GREEN LIGHT TO RUN CODE 3 POLICE INTENT ON CUTTING DOWN RESPONSE TIMES FOR MANY EMERGENCY CALLS.

Byline: Ryan Oliver Staff Writer

In an effort to reduce its response times, the Los Angeles Police Department has begun dispatching officers to all emergency calls with their lights flashing and sirens blaring.

The policy change, which took effect last weekend, is already receiving a favorable response from patrol officers, who were frustrated at having to wait at red lights and behind slow-moving traffic when responding to important calls.

``Having spoken to officers all over the city, they're saying they are able to get there faster,'' said Patrol Capt. Ron Marbrey of the LAPD's Foothill Division. ``The officers do appreciate that ability because they're eager to prevent crime.''

Previously, emergency calls were dispatched on a two-tier system: High-priority calls, designated as Code 3, required a light and siren; other emergency calls, labeled Code 2-high, did not get a light and siren and forced officers to obey all the traffic laws.

The LAPD has eliminated the Code 2-high designation and dispatchers are assigning most of those calls as Code 3. A smaller percentage of those Code 3-high calls are also being downgraded to Code 2, which is defined as ``urgent.''

``The calls that are going to go Code 3 are going to be the ones that are serious public hazards,'' said Capt. Andrew Smith, commander of the LAPD's Communications Division. ``Those are anything that has to do with a life-threatening emergency, anytime a there's a violent crime in progress, or anytime we can prevent a violent crime.''

For example, most calls reporting an assault with a deadly weapon in which the suspect had fled were previously handled as Code 2-high. Many of those calls will now be Code 3, in the hope of capturing the assailant as he flees, Smith said.

The department proposed eliminating its Code 2-high designation in reaction to steadily increasing emergency response times, particularly in the San Fernando Valley with its sprawling patrol divisions. Valley Bureau response time went from 9.8 minutes in 2001 to 11.2 minutes last year.

Cmdr. Michel Moore said the public can expect to see more patrol cars rolling with lights and sirens on, and that both must be careful to avoid colliding with one another. But, he said, the increased number of Code 3 calls is hoped to actually reduce traffic collisions.

Officers will become more experienced at driving at Code 3 and will be highly visible to the public, he said.

``Officers will realize a siren and a light bar is not a snowplow'' Moore said. ``I think the public will be pleased to see officers no longer sitting and waiting at traffic lights on what should be Code 3 calls.''

Ryan Oliver, [phone]

ryan.oliver(at)dailynews.com