Seattle Police Manual

15.140 – Narcotics Activity Report

Effective Date: 1/13/2009

I. Narcotics Activity Reports (NAR)

A. Reports of narcotics activity are to be documented as a Street Check with a type “NAR”.

1. The Street Check/NAR shall include a NAR text template for documenting information that cannot be captured in the system form data fields.

2. The Street Check/NAR will proceed through the normal MRE approval process by a sergeant.

3. During transcription, the Data Center will route the Street Check/NAR to the SSCNAR handle for the Narcotics Unit to review.

II. Narcotics Lieutenant

A. Responsibilities-

1. Review all incoming Street Check/NAR’s in the SSCNAR handle.

2. Forward all Street Check/NAR’s that should be handled at the precinct level by RE-ROUTING Street Check/NAR’s to the appropriate precinct handle.

a. Once a Street Check/NAR is forwarded to a precinct, it will only be returned to the Narcotics Unit if the precinct determines that a Narcotics Detective should do the follow up.

3. If Narcotics is handling the Street Check/NAR, the Lieutenant will forward it to the Sergeant’s queue for their squad’s follow-up.

III. Narcotics Proactive Squad (Sergeant & Detective)

A. Responsibilities-

1. The Sergeant will review all assigned Street Check/NAR’s in their personal queue.

2. The Sergeant will RE-ROUTE the Street Check/NAR’s to a Detective’s queue for follow-up.

3. The assigned Detective will complete the Street Check/NAR follow-up VMAIL template and returns it via VMAIL to the Sergeant for review.

4. The Sergeant will then forward the Street Check/NAR follow-up VMAIL template to the ASA via VMAIL to be attached to the original Street Check/NAR.

IV. Anti-Crime Team (Sergeant & ASA)

A. Responsibilities-

1. Review all Street Check/NAR’s in your handle.

2. Determine if it is a duplicate or problem address or person.

3. Determine what kind of follow-up is necessary.

a. If a Street Check/NAR rises to the level of requiring a GO report:

(1) Note this fact on a VMAIL follow-up template listing the GO report number.

(2) Forward the VMAIL (back) to the original Street Check/NAR handle selected by the precinct for attachment to the original Street Check/NAR.

b. If no follow-up is necessary or there is not enough information to act on the Street Check/NAR:

(1) The sergeant shall document justification for not doing follow-up on a VMAIL follow-up template and forward it to the original Street Check/NAR handle selected by the precinct for attachment to original Street Check/NAR.

(2) If the premise is part of an on-going ACT or CPT investigation, note this on the VMAIL follow up template.

4. If follow-up is required, ROUTE the Street Check/NAR to the appropriate queue for assignment.

5. Upon completion of follow-up, the VMAIL follow-up template will be forwarded (back) to the original NAR handle selected by the precinct for attachment to the original Street Check/NAR.

6. The Anti-Crime Team Sergeant or the ASA will monitor VMAIL for that handle and will attach the VMAIL follow-up template to the associated Street Check/NAR.

V. Patrol Sergeant

A. Responsibilities-

1. Assign Street Check/NAR’s to patrol officers for follow-up by RE-ROUTING to a personal queue.

a. Some precincts may assign NAR’s to ACT or CPT officers.

2. Ensure completion of the follow-up within five days.

3. The Sergeant will then forward the Street Check/NAR follow-up VMAIL template to the selected precinct handle via VMAIL to be attached to original Street Check/NAR.

VI. Patrol Officer

A. Responsibilities-

1. Talk to the complainant, if the name and phone number are given.

2. Identify the exact address of premise.

a. Frequently citizens will report NAR locations without knowing the correct address, for example: Brown house one door north of 910 – 25 Avenue.

b. Exact and correct addresses are extremely important to any future narcotics enforcement, patrol officers have the responsibility to record accurate addresses on the NAR.

3. Conduct a “Knock and Talk” on the reported location.

a. Attempt additional contacts if no one is home on the first visit.

b. Visually check the layout of the premise.

4. Always keep officer safety considerations a priority when dealing with residences and/or suspects associated with a NAR.

5. Patrol the area where the premise is located for at least fifteen minutes.

a. Monitor activity and demonstrate to the neighborhood that the police are aware of the problem address. This may require returning to area several times.

6. Document all activities.

a. Date and time of contacts.

(1) Complainant.

(2) Knock and Talk.

b. Officer observations.

7. Complete the Street Check/NAR VMAIL follow-up template and return it via VMAIL within five days to the Sergeant for approval.