BANK/FINANCIAL ALARM RESPONSE Model Policy Effective Date July 1, 1992 Number Subject Bank/Financial Alarm Response Reference Special Instructions Distribution Reevaluation Date June 30, 1993 No. Pages 2 I. PURPOSE It is the purpose of this policy to provide law enforcement officers with guidance for responding to and handling alarms at banks and other financial institutions. II. POLICY With robberies of banks and related financial institutions at a record high, it is essential that all law enforcement officers understand their role and responsibilities when responding to these offenses and the inherent dangers involved. Therefore, when responding to robbery alarms at these establishments, officers shall follow the procedures set forth in this policy in order to enhance arrest possibilities of suspects and observe proper precautions for the safety of officers, employees and bystanders. III. PROCEDURES A. Dispatcher Responsibilities 1. Upon receipt of a financial institution alarm, a minimum of two patrol units shall be dispatched and a field supervisor shall be notified. 2. If the robbery notification is received by telephone, a complete description of the perpetrators shall be obtained from the caller along with as much additional information as possible; particularly, whether the perpetrator is at the scene and, if not, his direction and mode of travel and a complete description of any vehicle involved. 3. If the robbery notification is made by alarm, the dispatcher shall not attempt to contact the institution in order to determine the validity of the alarm until officers have given notice that they are in position at the establishment. 4. If the dispatcher is subsequently notified that the alarm is false, he shall a. advise the caller that police units are responding; b. obtain the identity of and maintain contact with the caller c. verify the false alarm with a key employee of the establishment (e.g., manager or head teller) and advise him that he will need to exit the facility to meet the responding officers utilizing the department's prearranged signal; and d. obtain a physical description of the key employee and provide responding officers with the description and the fact that the employee will meet them outside as required. B. Responding Officer Procedures 1. Responding officers shall use appropriate vehicular warning devices when approaching the scene, but the siren will not be used within the hearing range of the reported robbery. 2. Responding units to the scene should be observant of any suspicious vehicles leaving the scene as well as other vehicles or persons outside the facility who may be serving as lookouts, cover or drivers for a robbery team. 3. The first unit on the scene shall serve as the primary unit until relieved by a supervisor, and shall take a position in front of the facility that provides good observation without being easily visible to those inside. The primary unit shall report on observable conditions at the location to the dispatcher but should not initially approach the building. 4. The primary and all subsequent units arriving at the robbery location shall report their arrival and position to the dispatcher. The primary unit or supervisory officer should direct responding units into positions that will establish a budding perimeter covering all exits and entrances. 5. Once the building perimeter has been established and no notice of a false alarm has been received, the primary unit on the scene shall determine whether the dispatcher shall telephone the establishment. If the call is made, the dispatcher shall identify himself and inquire whether a robbery is in progress. If the call is not answered or a questionable response is provided to the inquiry, officers at the scene shall be informed of these facts and told that a possible robbery is in progress. 6. If a robbery in progress is suspected, the primary unit or supervisory officer shall determine whether to request additional backup and whether specialized units shall be alerted to include canine and SWAT teams. Unless otherwise directed, officers shall wait until suspects have exited the building before attempting apprehension. This helps to avoid the development of a hostage situation. 7. Once perpetrators have been apprehended, the crime scene shall be secured by officers in preparation for processing by crime scene technicians, departmental investigators and federal agents. 8. If a robbery has been committed and the perpetrators have left the scene, the primary unit should begin preparation of the initial report by identifying witnesses, caring for any injured parties, protecting the crime scene and obtaining necessary information regarding the perpetrators for supplemental broadcast. Remaining units should initiate the search for suspects on likely escape routes, being alert to unusual activities and circumstances. 9. If the dispatcher notifies officers that he has been in contact with an employee of the establishment and there does not appear to be a robbery in progress, officers shall determine the identity and description of the employee and wait for him to exit the building and approach the officers using the prearranged signal. Officers shall accompany the employee into the establishment in order to verify the situation and shall notify dispatch once the verification is complete. 10. If the alarm is received after business hours and the establishment is not occupied, responding officers shall assume positions in the front and rear of the building and jointly conduct an inspection of the facility for signs of forced entry. If signs of forced entry exist, officers shall follow procedures for conducting a building search. If the building is secure, dispatch shall be notified to contact the owner or the establishment's designated contact person to meet them at the location. C. Crime Prevention Responsibilities Officers assigned to crime prevention duties shall assume responsibility for providing all employees of banks, financial institutions and related establishments with training on their responsibilities in the event of a robbery and conduct follow-up with those who fail to comply with departmental requirements. In particular, employees should be familiarized with the following: 1. Departmental procedures in response to a financial institution alarm. 2. Employees' responsibilities for protecting their safety and the safety of others. 3. The proper use of decoy money and explosive money packages. 4. Tips to avoid hostage taking (e.g., closing establishment doors immediately after perpetrators exit) and appropriate actions if one is taken hostage. 5. Use of the silent alarm. 6. The use of signals or placards when approaching officers. 7. Protection of evidence. This project was supported by Grant No. 87-SN-CX-KO77 awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The Assistant Attorney General, Office of Justice Programs, coordinates the activities of the following program offices and bureaus: the Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Institute of Justice, Office of Juvenile and Delinquency Prevention, and the Office of Victims of Crime. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not represent the official position or policies of the United States Department of Justice. Every effort has been made by the IACP National Law Enforcement Policy Center staff and advisory board to ensure that this model policy incorporates the most current information and contemporary professional judgment on this issue. However, law enforcement administrators should be cautioned that no "model" policy can meet all the needs of any given law enforcement agency. Each law enforcement agency operates in a unique environment of federal court rulings, state laws, local ordinances, regulations, judicial and administrative decisions and collective bargaining agreements that must be considered. In addition, the formulation of specific agency policies must take into account local political and community perspectives and customs, prerogatives and demands; often divergent law enforcement strategies and philosophies, and the impact of varied agency resource capabilities among other factors.