GENERAL ORDERS LINCOLN POLICE DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: GENERAL OPERATIONS
TITLE: MAJOR INCIDENT NOTIFICATIONS
EFFECTIVE DATE: JUNE 1, 2025
REVISION DATE:
ACCREDITATION: ALABAMA ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE (AACOP)
APPROVAL: CHIEF DARREN E. BRITTON
Embedded Files
MAJOR INCIDENT NOTIFICATIONS
330.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance to members of the Lincoln Police Department in determining when, how and to whom notification of major incidents should be made.
330.2 POLICY
The Lincoln Police Department recognizes that certain incidents should be brought to the attention of supervisors or other specified personnel of this department to facilitate the coordination of activities and ensure that inquiries from the media and the public may be properly addressed.
330.3 CRITERIA FOR NOTIFICATION
Most situations where the media show a strong interest are also of interest to the Chief of Police, the Deputy Chief of Police, and the City. The following list of incident types is provided as a guide for notification and is not intended to be all-inclusive:
Officer-involved shooting, whether on- or off-duty (see the Officer-Involved Shootings and Deaths Policy for special notification)
Homicides, suspicious deaths, or deaths related to law enforcement activity
Crimes of unusual violence or circumstances that may include hostages, barricaded persons, home invasions, armed robbery or sexual assaults
Missing children or missing adults (Ala. Code § 26-19-1)
In-custody deaths
Aircraft, train, boat, or other transportation accidents with major damage and/or injury or death
Traffic accidents with fatalities or severe injuries
Vehicle Pursuits
Death of a prominent City of Lincoln official
Significant injury or death to a member of the Department, whether on- or off-duty
Arrest of a member of the Department or prominent City of Lincoln official
Equipment failures, utility failures, and incidents that may affect staffing or pose a threat to basic police services
Any other incident that has attracted or is likely to attract significant media attention
330.4 WATCH COMMANDER / SUPERVISOR IN CHARGE RESPONSIBILITIES
The Watch Commander or Supervisor in charge is responsible for making the appropriate notifications. The Watch Commander or Supervisor in charge shall make reasonable attempts to obtain as much information on the incident as possible before notification, and shall attempt to make the notifications as soon as practicable.
330.4.1 COMMAND STAFF NOTIFICATION
In the event an incident occurs as identified in the Criteria for Notification section above, the Chief of Police shall be notified along with the Deputy Chief of Police.
330.4.2 INVESTIGATOR NOTIFICATION
If the incident requires that an investigator respond from home, the immediate supervisor of the appropriate detail shall be notified, who will then contact the appropriate on-call investigator.
330.4.3 UNIFORM DIVISION NOTIFICATION
In the event of a major injury or traffic fatality, a Uniform Division supervisor shall be notified, who will then contact the appropriate Traffic Homicide investigator. The Uniform Division supervisor will also notify the Chief of Police, and the appropriate Command Staff..
330.4.4 PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER
After members of the command staff have been notified, the Public Information Officer shall be called if it appears the media may have a significant interest in the incident at the Chief of Police's discretion.
These policies and operating procedures are not designed to cover every possible scenario or situation in society, but rather to define standard operating procedures for members of the Lincoln Police Department. These guidelines are subject to past, present and future judicial review. These guidelines can be amended and or repealed by the Chief of Police as necessary. The policies and procedures herein provided supersede all previous policies and orders.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse