Broward Sheriff's Office Standard Operating Procedures

Tactical Alert Protocol

• The purpose of the Tactical Alert Protocol is to coincide with the Critical Incident Response Plan, support the establishment of Command and Control, and control responding personnel in an organized and structured format.
• The protocol aims to prevent self-dispatching/self-deployment, self-assignment/conflicting task assignment, and ensure all BSO commands remain effective with personnel staffing resources.

Definitions

• ICS (Incident Command System) is a standardized approach to command, control, and coordination of emergency response, providing a common hierarchy within which responders from multiple districts and/or agencies can be effective.
• Incident Commander is the person responsible for all aspects of an emergency response, including quickly developing incident objectives, managing all incident operations, and applying resources as well as responsibility for all persons involved.
• Tactical Alert is the mobilization and controlled distribution of on-duty personnel in response to an unusual occurrence, providing for the controlled redistribution of on-duty personnel to achieve the personnel level necessary for control of a major law enforcement incident.
• Unusual Occurrence/Critical Incident refers to extraordinary emergency situations resulting from natural and/or man-made disasters or civil disturbances.
• Law Enforcement Activities of Major Importance include police activities involving the arrest, processing, and detention of felony suspects and intoxicated drivers, and activities necessary to the immediate interest of public safety and protection of life and property.

Tactical Alert Regional Response Plan

• Each district will assign and make available a predesignated number of active law enforcement deputies to respond to unusual occurrences and critical incidents while maintaining an adequate presence to maintain order within their respective district.
• District command will ensure that each district supervisor will identify the personnel that will respond to a tactical alert on each shift roster/lineup as “TAP.”
• The numbers of deputies assigned to respond to tactical alerts are:
  • North Region: 15
  • Central Region: 11
  • South Region: 11

Operation of a Tactical Alert

• Upon activation of a Tactical Alert, Critical Incident Management procedures will be employed, and the identified Incident Commander will:
  • Notify Regional Communications of the Tactical Alert Order.
  • Establish and advise Regional Communications of the location of the Command Post.
  • Determine the level of Tactical Alert response assistance needed.
• The Incident Commander will utilize the pre-identified TAP deputies in the region in which the Tactical Alert is located.
• Additional resources will be requested from the next closest region if needed.
• Specialized units (e.g., SWAT, QRF, Marine, etc.) will not respond to a tactical alert unless specifically requested by the Incident Commander.
• The Incident Commander will establish a staging area for responding personnel to report to and assign a Staging Area Manager to supervise the personnel and equipment.
• Responding personnel will communicate and remain on the staging channel (Sub channel “Mike” of their respective radio Dispatch Channel) during response until advised to change radio channels.