G.O. 5.16 - Radio Procedures

Administrative Framework

• General Order (G.O.) $5.16$ falls under Section $5: Patrol Functions$.

• Original issue date: $11/4/19$ (re-issued dates left blank for future revisions).

• Applies to all Norwich Police Department (NPD) personnel.

• Accreditation reference: POSTC Standard $1.1.1$.

• Legal caveat
  • Designed strictly for internal guidance.
  • Not intended to create higher legal duties toward 3rd parties.
  • Violations → departmental discipline; actual crimes → civil/criminal courts.

Purpose ("Why" of the Order)

• Establishes radio procedures & standards for every sworn and civilian member who transmits on NPD radio channels.

• Ensures compliance with:
  • Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations.
  • State agreements (CLMRN MOU).
  • Internal expectations of professional, concise, direct language.

Guiding Policy Statements

• Communications must be professional, direct, concise.

• Absolutely prohibited: unidentified transmissions, unnecessary chatter, obscenities, profanities.

• Signal “10-code” system (Appendix A) is primary vocabulary; plain language permitted when dispatcher/officer deems it clearer.

Key Definitions

• COLLECT – Connecticut On-Line Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (state-level NCIC).

• CSBI – Connecticut State Bureau of Identification (state-wide arrest/fingerprint repository).

• NCIC – National Crime Information Center (FBI-managed).

• IMC – Information Management Corporation Records Management System (RMS used by Dispatch/Records).

• Communications System (Public Safety) – Flow of info: caller → comms unit → field officer → allied agencies → Records.

• Beat – Geographical area of primary patrol responsibility.

Equipment & Readiness Requirements

• Every officer issued a portable radio and must carry it:
  • On-duty (including private job assignments).
  • Away from the cruiser, unless a supervisor authorizes exemption.

• Prior to shift: officers verify car & portable radio are operational.

• Supervisors & officers must monitor assigned frequencies constantly.

Standard Radio Practices

• Maintain constant, immediate contact with Dispatch unless on authorized special assignment.

• Status changes (en-route, on-scene, clear) ➔ immediately broadcast.

• Replies to Dispatch prompt & via proper call-sign.

• Unit identification = badge/radio number unless otherwise noted.

• Acknowledgement protocol

  1. Call Dispatch → wait for acknowledgment before continuing.

  2. When dispatched, Dispatcher provides location, call nature, pertinent info.

  3. Officer(s) acknowledge when information is understood.

• Multi-unit assignments – First officer dispatched answers first, followed sequentially so Dispatcher can confirm each unit.

• On-Scene – Upon arrival, transmit: “Badge # — on scene.”

• Clearing a call – Provide disposition, e.g. “$35$ accident report taken” or “$35$ not as reported.”

Special Communication Controls

• Dispatcher or Supervisor may impose radio silence for critical events; officers may also request silence through Dispatcher.

• HQ Dispatch duplication: if an officer is dispatched while physically at HQ, Dispatcher must re-broadcast to record & inform field units.

CLMRN ‑ Connecticut Land & Mobile Radio Network

• NPD operates on State of CT $800\ \text{MHz}$ P25 ASTRO trunked system (sub-system of CT State Police Troop E).

• Formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NPD & State governs use/maintenance.

• Motorola Solutions contract covers P25 software & hardware upkeep to meet CLMRN obligations.

Radio Numbers (Call-Signs)

• Primary identifier = badge number (policy section "B." — full numeric list maintained separately).
  Example: Officer with badge $127$ transmits as “One-Two-Seven.”

Ten-Signal / Radio Codes (Appendix A)

• Numeric codes $1$ – $99$ map to call types (robbery, MVA, BOLO, etc.).

• Purpose: brevity, officer safety, standardized CAD typing.

• Plain-speech fallback when clarity/safety dictates.

• Abridged critical list
  • $1$ Officer needs help (emergency)
  • $6$ Robbery
  • $31$ M/V stop
  • $33F$ Fatal MVA
  • $55$ Wanted person / warrant
  • $88$ Clear air for priority transmissions
  • $99$ Use caution
  (The complete 1-99 matrix preserved verbatim in Appendix A.)

Phonetic Alphabet (ICAO Standard)

• Used for names/plates that may be misheard.

• Full list:
  ALPHA • BRAVO • CHARLIE • DELTA • ECHO • FOXTROT • GOLF • HOTEL • INDIA • JULIET • KILO • LIMA • MIKE • NOVEMBER • OSCAR • PAPA • QUEBEC • ROMEO • SIERRA • TANGO • UNIFORM • VICTOR • WHISKEY • X-RAY • YANKEE • ZULU

Practical Examples & Scenarios

• Vehicle stop example

  1. Officer: “$127$ to Dispatch.”

  2. Dispatch: “Go ahead $127$.”

  3. Officer: “$31$; Connecticut $123-ABC$, blue Honda Civic, north Main at Hickory.”

• High-risk call with radio silence

  1. Dispatch: “All units, standby — initiating $88$. $127$ responding to $6$ at 45 Town St. Two suspects armed.”

  2. Non-essential traffic ceases until cleared.

• Using phonetics: “Plate comes back on $KILO-TANGO-X-RAY$ $4$ $7$ $5$.”

Ethical / Legal / Operational Implications

• Officer safety – Clear codes avoid tipping off suspects; radio silence prevents interference.

• Public trust – Professional language maintains agency credibility & FCC compliance.

• Interoperability – Standardized codes & CLMRN membership allow seamless mutual-aid with State Police & surrounding agencies.

• Documentation – All radio traffic recorded; tapes can be subpoenaed, reinforcing need for policy adherence.

Integration With Other Policies / Standards

• Complements prior training on:
  • Use of Force (radio traffic often precedes event documentation).
  • Emergency Vehicle Operations (MVA codes $33/33I/33F$ tie into pursuit reporting).
  • POSTC curriculum communications objectives.

• Comment history in draft (Lt. Poore, Sgt. Poore) signals forthcoming revision: add shift-start radio checks when CLMRN transition completes.

Numerical / Technical References

• $5.16$ (General Order number)

• $1.1.1$ (POSTC standard)

• $800\ \text{MHz}$ (radio band)

• $P25$ ASTRO (digital standard)

Study Tips

• Memorize codes $1–40$ first (life-safety & common calls), then less-used $41–99$.

• Practice phonetic alphabet aloud; many errors stem from hesitation.

• During ride-alongs, mentally translate plain speech ↔ codes for speed.

• Remember that badge number = radio call-sign; you will answer to it under stress.

Appendix A – Complete Signal List (Condensed Table)

1 Officer needs help • 2 Homicide • 3 Person armed • 4 Received • … • 88 Clear air • 89 “OK to talk?” • 99 Use caution
(See source document for the fully expanded, formatted list including sub-codes such as $8I$ Identity Theft, $33H$ Hit & Run, $42A$ Suicide Attempt, etc.)