell = Treat as crime scene, notify SiRT/Circ, lock down.
  • “ICE” = Isolate → Control → Evacuate/Extract → Engage/Issue (team).
  • Perimeter sizes: Inner (small), Frozen (no movement), Outer (public buffer).
  • Building sides: #1/White front → clockwise to #4/Black.
  • Always keep log sheet at any controlled scene.
  • Use vehicle + lights as barricade per Traffic Safety Act when safe.
  • When in doubt → Supervisor, or follow common-law duty to protect life & evidence.