MONROE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

General Order

1. PURPOSE: The purpose of this general order is to establish policy and procedures for various trailers owned and operated by the Monroe County Sheriff's Office (MCSO).

   
   

2. POLICY: It is the Sheriff’s policy that standardized procedures be used in the operation of the trailers.

   
   

3. DEFINITION: Trailers, for the purpose of this order, are defined as message signs, radar trailers and storage trailers.

   
   

4. PROCEDURE:

   
   

   1. MESSAGE SIGNS

      
      

      1. Message signs are trailers equipped with a large message display, solar panel, computer and battery system.

         
         

      2. Message signs will be assigned to Districts 1, 4 and 7 unless otherwise assigned by the Bureau of Law Enforcement Chief.

         
         

      3. The district captain has ultimate responsibility for the care and maintenance of the sign.

         
         

      4. The district captain or designee will review all material on the operation of the sign and instruct any personnel directed to move and setup the sign.

         
         

      5. Only employees so trained are allowed, at the commander’s direction, to move and set up the sign.

         
         

      6. Message Sign Use

         
         

         1. Message signs will only be used for official purposes. For example traffic control, warning of traffic issues, crime prevention or hurricane evacuation or re-entry.

            
            

         2. The sign will be placed at a location that does not hinder traffic or obscure a driver's view. It will be placed, if along the road right-of-way, in accordance with Florida DOT regulations, if applicable.

            
            

         3. The sign will be removed from the site within one day of the event or as soon as possible thereafter.

   2. SPEED-MEASURING RADAR TRAILERS

      
      

      1. Speed-Measuring Radar Trailers are:

         
         

         1. Equipped with a traffic speed measuring radar, graphic speed display, solar panel and battery system and in some cases a computer.

            
            

         2. The ultimate responsibility of the district captain. Maintenance and care of the trailer is the responsibility of the district captain or his/her designee.

            
            

      2. Operation and Placement:

         
         

         1. The district captain or designee will review all material on the operation of the sign and instruct any personnel directed to move and setup the sign.

            
            

         2. Only employees so trained are allowed, at the captain’s direction to move and set up the sign.

            
            

         3. Speed-Measuring Radar Trailers

            
            

            1. Are to be placed at the direction of or approval of the district captain or designee

               
               

            2. Are to be placed in areas prone to traffic speed violations to educate the public as to the posted speed limits and their driving habits. This is a way to gain voluntary compliance with traffic speed laws.

               
               

            3. Should be placed in areas in response to citizen requests or complaints of excessive speed violations

               
               

            4. Should be routinely placed at locations known for speed zone violations when not deployed in specific request areas

               
               

            5. Should be placed to minimize criminal mischief to the trailer. Placing it under streetlights, adjacent to occupied homes or another location allowing for frequent viewing by the public and patrolling units

               
               

            6. Should never be placed on a deserted street or where the majority of the homes are vacant

               
               

      3. The Speed-Measuring Radar Trailer will be secured or locked so that it cannot be attached to a vehicle and towed away while deployed. Tongue locks or other methods to disable it will be employed.

         
         

      4. Speed-Measuring Radar Trailers should not be deployed for more than one week at a location.

         
         

   3. STORAGE TRAILERS

      
      

      1. Storage trailers are box-type trailers intended to store items and transport them to areas of need.

         
         

      2. There is no specific equipment assigned to these types of trailers.

         
         

      3. Trailers may be assigned to School Resource Officers (SRO) for the purpose of storing and transporting equipment to cadet events.

      4. Trailers may be assigned to the districts or SWAT, Dive or Special Response Teams as determined by the applicable bureau chief for the purpose of storage and transportation of equipment needed for special events or responses.

         
         

      5. The district captain or designee, SWAT, Dive or Special Response Team Leader or SRO will be responsible for the care and maintenance of an assigned trailer.

         
         

      6. Each person assigned a trailer will make him/herself familiar with the operation of that trailer and will train any other employee in its use and operation prior to directing that employee to use the trailer.

         
         

      7. Only employees so trained are allowed to move and operate a storage trailer.