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Manual of Policy and Procedures / Volume 5 - Line Procedures / Chapter 9 - Miscellaneous Line Procedures

5-09/200.40 - Code 3 Responses to Critical Incidents


5-09/200.35 - Code 3 Vehicle Operation and Tactics
5-09/205.00 - Code 9 and Pre-Stop Coordination

Following a Code 3 response to a critical incident, it shall be the responsibility of the watch commander to ensure the Code 3 response is fully debriefed.  This debriefing will be conducted to assess the performance and tactics utilized, along with strategies which may be improved in future Code 3 responses.  This debriefing shall be documented in the Watch Commander’s Log. 

 

For purposes of this section, a critical incident may be, but is not limited to:

 

  • Deputy-involved shootings;
  • Any application of deadly force;
  • Deputy-involved traffic collisions;
  • An incident requiring multiple deputies to respond; or
  • Any other major incident identified by a supervisor.
     
    Note:    A one or two unit response to an emergent call for service does not generally fall under the definition of a critical incident.

Supervisors should consider the following topics when debriefing a Code 3 response to a critical incident:

 

  • Discussion about the nature of the request and the coordination of the responding units;
  • Appropriate unit response relative to the nature of the request;
  • Who was authorized to respond and their travel distance;
  • Driving habits, including the proper clearing of intersections lane by lane, tunnel vision, location awareness, distracted driving/MDC use, appropriate speeds, etc;
  • The use of emergency lights and siren;
  • Additional factors considered during a Code 3 response, such as weather/traffic conditions, driver’s experience and vehicle capabilities;
  • Positioning of vehicles upon arrival to allow access for additional emergency vehicle traffic;
  • The timely canceling of Code 3 responses after sufficient deputies have arrived and secured the scene; and
  • Any Code 3 response-related actions the field supervisor feels the need to debrief.

The positive and negative aspects of the critical incident should be debriefed in a constructive manner with all personnel involved.  This may also include desk personnel.  All aspects, from responding to the critical incident to the outcome of the critical incident, should be included in the debrief.