VICE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT - GENERAL INFORMATION

[Mark Stevens]

VICE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL INFORMATION

[Mark Stevens]

DEPARTMENTAL RANK STRUCTURE:




CHIEF OF POLICE:
The Chief of Police (CoP) is the highest-ranking officer in the Vice City Police Department. The Chief of Police is responsible for the planning, efficient administration and operation of the VCPD. The Chief of Police acts as the chief executive of the police department, with complete control over its functions, operations, structure, and staff. Everything in the department is forwarded to the Chief for review and acceptance.

The VCPD Chief of Police acts on all matters related to disciplinary issues and recommends awards for exemplary conduct of the department's employees. The Chief supervises the respective divisions and sections of the VCPD and is responsible for ensuring they are well-staffed and operational.

The VCPD Chief assumes a leadership role in planning, coordinating and directing all activities of the Vice City Police Department and is overall in charge of the entire department, supervising it and facilitating its effective operation.



DEPUTY CHIEF OF POLICE:
The Deputy Chief of Police is second in charge of the entire department, serving under the Chief of Police. The Deputy Chief reports directly to the Chief, supervises day-to-day operations in the department, and primarily oversees much of the department's administrative affairs. The Deputy Chief takes charge in the absence of the Chief of Police.

As the second-highest-ranking officer in the VCPD, reporting directly to the Chief of Police, the Deputy Chief is primarily responsible for the same oversight, supervision and duties as the Chief of Police, serving as a trusted adviser and fellow leader of the department.

The VCPD Deputy Chief of Police assists the Chief in acting on all matters related to disciplinary issues and awards for exemplary conduct, as well as playing a major role in the effective operation and leadership of the Vice City Police Department.



ASSISTANT CHIEF OF POLICE:
Assistant Chiefs act as leaders of the department, typically assigned to a specific area of the department. Assistant Chiefs might be assigned to oversee the Field Operations Division, Criminal Investigations Division, or the Administration Division. They hold the Majors and Commanders of each unit/detail to account, ensuring the effective operation of their division's respective sub-sectors.

As the third highest-ranking officer in the Vice City Police Department, the Assistant Chief of Police is primarily responsible for the same oversight, supervision and duties as the Chief of Police, serving as a trusted adviser and fellow leader of the department, typically in overseeing a specific division of the department as a right-hand man to the Deputy Chief responsible for that division.

The VCPD Assistant Chief assists the Chief and Deputy Chiefs in acting on all matters related to disciplinary issues and awards for exemplary conduct.

The Assistant Chief also plays a major role in the effective operation and leadership of the Vice City Police Department, assisting with both an overall departmental oversight as well as more specifically tailored duties that correspond to their assignments and specialized skills.



MAJOR:
As the fourth highest-ranking officer in the Vice City Police Department, the Major is primarily responsible for the leadership, oversight, supervision and duties of a specific section of the department (i.e. S.O.S.).

Majors assist the Chief of Police, Deputy Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs in acting on all matters related to disciplinary issues and awards for exemplary conduct as is consistent with the duties of all Upper Command Staff.

Majors also play a significant role in the effective operation and leadership of the VCPD, assisting primarily with specifically tailored leadership duties that correspond to their assignments and specialized skills, typically assigned as commanding officers of a specific sub-section of the department's three main divisions. Majors primarily ensure that their section fulfils its designated functions, usually with the aid of the Commanders serving as assistant commanding officers of the unit.



COMMANDER:
As the fifth highest-ranking officer in the Vice City Police Department and the introductory Upper Command Staff rank, Commanders are primarily responsible for the assistant leadership, oversight, supervision and duties of a specific section of the department (i.e. S.O.S.).

VCPD Commanders assist the Chief of Police, Deputy Chiefs, Assistant Chiefs and Majors in acting on all matters related to disciplinary issues and awards for exemplary conduct as is consistent with the duties of all Upper Command Staff personnel.

The Commander also plays a major role in the effective operation and leadership of the VCPD, assisting primarily with specifically tailored leadership duties that correspond to their assignments and specialized skills, typically as assistant commanding officers of a departmental sub-section. As Assistant COs, Commanders are responsible to their division's Major and may take a divisional leadership role in the absence of the Commanding Officer. They lead day-to-day operations, oversee the Captains and Lieutenants who make up the VCPD Command, and are the first rank within the VCPD's Upper Command Staff. The Commander's role is important, as they work closest with the officers in the field and coordinate operations.

Commanders+ are VCPD Upper Command.


CAPTAIN:
Captains are responsible for field leadership, divisional command, administrative duties and representing the Vice City Police Department to the public. Captains usually take on assisting leadership roles, such as leadership/command of a specific detail, aiding Commanders and Majors with the operation and supervision of the department. Captains are also issued with the responsibility of assigning and supervising Police Lieutenants in the field, as well as with divisional and administrative duties.


LIEUTENANT:
The Lieutenant rank is the introductory command staff rank, also considered a senior supervisory figure in the field. These officers have proven capable of leading regular operations, and have demonstrated a superb attitude towards policing. They assist officers in need, help train members, and are typically leaders of all patrol functions in the field.

Lieutenants may be commissioned as second in command to a Captain or as commanding officer over a specific detail.

Lieutenants+ are VCPD Command Staff.


SERGEANT:
The Sergeant is the entry rank to the Police Supervisors, otherwise known as the Lower Command. Sergeants are trained in supervisory duties, such as organising fellow officers during the day, as well as handling disciplinary action should the need arise. Sergeants are often tasked with handling minor duty infringements and must report those to their superiors. Sergeants have shown interest in furthering their careers in the department. As such, they are often tasked with leadership tasks on the field such as assuming the lead role in delegation of responsibilities during situations, organising patrols, enforcing call sign usage, and are sometimes assigned as team leaders within a specific detail. As such, they may assist with assignments to the units they supervise.

Sergeants are typically responsible for leading units in the field. In this capacity, Sergeants prepare unit deployments and area patrols; prepare and present roll call training; inspect personnel and equipment for conformity to Department standards; supervise desk and patrol officers on foot or in vehicles; review and approve various types of reports; prepare and investigates personnel complaints; respond to crime scenes at the request of police officers; handle radio calls and dispatch personnel; keep other supervisors informed of issues of concern to them; train and supervise probationary officers; and other related functions.

Sergeants are Supervisory Personnel.

DETECTIVE:
Detectives are a specialized rank in the Vice City Police. Having passed the Detective Training Program, some of the specialized duties performed by a Detective include conducting narcotics investigations, performing surveillance, establishing and maintaining contacts with informants; investigating gang-related crimes; responding to and investigating scenes of crimes such as homicide, theft, robbery, auto theft, illegal sex-related activities and juvenile crimes. Detectives are typically allocated to a specific detail, such as Homicide, Narcotics or Vice, however, are trained and competent in dealing with a variety of cases and may operate across details.

Detectives are allocated to a specialized detail/unit.


CORPORAL:
Corporals are officers who have proven themselves to be trusted with a senior field position. They are often assigned to a specialized detail and are accustomed to both detail and field duties. Corporals can handle situations as well as take charge of Officers in most situations appropriately. With this comes the responsibility of having a wealth of knowledge leading from the front, serving as training officers, training Probationary Officers, teaching them the basics and setting an example for their subordinates in the field.

Considered trained professionals, Corporals are veteran members of the department, having enhanced their skills during their tenure on the force, competently able to train officers with the information and experience they have gained during their career in the department.


OFFICER:
The Officer rank is the first non-probationary rank in the Vice City Police Department, tasked with regular patrol duties, and eligible to apply to a specialized detail such as S.W.A.T., C.N.T., T.R.U. or otherwise apply to undertake other additional specialized duties. Officers make up the backbone of the department and are responsible for primary police duties.


OFFICER - PROBATIONARY:
An Officer - Probationary automatically advances to Officer upon successful completion of his/her probationary period. A Probationary Officer is still learning the regulations of the department, supervised by an Academy Instructor or Corporal in the field, responsible for training them to handle situations adequately. Probationary Officers are responsible for the same duties as full-fledged personnel, however, they do so under supervision while they remain on probation.

[Mark Stevens]

RADIO COMMUNICATIONS

Radio codes:

Code 1 - Answer the radio. Units addressed with a Code 1 must immediately identify themselves and reply to the request.

For example: Supervisor: "ROBERT-2 to 5-ADAM-10, code 1." Unit: "5-ADAM-10, copy."

Code 2 - A non-emergency response to a certain situation, without the use of lights and sirens.

Code 2 HIGH - Priority response, without the use of lights or sirens. Officers responding to a Code 2 High may exceed the speed limit, however, to a reasonable extent. In certain situations, a Code 2 High may be responded to with lights only.

Code 3 - An emergency response to a certain situation, with the use of speed, lights and sirens.

Code 4 - No further assistance is required, return to patrol.

Code 4 ADAM - No further units needed to respond, suspect not in custody, units already en route to the scene position or patrol in strategic areas near the scene.

Code 5 - Stakeout, marked police cars must avoid the location.

Code 6 - Unit has arrived at location, officers investigating.

Code 6 ADAM - Unit has arrived, may need further assistance from nearby units.

Code 6 CHARLES - Dangerous suspect (usually felony want or warrant reported); units stand by for assistance.

Code 8: Fire reported in an area of high fire hazard or threat to firefighting personnel.

Code 8 ADAM - Units requested to the scene of the fire for traffic and crowd control.

Code 10 - Bomb threat situation. If uncertain, a "possible code 10" should be transmitted instead.

Code 14 - Resuming regular activity.

Code 30 - Officer in danger, all units must immediately stop what they are doing and respond to the location of the said incident.

Code 33 - Keep radio clear for emergency traffic only.

Code 37 - Vehicle is reported stolen.

Code 100 - In position to intercept.

Code Purple - Serious gang activity. Only a Corporal or above can use this code. If not sure, a "possible code purple" should be transmitted instead.


Ten/Hundred Codes:
10-0: Caution
10-3: Stop transmitting
10-4: Affirmative (OK)
10-6: Busy - Unless Urgent
10-7: Out of Service
10-8: In Service
10-15: Suspect in custody
10-16: Pickup Suspect
10-19: Return(ing) to station
10-20: Report your location
10-22: Disregard
10-23: Standby
10-25: Report in person to [...]
10-31: Crime in Progress
10-33: Roll Call [STATION] (Respond to the station being called, fully armed in the briefing room. SERGEANT+)
10-38: Stopping suspicious Vehicle
10-50: Traffic Accident
10-53: Officer down
10-66: Suspicious person
10-67: Call for help (911 call)
10-76: En-route to location (on the way)
10-80: Active pursuit
ETA: Estimated time of arrival
10-97: Arrived at scene

Hundred Codes:
148: False 911 call
187: Homicide
207: Kidnapping [Report as a "possible 207" if uncertain.]
211: Robbery [Report as a "possible 211" if uncertain.]
240: Assault
415: Causing a disturbance
417: Person with a gun
480: Hit and Run
487: Grand Theft Auto
502: Drunk Driving
505: Reckless Driving
510: Speeding or Racing Vehicles


Ethnicity Codes:

IC1 - Caucasian.
IC2 - Black.
IC3 - Hispanic.
IC4 - Middle Eastern, Arabic.
IC5 - Asian.
IC6 - Unknown ethnicity.

Radio Terminology:

Officer needs Help - All units immediately respond to the given location, code 3.
Officer Down - Officer injured, needs immediate medical assistance.
Clear - Available for calls from said location.
Standby - Wait for a second transmission to clarify.
Disregard - Don't take the last transmission into account.
Go ahead - Proceed with your transmission.
Come in - Respond to this transmission.


Callsigns:

An active duty unit is identified by a callsign in order to make its responsibilities clear and to increase field and situational awareness.

A callsign is composed of the unit name (ID) followed by the callsign for regular uniformed patrols that includes. Where there are two units (such as with an ADAM unit), you should use (Driver ID)-CALLSIGN-(Passenger ID). This does not apply to specialized callsigns, for instance, DAVID and CHARLES are also used without any additional IDs as per their respective regulations. Other specialized units are assigned callsigns as they're deployed, such as the deployment of an SPS HSU unit. If there are no other HOTEL units, the deployed unit is designated as HOTEL-1, and if one is already deployed, you use the next number (i.e. HOTEL-2 and so on).

When reporting for duty, units should advise as follows: "[RANK] [NAME] #[BADGE NUMBER] Start of Watch from [LOCATION]"

When going off duty, units should advise as follows: "[RANK] [NAME] #[BADGE NUMBER] End of Watch from [LOCATION]"

Carsigns can be shortened down, for example, 9-ADAM-15 can be shortened to "9-A-15". However, callsigns should be written in full.


CALLSIGNS:
The Vice City Police Department uses the following callsigns:

STAFF: Staff Officers - Responsible for the supervision and leadership of the entire Vice City Police Department, its Bureaus and personnel.

STAFF-1: Chief of Police
STAFF-2: Deputy Chief of Police
STAFF-3: Assistant Chief of Police
STAFF-4: Major
STAFF-5: Commander

COMMAND (or CMD for partnered units): Command Officers - Typically responsible for supervision and scene management, however, it may exceed that based on the unit's discretion.

COMMAND-1: Captain
COMMAND-2: Lieutenant

ROBERT: Sergeants - Responsible for field supervision, handling supervisor requests and managing field staff.

WILLIAM: Detectives - Responsible for the conducting of tasks pertaining to the Detective Bureau. Only detectives may operate under this callsign.

[Driver ID]-WILLIAM-[Passenger ID] OR WILLIAM-[ID]: Police Detectives


[Driver ID]-ADAM-[Passenger ID]: - Regular unit consisting of 2 officers or more - Responsible for responding to emergencies and non-urgent call-outs, handling 911 calls, and general police duties. Any police officer can operate under this callsign. Usually a partnered (two officer patrol) unit.
 

LINCOLN-[ID]: - Regular unit consisting of 1 officer - Responsible for responding to emergencies and non-urgent call-outs, handling 911 calls, and general police duties. Any police officer can operate under this callsign. Solo (single officer patrol) unit.


MARY-[ID]: - Motorcycle unit - Responsible for responding to emergencies and non-urgent call-outs, handling 911 calls, and general police duties. Any police officer can operate under this callsign. The MARY callsign signifies use of a police motorbike by that unit.


X-RAY-[ID]: - Air unit - Responsible for aiding ground units during pursuits, searches for suspects, surveillance and other airborne assistance. Any police officer can operate under this callsign. The X-RAY callsign signifies the use of a police maverick by that unit.


SPECIALIZED DUTY CALLSIGNS:

DELTA: Special Operations Section - S.W.A.T. Detail - Responsible for the conducting of tasks pertaining to the VCPD's Special Weapons and Tactics detail. A select variety of vehicles can be used when performing DELTA duties. Only S.O.S. S.W.A.T. detail personnel can operate under this callsign.


NOVEMBER: Special Operations Section - Crisis Negotiation Team Detail - Responsible for the conducting of tasks pertaining to the Crisis Negotiation Team. A select variety of vehicles can be used when performing CHARLIE duty. Only S.O.S. C.N.T. personnel can operate under this callsign.


CHARLIE: Special Operations Section - Responsible for the conducting of tasks generally pertaining to the Special Operations Section. A select variety of vehicles can be used when performing CHARLIE duty. Only S.O.S. personnel can operate under this callsign.


BRAVO: Special Operations Section - Bomb Squad Detail - Responsible for the conducting of tasks pertaining to the Bomb Squad. A select variety of vehicles can be used when performing BRAVO duty. Only S.O.S. Bomb Squad personnel can operate under this callsign.


SIERRA: Special Investigations Section - Used by SIS Detectives or other personnel on special operations and undercover duties pertaining to the Special Investigations Section. Only SIS personnel may operate under this callsign.


INDIA: SIS Intelligence and Terrorism Unit - Used by Intelligence personnel on special operations and undercover duties pertaining to the Intelligence and Terrorism Unit. Only Intelligence personnel may operate under this callsign.


VICTOR: Vice - Used by Vice personnel on special operations and undercover duties pertaining to the Vice detail. Only Vice personnel may operate under this callsign.


UNION: Internal Affairs - Callsign used by Internal Affairs personnel conducting an investigation.


KILO: K-9 - Callsign used by K-9 personnel.


HOTEL: High Speed Unit. Responsible for efficient response to pursuits involving fast vehicles. HOTEL restrictions exist. HOTEL units may only be deployed for as long as their use is necessary to apprehend a fugitive. Any non-urgent or otherwise use of a HOTEL unit where a fugitive is not evading law enforcement in a high-powered vehicle may only be deployed with the permission of a Sergeant or above. This permission is cancelled once the authorizing member goes off duty. HOTEL patrols can only be authorized by a Sergeant or above.


OCEAN: Marine Unit. Responsible for seaborne pursuits and patrols. Use of armed seaborne vehicles is subject to restrictions.

[Mark Stevens]

THE SCALE OF FORCE:

The Scale of Force is a scale regulating where and when different levels of force are used. Without a scale of force, excessive force usage can become a serious problem. To prevent such, force is regulated, in order for the appropriate amount of force to be used where and when appropriate.

The Scale of Force:

Level 1 - Officer Presence
When a marked officer is present, it's often enough to stop a crime in progress or prevent most situations from escalating. Without saying a word, the mere presence of marked personnel can deter crime through mere presence. At this level, officers should act non-threatening and professional. This "zero" level of force is always the best way to resolve any situation if possible.

Level 2 - Verbal Command
Using verbal commands is another way to prevent a situation. If you see something suspicious or a potential threat, such as someone harassing a lady, walking up and asking "Do we have a problem here?", "Move aside, leave this woman alone.", or the likes can draw people away. Raising your voice, being assertive and standing your ground as a policeman can help to prevent situations escalating.

Level 3 - Empty Hand Techniques
There are two types of empty hand techniques. Soft hand, and hard hand. Soft handed techniques are used when physical intervention is required while minimal force is required. Soft Hand Techniques are guiding, holding, and restraining -- applying pressure points, and takedown techniques that have a minimal chance of injury.

Hard hand techniques involve larger amounts of force, such as punches, kicks and blocking tactics. Hard Hand Techniques are used when a person is getting physical and is failing to comply with police directions. This also applies when a fight is breaking out and security are required to intervene against two aggressive people.

Level 4 - Non-Lethal Force
Non-Lethal Force is used when higher levels of force are required while not escalating to a lethal scale. This involves the usage of pepper spray, aluminum batons, and tasers. Pepper spray is really only effective against those who are sober and are not intoxicated or on narcotics. Batons are useful in most cases where extra force is needed.

However, tasers are the most effective. Tasers discharge a high voltage spark (50,000 volts) at very low amperage. A taser fires two small darts, connected to wires, which drops a suspect at a non-contact distance. These devices are easy to carry,  are lightweight and affordable and no extensive training is required. Tasers may be more effective on persons under the influence of drugs that may not respond to chemical irritants. However, a taser should be avoided unless necessary, as they're not a go-to solution whenever force is required. Improper use is considered assault and criminal charges can be pressed.

Level 5 - Lethal Force
Lethal force is used when there is a threat to your own or a civilian's life. Lethal force includes the usage of firearms, which may kill a person. Lethal force is an absolute last resort and any improper use can result in homicide charges.