The University of North Carolina at Greensboro Police Department
	General Order 4-1.3	Radio Communications

UNCG Police uses clear speech and the Ten-Signal Code to conduct radio communications between officers and  Communications and with other law enforcement agencies in the general area. Radio transmissions should be as succinct as possible, but never at the expense of officer safety. All incoming radio traffic will be acknowledged. The telecommunicator should make a conscious effort to remain calm while talking on the radio. If the telecommunicator remains calm during stressful situations, it will help to keep the officer calm. Procedures for dispatching and radio etiquette are outlined in the Communications Center Training Manual.

1. Dispatching Units
   
   The dispatching of an officer carries the authority of an order. To facilitate effective dispatching and minimize response time, officers will remain within jurisdictional requirements until directed by Communications, or the on-duty supervisor. A supervisor may modify the dispatching of an officer.
   
   Officers are assigned and can be identified by permanent radio call numbers. The Computer Aided Dispatch System (CAD) will provide Communications with the name and call number of each officer available for assignment.
   
   Communications will call for a specific officer(s) by unit number and expect that the officer(s) acknowledges the transmission. Officers should not acknowledge radio transmissions intended for other officers. An officer who is closer to the location of a call for service than the assigned officer should notify Communications; the call for service may then be reassigned. Officer(s) will notify Communications when enroute, arrival on scene, completion of the call,  and return to service. When advised, the telecommunicator will update the officer's status in CAD.
   
   An officer that is not dispatched to a call for service, but responds to the call, will inform Communications of the response. When an officer is dispatched or responds to back up the primary officer on a call, a CAD entry will be made under the same call number.
   
   Incidents requiring the dispatch of backup officers:
   • Officer(s) calling for assistance
   • Crimes in progress
   • Domestic disturbances
   • Fire and burglar alarms
   • Calls involving a weapon
   • Fights
   • Calls involving large crowds or loud parties
   • Supervisor or telecommunicator determines need for additional officers
   Officers who have knowledge or pertinent information about a pending call for service should transmit the information to the Communications Center so the telecommunicator can dispatch additional officers if necessary. When officers conduct activities that are not dispatched calls for service, they will notify Communications who will update the officer's status in CAD.
   
   Officers responding to calls for service, or supervisors, may direct Communications to dispatch additional officers as determined necessary.


2. Radio Communication Access
   
   Officers will be provided with the means for constant radio communication through use of a portable radio. In addition, each marked police vehicle will be equipped with an in car mobile radio.
   
   
3. Radio Procedures
   
   Officers will report to the Communications Center by radio or self-imitated MDT:
   
   • When beginning and ending their tour of duty
   • Vehicle assignment
   • Upon enroute and arrival at the scene of an incident
   • Upon arrival and completion of off-duty assignments
   • Before leaving their patrol vehicle for other duties
   • When making vehicle stops (must be by radio)
   • When making pedestrian/suspicious person stops
   • When becoming unavailable/out of service
   • When returning to service
   • Police radio Channel 2 should be used by officers for administrative purposes that require lengthy radio traffic. The telecommunicator will direct the unit to go Channel 2 prior to switching.
4. Alert Tones
   
   The UNCG Police Department uses alert tones to advise officers of important communications broadcasts. Telecommunicators shall adhere to the following procedure when using alert tones.
   
   Alert Tones should be used prior to broadcasting emergency calls that pose an immediate risk to life or safety. The following call types require an alert tone activation:
   • Armed Subject
   • Assault (if in progress or just occurred)
   • Chemical Spill
   • Fight (in progress)
   • Fire
   • Gas Leak/Explosion
   • Medical/First Aid (for CPR in progress, not breathing, or report of traumatic injury)
   • Panic Alarm
   • Robbery (in progress or just occurred)
   • Robbery/Hold Up Alarm
   • Shots Fired/Active Shooter/Discharge of Firearm
   • Smoke Reported (if seen coming out of a structure)
   • Rip N' Run Priority 0(P) AND 1
5. Radio Failure
   
   There are several stages of radio failure that can be experienced. The following discusses each stage in order of magnitude.
   
   1. In site trunking, the radios lose wide area coverage but still have local system coverage. When this happens, the field users' radios will beep. The radio will display "Site Trunking," but the radio will sound normal. Field users should make sure their radios are on their primary talk group. Communications personnel would keep the mobile radios on the primary talk group also.
   2. If a major problem occurs with the 800 MHz radio system, it may go into "Failsoft." Failsoft means that similar talk groups automatically default into one of the twenty-eight channels available. When this happens, field units will hear other users that they normally would not. Field users should make sure their radio is on their primary talk group during failsoft. Radios will beep every ten seconds; delays between beeps will be shorter than with site trunking. The display screen on the radio will indicate the talk group selected and will also flash the word "Failsoft." The sound on the radio is different as well. The local channels will work the same as they always have in the past. Depending on the technical problem causing failsoft, the National Channels (NSPAC, i.e. NMAS and NMASTA talk groups) and MCT's should also be operational.
   3. During failsoft, UNCG talk groups (UNCG 1-4) will default to Repeater 24. This repeater will group our talk groups with talk-groups from other state agencies, such as A&T PD, ALE, ABC, NPS, DEA-Greensboro, NC DOT, SBI, NC SHP, and NC DMV-Guilford. Communications personnel would keep the mobile radios on the primary talk group.
   4. When the radio system fails completely, Communications and the field units will turn to UNCGVP1 (main viper talk-group) until further notice.