Incident Reports

Introduction: Effective February 1, 1985, UPD implemented a telephone incident reporting procedure, generally known as “Teleserve”. Its purpose is to lower the demand on patrol officer time in those cases where the offense involved is minor and the likelihood of clearance by arrest is low. Teleserves involve the diversion of certain calls for service to department personnel for report-taking over the telephone, rather than the dispatch of a patrol officer to speak with the caller.

Process: The process begins with the complaint intake person, either a Police Services Representative or METCAD dispatcher. The intake person must decide if the incoming complaint meets Teleserve criteria or requires the dispatch of a patrol unit. Whichever the case, the intake person will create a dispatch ticket or transfer the call to the correct agency.

Following are examples of desk reports taken by our civilian staff:

• Theft under $300
• Criminal Damage to Property
• Runaways
• Lost/Stolen Articles
• Telephone Harassment by unknown person

Questions: In order to obtain the information we need, we are required to ask you personal questions, to include:

• Your Address & Phone Number
• Your Date of Birth
• Your Race/Sex, Hair/Eye color
• Your Employer’s name, address, & phone number
• Your vehicle information (ie. Criminal damage to vehicle – We’ll need your vehicle “CYMBAL” = color, year, make, body style, and license plate )

After 24 hours from the time the report is taken, a Press Release is available for victims, should they need it for insurance purposes (25 cents for copy fee). A press release is also available here.

In the event you are a Victim of a theft, see the checklist for victims.