Nampa Citizens,

Due to an overwhelming amount of ever-increasing calls for service over the past few years, we have implemented a response plan in order to give our patrol officers some time to do “proactive police work.” This plan will give your officers some time to go out and find crime, rather than wait for you to be a victim of crime. While crime reporting is necessary and we expect to have crimes reported to us, we are often several steps behind the criminals when some crimes are reported days after they happen or no evidence is left at the scene to catch a criminal. This plan will not prevent all crime in the City of Nampa, however we are expecting it to give your officers some extra proactive time and our community some enhanced services.

Changes to what Nampa Patrol Officers responded to are as follows:

Response Plan Revised

July 15, 2020

This response plan is a guide to help identify what calls we should and should not be responding to. It is not intended to override common sense, nor is it intended to be a complete guide to every type of call we should and should not be addressing. We will "err on the side of service" when there is doubt about the direction a call should go.

Beyond Control Juveniles:

There will be no response by patrol if a crime has not occurred or disturbance/potential crime is not occurring. If appropriate, contact the child’s School Resource Officer for follow-up assistance during business hours.

Code Enforcement: (weeds, water, construction noise, etc.)

No response by patrol unless it is an immediate hazard. All others refer to Code Enforcement or the appropriate entity.

Reckless Driving:

Attempt to locate broadcast. If there is a suspect, the reporting party can file an on-line report for follow-up.

If it is in progress an officer will be dispatched and attempt to intercept. In progress is defined as “on-going” where the suspect is still in sight or where the nature of the violation requires a response.

Civil Standby:

The Shift Commander will make contact on all Civil Standbys to define police response.

Civil Problem:

The Shift Supervisor will make contact only when Dispatch is unable to direct the caller to appropriate/available resources.

Extra Patrol:

Extra Patrols will only be assigned when they are meaningful. Generally, these will be person crimes related (Stalking, specific threats, witness intimidation, etc.)

Vacation Watches:

Will go to Nampa PD Volunteers, but may be observed by patrol as well.

Auto burglary or Thefts from a vehicle (not in progress):

If there is not a viable suspect, no evidence and the crime is not in progress, calls will be routed to on-line reporting. Otherwise, they will be handled by a CSO. Patrol will handle if a CSO is unavailable. If the vehicle has been disturbed or moved by the reporting party, they will be referred to online reporting.

VIN inspections:

VIN inspections will only be done for tow companies, commercial businesses, and immobile vehicles. Callers will be referred to the Abandoned Vehicle and VIN service phone number (208-468-7916). This is the volunteer line, and a volunteer will schedule the inspection at a later date and time. Callers are notified of a 48-hour callback time on the voice-mail message if no one is available to take the call.

Abandoned Vehicles:

If the vehicle is not causing a traffic hazard, abandoned vehicle calls will be referred to the Abandoned Vehicle and VIN service line (208-468-7916). This is the volunteer line and volunteers will tag and tow abandoned cars during normal business hours. Callers are notified of a 48-hour callback time on the voicemail message.

Crashes:

Any vehicle crash, including hit and run crashes, will be dispatched when there are reports of injuries, lane blockage, suspicion of a crime, or when damage to one or more of the vehicles involved exceeds $1500.00 and has occurred on any public street.

Private property crashes will be referred to on-line reporting unless there are reports of injuries or suspicion of a crime. Hit and run crashes that do not meet the above criteria and there is no evidence for follow-up, whether on private property or city streets, will be referred to on-line reporting.

Lost Property:

Patrol will not respond to a report of lost property. If the RP needs a report for insurance, they will be directed to an online report.

Found Property:

Will be handled by CSO’s when available. All firearms will require an officer's response.

Identity Theft:

Referred to online report and NPD web site to download the ID theft packet.

When Citizens demand a response:

Assign to a supervisor.

Guidelines for online and mail-in reporting

These guidelines apply only if: there is no suspect, no evidence and the crime is not in progress or it has just occurred.

Online and mail-in reports will be taken in the following cases:

• Misdemeanor stolen property (less than $1000.00)

• Insufficient/non-sufficient funds check with an aggregate of less than $1000.00

• Littering

• Gas drive-offs,

• Lost property

• Misdemeanor vandalism

• Frauds (out of state/foreign source)

Guidelines for CSO response

These guidelines apply only if: there is no suspect, no evidence and the crime is not in progress or it has just occurred.

CSO’s will take reports in the following cases:

• Stolen Property (Felony or Misdemeanor with the suspect identified)

• Vandalism

• Burglary *

• Frauds (local)

• Account closed and forged checks

• Insufficient/non-sufficient funds check alone or in aggregate over $1000.00

*CSO’s can handle burglary calls once the scene has been cleared for suspects. CSI’s can respond to assist if necessary

Residential and commercial Burglaries and Attempted Burglaries are high priority investigations.

Although victims may not report having evidence, it is important that on these types of calls (i.e. copper wire thefts, forced and attempted forced entry to a business, thefts from business or residence, etc.) that we send an officer to look for any possible evidence and canvas the area to either side, across the street, and behind the business for witnesses. Particularly, a residential burglary is a personal invasion of private space that can have a long term and deep impact on victims. These investigations should be given as much attention as possible.

EMS Calls involving Juveniles:

If there is any indication of suspicious activity during the processing of any EMS calls involving juveniles, dispatch will immediately send police along with Nampa Fire and Canyon County Paramedic personnel. If there is any doubt or question whether to send police or not, dispatch will error on the side of caution and the police will be sent. If there is not a law enforcement need, police will not be dispatched. This includes calls of children locked in a vehicle.

Additional Information:

We have empowered Dispatch, Records, and Patrol to make these decisions and to educate the citizenry. That being said, we still have a mission to fulfill and a part of that mission is service. We will "err on the side of service" when there is doubt about the direction a call should go.

To view the full PDF current version of the response plan, click here.