INITIAL AND IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATIONS. Recognizing that various law enforcement encounters may be potentially volatile and/or emotionally charged, agency employees should be alert to the possibility of communication problems. They should exercise special care in the use of all gestures and with verbal and written communications to minimize initial confusion or misunderstanding when dealing with any individual with known or suspected hearing-related disabilities. When there is an emergency involving an imminent threat to the safety or welfare of an individual (to include Englewood law enforcement personnel or a citizen) or the public, and there is insufficient time to make available appropriate auxiliary aids and services, Englewood law enforcement personnel will use whatever auxiliary aids and services are most effective under the circumstances to communicate with persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, consistent with an appropriate law enforcement response to the imminent threat. This may include, for example, exchanging written notes or using the services of a person who knows sign language but who is not a qualified interpreter, for an interim period during the period of ongoing imminent threat, even if the person who is deaf or hard of hearing would prefer a qualified sign language interpreter or another appropriate auxiliary aid or service. The imminent threat exception is not intended to apply to the typical and foreseeable emergency situations that are a part of the normal operations of Englewood’s law enforcement and related programs, services, and activities. For example, Englewood personnel may rely on an accompanying individual to interpret or facilitate communication under this paragraph only in truly exigent circumstances, i.e., where any delay in providing immediate services to the individual could have life-altering or life-ending consequences for members of the public or personnel. Once the exigency has lifted, personnel should revisit the decision of what auxiliary aids and services are appropriate, inquire as to the person’s preferences under the non-exigent circumstances, and give primary consideration to those preferences.
INITIAL AND IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATIONS. In a non-emergency situation, when a Department Member knows or reasonably believes a person with a disability requires assistance to effectively communicate, the Department Member shall identify the person’s choice of auxiliary aid or service as soon as practicable. In an emergency situation, when a Department Member knows or reasonably believes a person with a disability requires assistance to effectively communicate, the Department Member shall identify the person’s choice of auxiliary aid or service as soon as the emergent circumstances are abated.
