7-105 - Command Staff Notification Protocol

The purpose of this policy is to ensure the Chief and other command staff are notified of events that may need their attention.

Whenever a significant event happens, the MPD requestor shall request that MECC make notifications to the Chief and command staff.

Requesting the notification

1. The MPD requestor shall be the Initial On-Scene Supervisor (IOS), their designee, or the Watch Commander.

2. The request shall be made as quickly as possible once the scene is secured and life-saving measures have been rendered.
3. The requestor shall request that MECC send a PDVIP page to the above-listed personnel. Notifications by MECC will be made by e-text on the Department-issued cellphones.

Significant events

Significant events/incidents include, but are not limited to:

• Critical incidents (as defined by P&P 7-810).
• Homicides.
• In-custody deaths.
• MPD personnel with serious injuries or hospitalization.
• Natural or manmade disasters.
• Acts of terrorism.
• Any other event that should be brought to the Chief's and command staff's immediate attention.

Personnel to be notified

The following personnel shall be notified of such events:

• Executive Committee (Chief, Assistant Chief, Deputy Chiefs, Chief of Staff).
• Appropriate Inspector(s).
• Watch Commander.
• VCID Commander.
• Lieutenant of Homicide.
• Department City Attorney.
• Department Public Information Officer.
• Internal Affairs Commander.

Notification content

The requestor shall provide the following content for the notification:

• Date, time and location of the incident.
• A brief assessment of the event.
• A listing of other units or commanders contacted for assistance.
• Requests for other resources as deemed necessary.
• Name of contact person and their phone number.

Response after notification

The notifications will be made to a large number of command staff personnel but only those associated with the event need to respond.

1. The contact person should not be called or asked for incident-specific information except by those required to respond to the incident.

2. The requestor should expect a call back from the Chief, Deputy Chief of Patrol and the affected Inspector.

Memo from requestor

The requestor shall also submit a memo to the Chief and command staff detailing the incident.

1. Information to be included is:

• The on-scene supervisor's name and assignment.
• A logical narrative of the sequence of events (date, time, and place).
• Details of the initial call: member’s response, resources deployed, other command or unit assistance, members or other people injured or killed, known hazards, extensive property damage, and any other significant facts that would best describe the incident.
• The time MECC was notified (e.g., 14:00).

2. The requestor shall submit the memo via email to the appropriate members of the command staff.
3. The memo shall be submitted as soon as possible or by the end of the work shift.

Other notification protocols

This policy is in addition to and does not supersede other applicable notification protocols such as Explosives, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Phase I, II or III Alert notification protocols (P&P 7-900 Large-Scale Emergency Response Procedures).

This policy does not alter any requirements in other policies to notify Internal Affairs (P&P 2-101) or other entities such as the Watch Commander (P&P 7-202), etc. The below requirements apply only to direct notifications to the Chief.

The notification to the Chief shall be made the highest ranking on-scene supervisor.

Notification by phone

The Chief shall be immediately notified directly by phone call in the following situations:

• Arrest of an MPD member anywhere.
• A member is alleged to have committed serious misconduct.
• A member is alleged to have committed criminal conduct, including but not limited to, domestic abuse or threats.
• A member is cited or arrested for DUI or DWI.
• Death, great bodily injury, or life-threatening emergency of an MPD member.
• Serious injuries to an on-duty MPD member.
• Injuries or illness to an on-duty MPD member resulting in transportation by ambulance or hospitalization.
• A member is a victim or presumed victim of a violent crime anytime when on or off duty.
• Any threats or threatening social media posts are directed against an MPD member.
• Use of deadly force.
• Use of force resulting in great bodily injury.
• Any crimes occurring at religious venues, including threats.
• Hostage or barricaded persons.
• High-profile shooting incidents (e.g., active shooter, mass shooting, shooting of a child, etc.).
• Violent crime pattern (e.g., multiple shootings or robberies close in time or by the same suspects).
• Significant protests.
• Any incident involving an elected or high-profile public official.
• Pursuit-related injuries.

Written notification

The Chief shall be immediately notified directly by written notification (text or email) in the following situations:

• Homicides.
• Shootings.
• Stabbings.
• Bias crimes.
• Crash involving an MPD vehicle.
• Prisoner escape.
• Potential threats to public safety (e.g. bomb threat, etc.).
• Major incidents on school grounds.
• Major fires.
• Any other newsworthy events/media presence at scenes.

• Confidential Informant:

  A person who cooperates with a law enforcement agency confidentially in order to protect the person or the MPD’s intelligence gathering or investigative efforts, and:

  1. Seeks to:
     1. Avoid arrest or prosecution for a crime; or
     2. Mitigate punishment for a crime in which a sentence will be or has been imposed; or
     3. Receive a monetary or other benefit;
  2. Is able, by reason of the person’s familiarity or close association with suspected criminals, to:
     1. Make a controlled buy or controlled sale of contraband, controlled substance, or other items that are material to a criminal investigation;
     2. Supply regular or constant information about suspected or actual criminal activities to a law enforcement agency;
     3. Otherwise provide information important to ongoing criminal intelligence gathering or criminal investigative efforts.
• Critical Incident:

  An incident involving any of the following situations occurring in the line of duty:

  • The use of Deadly Force by or against a Minneapolis Police Officer
  • Death or Great Bodily Harm to an officer
  • Death or Great Bodily Harm to a person who is in the custody or control of an officer
  • Any action by an officer that causes or is intended to cause Death or Great Bodily Harm
• Deadly Force: "Force which the actor uses with the purpose of causing, or which the actor should reasonably know creates a substantial risk of causing death or great bodily harm. The intentional discharge of a firearm other than a firearm loaded with less-lethal munitions and used by a peace officer within the scope of official duties, in the direction of another person, or at a vehicle in which another person is believed to be, constitutes deadly force." (MN Statute section 609.066)
• Domestic Abuse: Physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or the infliction of fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury or assault, terroristic threats, criminal sexual conduct, or interference with an emergency call, when committed between family or household members.
• MECC: Minneapolis Emergency Communications Center is the city's 911 center that answers emergency and non-emergency calls and coordinates the appropriate response by public safety services.
• Public Information Officer: Disseminates information to the public and media.
• Social Media: An internet site or application where users create and share content and participate in online communities and conversations, in the form of a page, profile, account, group or other presence. These include, but are not limited to, blogs, forums, chat sites, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Nextdoor, LinkedIn, Reddit, and YouTube.
• Use of Force:

  An intentional contact, directly or indirectly (such as through a weapon or force device), with someone’s body, that causes pain or injury or restricts, controls or directs someone’s movement. Intentionally placing someone in fear of such contact or threatening such contact can also constitute force. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • The use of any weapon, substance, vehicle, equipment, tool, device or animal that inflicts pain or produces injury.
  • Any physical strike to any part of the body.
  • Any physical contact or threat of contact by the member or a weapon that causes or threatens to cause pain or injury.
  • Any physical contact or threat of physical contact by the member that results in physical restriction or manipulation of movement.
  • Unholstering or displaying a weapon when engaged with a subject or subjects, or pointing a weapon at a person.
• Weapons of Mass Destruction: Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) are any destructive items/devices that incorporate explosives, toxic chemicals, biological materials, radiological materials, or nuclear materials, and are designed to inflict mass casualties and destruction of human life and/or property.