Telecommunications Law Enforcement II

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Communication Cycle Message – the text or information of the communication Medium – how the message is conveyed Sender – transmits a message Receiver – translates the sender’s message Feedback – the receiver’s understanding of the message or lack of understanding is transmitted back to the sender

Effective Radio Communications Diction – an individual speaker’s accent, inflection, intonation, and speech sound quality, which is usually judged in terms of prevailing standards of acceptability Enunciation – forming clear and distinct sounds into words Pronunciation – properly saying the sounds of a word while stressing the correct syllable(s)

Effective Radio Communications (continued) Appropriate rate of speech Most people speak at a rate of over 100 words per minute Most people write at rate of only 20–30 words per minute

Effective Radio Communications (continued) Appropriate message length Messages should usually take no more than 30 seconds of air time Divide longer messages into segments with 5–10 second breaks in between segments to allow another user to speak for emergency traffic if necessary Strive to provide the greatest amount of information in the shortest period of time

Effective Radio Communications (continued) Professional – avoid inappropriate language Timely – immediately upon need Easily understood by both the communication center and the field units Use the Phonetic Alphabet to clearly broadcast names, vehicles, identification numbers, and addresses

Effective Radio Communications (continued) A − Adam B − Boy C − Charles D − David E − Edward F − Frank G − George H − Henry I − Ida J − John K − King L − Lincoln M − Mary N − Nora O − Ocean P − Paul Q − Queen R − Robert S − Sam T − Tom U − Union V − Victor W − William X − X-Ray Y − Young Z − Zebra

Effective Radio Communications (continued) Concise Clear speech policy – requires standardized words or phrases with specific meanings; speak in plain language

Communication Challenges Weather – can interfere with radio transmissions and reception Terrain – can affect radio signal propagation Buildings – can attenuate radio signals Low batteries – can reduce the level of radio signal output

Radio Procedures Know what you want to say before you key the microphone on the radio Press the key-up button located on the side of the radio or on the handset. Hold it down for 5–10 seconds before beginning to speak. Hold the handset or radio 2–3 inches from your mouth so that the transmission is not garbled If the transmission is lengthy, break in the middle to let any emergency radio traffic proceed; transmissions should not be longer than 30 seconds at a time Wait 5 seconds after ending the transmission before letting go of the key button to ensure that the whole message transmits

Mobile Data Terminal (MDT) Policies and Procedures Access No officer may access the Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (TLETS) or the National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (NLETS) without having a current Texas Department of Public Safety “less than full access” or equivalent certification No officer shall allow another person who does not have the less than full access certification to access TLETS or NLETS

MDT Policies and Procedures (continued) Access (continued) As soon as the desired TLETS/NLETS information has been obtained from the MDT screen, the MDT screen shall be cleared of the information The MDT screen shall be positioned in a manner to prevent unauthorized access to the information screen

MDT Policies and Procedures (continued) Operations Officers shall exercise care when utilizing the MDT while operating the vehicle to insure driver and public safety and shall not take unnecessary or unreasonable risks to operate the MDT The MDT shall be adjusted to a position that makes the screen easily readable and the keyboard easily accessible

MDT Policies and Procedures (continued) Operations (continued) Officers shall log-off from the MDT When away from the vehicle for prolonged periods for non-police activity (i.e., meal breaks) When transferring the MDT to another user At the end of the shift

MDT Policies and Procedures (continued) Confirmation of all query hits Recorded Data All data transmitted over the MDT system is recorded in a storage disk in the MDT server The contents of the storage disk are reviewed periodically for quality control purposes and/or to insure compliance with directives

MDT Usage Codes for use and operation of MDTs vary by manufacturer. Get assistance from your school resources officer or local law enforcement agencies for demonstrations. Unless your school has purchased radios/dispatch equipment or a MDT, you will need outside assistance MDTs allow officers to receive call information, communicate with one another, and run queries on vehicles, persons, and places

Resources National Academy of Emergency Dispatch (NAED) Instructor Certification course Arlington Police Academy Mansfield Police Department General Orders http://www.sheriff.co.wise.tx.us/communic.htm Do an Internet search for the following: dictionary.