Lakewood Police Department Policy and Procedure Emergency Impounds		Effective Date: 07/16/2020
	Policy Number: PP-4752 - Emergency Impounds

B. Procedure

1. Extraordinary circumstances (severe winter storms, floods, accidents involving dozens of vehicles, etc.) may occur in which it is necessary to tow a large number of vehicles in a very short period of time. As a result, it is necessary that the department develop a tow procedure that saves time over the normal process.

2. The emergency tow procedure may be implemented by a Commander or above. As part of the emergency procedures, O.P.G., has agreed to an hourly fee.

3. The following steps shall be followed when the emergency tow procedure is implemented:

a. A Commander, acting watch commander, or above, shall alert the Official Police Garage (OPG) representative, who will ensure that an adequate number of tow units are available and ready to be dispatched.

b. Police agents will indicate to O.P.G.’s tow drivers which vehicles shall be towed whenever possible.

c. Those vehicles that require immediate removal may be towed and dropped at a nearby location, e.g., vehicles stuck on a hill during a major snowstorm. Those requiring towing and impounding will be taken to the O.P.G. impound lot. However, when road conditions or space limitations prohibit the use of the O.P.G. lot, arrangements have been made to secure towed vehicles at 6th Avenue and Kipling (school district’s driver training site) and at Fox Hollow Golf Course’s parking lot. In order to utilize the school district’s lot, the department must receive prior approval from the R-1 school district security office. In addition, advance notice is required in order to get a city snowplow to clear the snow off of the designated areas. Street Maintenance should be contacted for clearing the snow.

d. O.P.G. will use the tow slip they normally use on each vehicle towed. The tow driver will indicate on the tow slip the location where the vehicle is stored and note any damage to the vehicle. A fax or verbal report of each tow slip will be sent to the Jefferson County Communications Center (Jeffcom) (303-539-9433 or 303-539-9432) by O.P.G., for tracking purposes as soon as the emergency allows.

e. Jeffcom will attach a CR# to each faxed or verbally reported tow slip. The towed vehicle will be placed in the impound log by Jeffcom.

f. Jeffcom will keep a log of each towed vehicle given a CR# so that when owners call attempting to locate their vehicle Jeffcom will have the information.

g. Jeffcom will forward the faxed tow slips to Records for archiving.

h. Towed vehicles will be released at the location dropped or the impound lot; owners will not need to acquire a release from Records in this special situation. Vehicles may be released on scene to drivers.

i. An impound report is not required as a part of this procedure.