MEMPHIS POLICE DEPARTMENT
(Below are snips from MPD PDA. Complete PDA at link)
I. CITY WATCH Mid-South Alert
CITY WATCH/MID-SOUTH ALERT is a Memphis Police Department computerized messaging system that can be utilized to provide an outbound messaging service capable of sending both voice messages and email messages to multiple receivers with only one phone call. The system also has the capability to send a fax to multiple receivers with only one fax transmission. Currently, CITY WATCH/MID-SOUTH ALERT communicates with TV, radio and local print media.
Mission:
It is the mission of the Memphis Police Department to protect and serve its citizens. With this mission in mind, the department has instituted the CITY WATCH/MID-SOUTH ALERT Program.
Purpose:
The purpose of this program is to establish procedures that will ensure our citizens are informed of newsworthy community events and to serve as a precursor to the AMBER Alert System. While the AMBER Alert System does not take into consideration runaways, missing children, throwaways, or endangered children, the CITY WATCH/MID-SOUTH ALERT will address these issues. The program will expand to other areas such as: missing adults, notable traffic situations, disasters, and other major incidents. At any time during a CITY WATCH/MID-SOUTH ALERT, a missing child incident could escalate into an AMBER Alert scenario. If that happens, the guidelines for the AMBER Alert Program will take precedence.
A. CITY WATCH GUIDELINES
1.In the case of an endangered missing, endangered runaway, endangered throwaway, child or endangered missing adult occurring between the hours of 0800 and 1600 the Commander or Assistant Commander of Investigative Services will authorize the activation of a City Watch, the Night Duty Lieutenant Colonel will be responsible for all other times. In “Other Events”, the scene Supervisor or commanding officer must notify the Communications Supervisor or City Watch Coordinator to activate the Mid-South Alert. (See Example A) The City Watch desk is staffed from 0800 hrs to 1600 hours Monday through Friday. For all other times, contact the Communications Supervisor (901-543-2711). The City Watch Phone Number is 901-545-2003. The City Watch office is located at 201 Poplar Avenue, Rm. 10-09. The voice segment of the City Watch Program should not be used between the hours of 2100 to 0800; this is for the benefit of citizens who work unusual hours.
2.City Watch will be used in situations regarding endangered missing children, endangered runaway, and endangered throwaway children. (See attachment #1). The purpose is to provide rapid community notification through the Memphis area broadcasters (TV, Radio,and Print Media).
3.The City Watch System will also be used to locate endangered missing adults. These adults may be lost due to extenuating circumstances that could result in life threatening situations, i.e. Alzheimer’s patients, endangered lost, or other threatening criteria that necessitate immediate community notification (see attachment #2).
4.During regular business hours (0800-1600), the Missing Person Bureau will be responsible for all City Watch investigations.
5.Between the hours of 1600-0800, Felony Response will be responsible for all missing person investigations. Felony Response will forward the case jacket and phone tip information to the Missing Person Bureau the following morning.
6 Tips with information will be handled through Crime Stoppers (528-CASH).
The bureau commanding officer will be responsible for ensuring that an adequate number of investigators staff the phone lines in Crime Stoppers.
B. DEFINITIONS FOR CITY WATCH
Endangered Runaway: A Child under the age of 14 who leaves his/her legal custodial caretakers without the authority to do so (children that flee State Custody are included in this category). (The command staff, on case-by-case bases will evaluate habitual runaways under the age of 14)
Habitual Runaway: A child under the age of 17 who demonstrates a pattern of running away from home. The Missing Person Bureau must articulate this based on past behaviors and patterns.
Endangered Throwaway: Children under the age of legal consent (14 years of age or younger) who are ordered to leave the custodial care of his/her caretakers (kicked out by the caretakers).
Endangered Missing Child: A child 17 years old or younger (see attachment #1) who has disappeared with no sign of abduction and unusual circumstances are present which demand immediate and comprehensive attention. If the child is outside their zone of safety for their age or development stage, mentally incapacitated, depended upon prescribed medication, and the facts surrounding the disappearance would lead a police officer to conclude that the child is at risk.
C. CITY WATCH FOR MISSING CHILDREN
If a determination based on facts indicates that the missing child is missing due to circumstances other than abduction, the following will be the standard protocol:
1 Memphis Police Department will respond to the location of occurrence, search the home and surrounding area immediately.
2 A Field Supervisor will be summoned to the scene, contact his/her Lieutenant Colonel or the Night Duty Lieutenant Colonel and notify the Missing Persons Bureau/Felony Response. Additional resources will be secured if deemed necessary (PST's, Additional Patrol Officers, Air Support, Mounted Unit, K-9 Unit).
3.MPD Missing Person offense report is to be taken immediately with no waiting period.
4.Monday-Friday between 0800-1600 hours the Missing Person Bureau supervisor will contact the Commander/Assistant Commander of Investigative Services who will authorize a City Watch based on the facts of the case.
5.The Night Duty Lieutenant Colonel will be responsible for making the decision during all other times.
6.A City Watch will be transmitted on the missing child as soon as possible.
7.The Investigator will forward the necessary paperwork to Communications Bureau (Station B) for entry of the child into NCIC.
D. CITY WATCH FOR ENDANGERED MISSING ADULTS
Law enforcement frequently faces situations where the person missing is an adult. If the adult is lost or disorientated due to an accident, illness, mentally incapacitated, or the person is depended upon prescribed medication but the facts surrounding the disappearance would lead a police officer to conclude that the person is at risk. Friends and relatives who frantically search for these individuals face a tremendous sense of urgency as well. The City Watch can adapt itself to meet the needs of lost adults .
NOTE: This activation follows the guidelines listed in Section C (above) for missing children.
II.
AMBER ALERT
Memphis Police Department Policy and Procedure for Criminally Abducted Children
Mission:
The Memphis Police Department considers the disappearance of a minor child to be an investigative priority; whether it is the result of unknown circumstances, a runaway incident, or a non-family abduction. In each of these incidents, based upon the specific case circumstances, department heads and supervisors will make decisions about the proper level of manpower and resources needed to bring the situation to a successful conclusion. While every missing child situation has the potential for harm, the non-family abduction is the one offense that likely will result in injury, sexual assault or death of the child.
In situations where a child has been the victim of a non-family abduction, an aggressive law enforcement response is necessary. The response will be staffed adequately with manpower, resources, and follow a comprehensive investigative plan. The AMBER Alert will be a fundamental component of that plan.
Purpose:
The purpose of the AMBER Alert is to establish procedures to be followed in the event of a CRIMINAL CHILD ABDUCTION. This document will outline the Memphis Police Department’s response in a manner that will provide the greatest opportunity for a swift and safe return of the child. It will also provide for the apprehension and subsequent prosecution of the suspects responsible for the abduction. The AMBER Alert will be issued only for abductions of children where there is specific information available on suspects or vehicles for broadcast.
C. REGIONAL AMBER ALERT
Although every AMBER Alert is unique to its community, there are certain criteriathat must be met before being activated. The Deputy Chief on duty must approve all Amber Alerts including other regional agencies in the West Tennessee area. If there is reason to believe the missing child/suspect is in the local area (150 miles of Memphis) AND the following criteria are present, then the AMBER Alert will be issued regionally.
STEP ONE – Criteria for Regional AMBER Alert
1.Law Enforcement must confirm that a child 17 years of age or younger has been abducted.
2.Law Enforcement must believe that the circumstances surrounding the abduction indicate that the child is in danger of imminent harm or death.
3 There must be enough descriptive information about the child, abductor, and/or suspect’s vehicle to believe an immediate broadcast will help the case.
STEP TWO – Notification
1.The Deputy Chief on duty will contact the Communications Supervisor and notify them that an AMBER Alert is being issued.
2.The Communications Supervisor will notify the Memphis area’s local primary station (LP 1) that an AMBER Alert is being issued by the Memphis Police Department and that the Emergency Alert System (EAS) needs to be activated.
3. The Primary Contact is: General Manager, WYPL-FM89.0 3030 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN The Secondary backup at WYPL Radio. The Alternate (LP2) to access the Emergency Alert System is: Chief Engineer WEGR
4.The Communications Supervisor will notify the primary contact for issuing an AMBER alert.
STEP THREE – Activation of an AMBER Alert
1.An Investigative Services Supervisor will ensure that the Communications Supervisor is notified as soon as possible with the necessary information required to activate an AMBER Alert.
2.Communications “Station B” will issue a Be On The Lookout (BOLO) containing summary information about the criminal child abduction and make an entry into the NCIC Missing Person File along with any information on a suspected abductor(s). A BOLO will be sent in all cases in which the Emergency Alert System (EAS) has been activated.
3.The Investigator will secure the most recent photograph of child and take it to the nearest LOCATER system to create an AMBER Alert poster to be emailed to pre-programmed television, radio stations and law enforcement. The Locater System is currently located at the Northeast Precinct, Missing Persons Bureau (Monday – Friday / 0800 – 1600 hours). A Locator System will be available in the Memphis Police Department’s Felony Response Bureau, 201 Poplar Avenue, Room 11-01. Note: The Bartlett Police Department also has a Locater System in the event the department’s system is not available.
4.The Duty Commander will establish a telephone hotline for receipt of tips and leads through Crime Stoppers (528-CASH).
5.All personnel will follow National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) guidelines and Investigative Checklist .(see attachment # 3)
If there is reason to believe the abducted child may be outside the 150-mile radius of Memphis, a Statewide AMBER Alert will be issued through TBI. (1-800-TBI-FIND)
Factors to Consider When Issuing the City Watch for Endangered Runaway/Missing/Throwaway Children
Is the person younger than 18 years of age?
Is the person believed to be out of the zone of safety for his/her age and/or developmental stage?
Is the person mentally incapacitated?
Are there medical needs that are vital in saving a life?
Is the person drug dependent, including prescribed medication and/or illegal substances and is the dependency life threatening?
Is the person believed to be in a life-threatening situation?
Is the person believed to be in the company of individuals who could endanger his/her welfare?
Is the person’s absence inconsistent with his or her established patterns of behavior and the deviation not readily explained?
Are there other circumstances involved in the disappearance that would cause a reasonable person to conclude that the person should be considered “at-risk?”
Factors to Consider When Issuing the City Watch for Endangered Missing Adults
Is the person believed to be out of the zone of safety for his/her age and/or developmental stage?
Is the person mentally incapacitated?
Are there medical needs that are vital in saving a life?
Is the person drug dependent, including prescribed medication and/or illegal substances and is the dependency life threatening?
Is the person believed to be in a life-threatening situation?
Is the person believed to be in the company of individuals who could endanger his/her welfare?
Is the person’s absence inconsistent with his or her established patterns of behavior and the deviation not readily explained?
Are there other circumstances involved in the disappearance that would cause a reasonable person to conclude that the person should be considered “at-risk?”
https://kiosk.memphispolice.org/forms/Web Policy/CH01/Ch I Sec 09 City Watch.htm
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