Broward Sheriff's Office Standard Operating Procedures - Todd Fatta Protocol PDF

BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES 3.15 TODD FATTA PROTOCOL 3.15.1 Policy Statement: In memory of Todd Fatta, deputy sheriff killed in the line of duty while...

BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES 3.15 TODD FATTA PROTOCOL 3.15.1 Policy Statement: In memory of Todd Fatta, deputy sheriff killed in the line of duty while attempting to serve a warrant on a known dangerous subject, the “Todd Fatta Protocol” is established to enhance safety. 3.15.2 General: Search or arrest warrant situations and other tactical operations can become dangerous for deputies, suspects, and citizens. The risk potential substantially increases when the subject(s) is known to be dangerous or has threatened to cause harm to others. The Todd Fatta protocol will be followed when a potentially high risk situation becomes known and conditions permit. This protocol is intended to reduce risk and enhance safety during pre-planned operations and to ensure that tactical operations, which by their very nature are inherently complicated and involve significant risk to participants, are properly reviewed by those who have an expertise in these operations. For the purpose of this protocol, tactical operations are any operations that: A. Are pre-planned, B. Involve suspect(s) who have violent criminal histories, or C. Are armed, or D. Are reasonably believed to be armed These operations may be defined as search warrants, arrest warrants, suspect take- downs, or any other operation that is preplanned. Note: This review is not meant to apply to exigent, rapidly developing events which may occur during patrol operations; however, communications and resource availability dictate that every effort should still be made to apply this protocol when possible even under exigent circumstances. 3.15.3 Procedure: A. Absent exigent circumstances, SWAT will review all search warrants prior to service. B. Absent exigent circumstances (such as an active shooter), on-scene supervisors or commanders may consult on-call SWAT personnel for guidance in tactical operation, search or arrest warrant. C. Absent exigent circumstances, on-scene supervisors and commanders will ensure that appropriate and adequate resources are used. D. The decision to deploy SWAT to a potentially high risk situation will be made at the lowest appropriate command level. 3.15 02/26/2014  BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES E. If ever in doubt, SWAT will be requested and respond. F. In any SWAT event, deputy, resident, or visitor safety is the first priority. NOTICE These Standard Operating Procedures are considered law enforcement sensitive and may contain certain information that is exempt under Florida Public Records Law. Outside or public requests for information from this Standard Operating Procedures Manual must be directed to the Department of Law Enforcement for review and redaction, if necessary, prior to disclosure. 3.15 02/26/2014