(See Saint Paul Police Department Training Bulletin 98-3: Air Bag Dangers; Revised Procedures; Lockouts and Accident Scenes)
The Saint Paul Police Department does not provide car door opening services. This rule applies to all Saint Paul Police Department personnel including sworn officers, reserves, parking enforcement officers, and community liaison officers. No Saint Paul Police Department personnel will carry any car door opening devices including supervisors.
Officers must carefully evaluate any requests for services for a lockout. In situations where no person is in danger and/or there is no danger of significant damage to property, a request to open a car shall be politely declined. Emergency situations may arise and should be evaluated on an individual basis. Some examples of emergency situations are:
- A child or disabled person is locked in a car and is in some danger, such as extremely hot or extremely cold weather.
- Delayed entry may cause the loss of valuable property, such as a pet may die from extremely hot or cold weather.
- The situation presents other dangers, such as a running car in a garage may present a fire hazard or a carbon monoxide risk.
Ramsey County Emergency Communications Center (RCECC) personnel receiving a call for a lockout shall attempt to determine the nature of the emergency before a squad is sent. If this cannot be done, or if there is any doubt as to the existence of an emergency situation, a squad will be sent.
Officers on the scene shall make a determination as to the seriousness of the situation and the need to gain entry into the vehicle without delay. If the officer determines that an emergency situation exists and immediate entry to the vehicle is necessary, s/he shall explain to the complainant that it will be necessary to break a window to gain entry. The officer shall determine the safest location to gain entry to the vehicle, keeping in mind the amount of damage to the vehicle that will occur and any potential danger to occupants such as flying glass.
Officers should not use any type of Slim Jim door opening device on any vehicle equipped with side airbags, even if one is offered by someone at the scene. The potential danger to officers and occupants from air bags far outweighs the desire to prevent damage to the vehicle.
Any officer breaking a window or otherwise causing damage to a vehicle, to gain entry in an emergency situation, shall write an incident report titled Emergency Lockout. The report shall contain the following information:
- Complainants name, address, and phone number. Note the acknowledgement/permission from the owner of the property (cars owner or lessee).
- Vehicle make, model, and license number.
- A description of the circumstances that caused the officer to make the determination that this was an emergency situation, making it necessary to force entry into the vehicle.
- A description of the damage caused by the officer to gain entry into the vehicle.
If the officer determines that no emergency exists, no action will be taken by Saint Paul Police Department personnel to gain entry into the vehicle. Officers can advise the complainant to call a locksmith, towing company or car dealer however no specific referrals will be given to any particular vendor. Officers may choose to assist the complainant with a ride to a nearby location or access to a phone.
Revised July 1, 2011