Cell Phones

[0311Marine]

Whats the rule on cell phones in your Department, Im considering getting one (thats right im way behind the times and I dont have one) , but im not sure what the Police Department says about them.

[spitfire]

What do you mean, rules? It's YOUR cell phone.

As an officer, it comes in handy when I get paged by my sgt. or someone else from the department and I don't know of any department that has rules governing an officer's use of their personal cell phone...my certainly doesn't.

It's not like working at Blockbuster, where you would probably get griped at for being on a cell phone while working. The department can and does micro manage to some extent, but not to THAT extent.

[spitfire]

Cant edit:

But with that said, obviously you want to pay attention to the radio while on the phone, if a citizen approaches you while you're on a personal call then you hang up, etc.. Your use of your personal cell phone should never interfere with your duties...but that's common sense stuff.

[mr_chuck]

cell phones are great for when you have a low priority call and the air is very busy. I never carried one during training until my FTO insisted. I use it for dept. business all of the time and write all of those minutes off on my taxes.

[mcsap]

As long as the cell does not become an "impedance" to your duties, it is not a problem.

We all carry departmentally issued Nextels

[Darin]

Our Chief doesn't like seeing officers with a cell phone stuck to their ear. I carry one and keep it in my duty bag. I have a hands free ear piece when I use it.

[207]

I carry one all the time. They come in handy when the radio doesn't work. My cell phone is the only contact number the PD has for me that way I don't have the house phone ringing at odd hours waking everyone up. PLUS, when I want the weekend off I just shut it off.
And as noted in another post as business equipment I write it off on the taxes.
I you do get one ask if there is a discount for LEO's. I have Verizon and they have a 15% (if I recall correctly) discount on the plans.

[0311Marine]

What do you mean, rules? It's YOUR cell phone.

As an officer, it comes in handy when I get paged by my sgt. or someone else from the department and I don't know of any department that has rules governing an officer's use of their personal cell phone...my certainly doesn't.

It's not like working at Blockbuster, where you would probably get griped at for being on a cell phone while working. The department can and does micro manage to some extent, but not to THAT extent.

Youll have to forgive me with these types of questions, Ive still got a very Military mindset, and we were not allowed to take cell phones to the field with us most of the time , I wasnt sure if there were any rules governing a police officer and the use of a cell phone.

[Wombat311]

Officially: My dept. doesn't want us to have them with us when working.

Unofficially: They want you to have one with you because it's another form of communication.

I take mine and keep it in a zip up pocket. I use it when the air is busy and I need something or if I'm doing a foot patrol in a shopping mall, I phone through my mobiel number to the dispatcher because radio comms are disgraceful. If I want to ask the guys in the office what they want for lunch.dinner, then it's a quick phone call rather than trying to get the dispatcher to swap them onto another available channel. If you forget to ruen your radio on, and they can't raise you on the air, one of the first things a supervisor will do is ask someone to call your mobile.

[fetom]

As per wombat's post. Our comms are dodgy in some areas that get cell reception. Both systems are maintained by the same telco, go figure. We need a cell phone at fatal and serious crashes to be able to converse with our major collission investigators in the big smoke to help them work out if they are going to roll out. There are too many questions they ask to do itover the air and relayed via our comms centre creates too many chinese whipsers mis communications.

[Deputy Joe]

The city of DePere (near Green Bay) is considering a ban on cellphones for their employees. The exception is if they are on their break. I bet that is a great policy for morale.

In Milwaukee ( a buddy of mine works there) they can't have them when they are working. All the guys have them. When a rookie is working, they call his cell when he is talking on the radio.

My dept doesn't seem to care. They would care if it distracted from our duties. For me it helps keep me awake at night.

[Oldbillplod]

There are no rules in my force, I have mine on vibrate only at work, so if im busy then it doesn't cause annoyance to others.

[Group9]

I have one issued to me. I guess if the brass didn't want it stuck to my head, they wouldn't call it so much. :D

[JD45]

My dept allows them but we have a neighboring agency that prohibits carrying them on duty.

[DeltaV]

They have a place, but some officers aren't smart with them. I've seen officers who are supposed to be cover/backup officers talking to their significant others on cell phones in the middle of a call. I've heard cell phones carried on duty belts ring at inopportune times when being quiet should be the priority.

On the other hand, cell phones can be invaluable. There are times when it's quicker to call a neighboring agency or other state department than to have dispatch handle the request. There are also dead spots in my city where our radios won't work. If need be, we can always call dispatch on the cell phone. Additionally, there will be times you'll use your cell phone to call other officers, victims, witnesses, and complainants. Having the phone makes it easier to do your job.

Unlike lots of people, I refuse to carry my cell phone on my duty belt. I don't want to be distracted by the thing going off when I should be focusing on something else. It stays in the car.