7.1.2lp17 Public Safety: Communications


Adopted: October 2023
Scope: LTC Police Department
Contact: Chief of Police
References: TSCG Policy 7.1.2, Chapter 17

  1. PURPOSE

    In order to provide adequate and professional Police services to Lanier Technical College, it is the policy of the Lanier Technical College Police Department to have in place a procedure to guarantee an effective, and consistent means of communication for our agency and all LTC campuses that it serves. (GLECP 8.1)

  2. PROCEDURE — Internal Communications

    1. Non-emergency calls for service, and calls for immediate Police response can be received on The Campus Police Phone (678) 410-4139, at 2535 Lanier Tech Drive Gainesville, Ga 30507. This line of communication will be monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by the Officer on duty. This line may also receive calls for service on any Lanier Tech campus. Officers receiving calls for service for another campus via the Campus Police phone will dispatch the call to the appropriate campus Officer. (GLECP 8.1) (GLECP 8.3)
    2. Lanier Technical College Police will be first responders to all calls for service on all Lanier technical College campuses where Officers are assigned, during normal hours of operation. Outside Law Enforcement agencies may act as first responding units to calls received, on any Lanier Tech campus, on weekends, after hours of normal operations, and during holiday breaks. In this instance The Lanier Technical College Police Department will respond as back-up. (GLECP 8.1)
    3. The Lanier Technical College Police Department will advertise the Campus Police telephone number for immediate Police response, on The Lanier Technical College website, at new student orientation, and at designated locations in campus buildings on information TV screens. (GLECP 8.1)
  3. PROCEDURE — Internal/Interdepartmental Communications

    The purpose of this policy is to ensure employees understand and utilize the proper methods for sharing information among all personnel to increase efficiency and timeliness of information sharing. (GLECP 8.2)

    1. All Lanier Technical College Police Department employees shall ensure their current contact information is updated and shared with the other employees of the Police Department.
    2. An Officers assignment may be communicated from their immediate supervisor by email, phone, or radio depending on the current necessity. Officers on duty will have the ability of continuous communication with their supervisor, and the geographically appropriate interacting dispatch center, by cell phone and/or radio. (GLECP 8.2) (GLECP 8.3)
      1. Traffic details, large scale events, calls where use of force options may be deployed, or any call for service where single officer response would compromise Officer safety, a minimum of two Officers will respond.
    3. Officers responding to calls for service, assigned to special details, working large scale events, and while conducting regular duty functions will maintain channels of communication with their supervisor. (GLECP 8.2)
    4. Calls for service that require the response of a supervisor include, but are not limited to the following. (GLECP 8.2)
      1. Calls where serious injury or death are reported.
      2. Calls involving reports of assault, rape or sexual battery, armed subjects, active shooter, bomb threat, traffic accidents with significant injury or property damage.
      3. Any call where the presence of a supervisor is requested.
    5. Officers communicating by radio will identify themselves by badge number.
    6. When communicating by radio or phone, Officers may use plain text or 10 codes.
    7. Radio transmissions should be clear and only pertinent information should be conveyed. Information may also be conveyed by cell phone.
  4. PROCEDURE — External Communications
    1. Emergency and non-emergency calls for service may be received at 911 centers within Lanier Technical College's service area. Calls for service received at 911 centers will be communicated to the Lanier Technical College Police Department for Officer response. Assisting Law Enforcement agencies may respond as back up, or primary, depending on the day or time received, nature or location of the call. (GLECP 8.2)
    2. Interacting dispatch centers who may have communication with the Lanier Technical College Police Department include the following.
      1. Hall County Central Communications (Dispatch).
      2. Barrow County Dispatch.
      3. Forsyth County Dispatch.
      4. Jackson County Dispatch.
      5. Lumpkin County Dispatch.
      6. Dawson County Dispatch.
    3. Interacting dispatch centers will maintain a recorded status of an Officer when communication with that dispatch center is initiated. (GLECP 8.4)
    4. Interacting dispatch centers who may have communications with the Lanier Technical College Police Department will:
      1. Retain recorded communication records in compliance with the Georgia Records Retention Act guidelines.
      2. Maintain secure handling and storage of recorded communications.
      3. Have established criteria and procedures in place for review, release, and disposal of recorded communications.
    5. Calls to the Lanier Technical College Police Department, received through interacting dispatch centers that require language translation, will utilize the Language Line Service. (GLECP 8.5)
    6. Officers who may receive calls through interacting dispatch centers, can request the assistance of the Language line Service at any time from dispatch, when the need for language assistance is identified. (GLECP 8.5)