Broward Sheriff's Office Standard Operating Procedures (PDF)

BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES 4.6 Tactical Alert Protocol 4.6.1 Purpose: A. Coincide with the Critical Incident Response Plan (SPM 19.2). B. Support the establishmen...

BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES 4.6 Tactical Alert Protocol 4.6.1 Purpose: A. Coincide with the Critical Incident Response Plan (SPM 19.2). B. Support the establishment of Command and Control of an Incident. C. Control responding personnel in an organized and structured format. D. Allow the Incident Commander to follow ICS structure. E. Allow the Incident Commander to control the number of resources needed and requested. F. Control and account for assignment of personnel G. Prevent self-dispatching / self-deployment. H. Prevent self-assignment / conflicting task assignment when assigned to Law Enforcement Activities of Major Importance. I. Ensuring all BSO commands remain effective with personnel staffing resources 4.6.2 Definitions: ICS - Incident Command System (ICS) is a standardized approach to the 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 - The Incident Commander is the person responsible for all aspects of an emergency response; including quickly developing incident objectives, managing all incident operations, application of resources as well as responsibility for all persons involved. Tactical Alert - The mobilization and controlled distribution of on duty personnel in response to an unusual occurrence. It provides for the controlled redistribution of on duty personnel to achieve the personnel level necessary for control of a major law enforcement incident. Reviewed: 09/27/2022 Revised: 10/06/2022 Rescinds: 12/25/2020 Effective: 10/16/2022 4.6 Page 1 of 5  BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES Unusual Occurrence/Critical Incident - Extraordinary emergency situations which generally result from natural and/or man-made disasters or civil disturbances. Law Enforcement Activities of Major Importance - 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. Investigations shall be limited to those activities which include felonies, deaths, serious injuries, and City-property involved traffic collisions involving injuries or substantial property damage. 4.6.3 Tactical Alert Regional Response Plan: A. At all times, 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. B. Each 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.” C. The numbers below represent the minimal number of deputies assigned to respond to tactical alerts. Any additional deputies or units that have been cleared by their command to respond to the Tactical Alert will respond to the staging area. D. If the district supervisor is unable to send the allotted number of deputies due to a critical incident occurring in their command, they will inform dispatch to relay that information to the incident commander requesting the resources. 1. North Region = 15 1. District 11 – Pompano Beach = 9 2. District 10 – Deerfield Beach = 4 3. District 17 – Parkland = 1 4. District 13 – Lauderdale by the Sea = 1 2. Central Region = 11 1. District 12 – Oakland Park = 4 2. District 7 – Tamarac = 3 Reviewed: 09/27/2022 Revised: 10/06/2022 Rescinds: 12/25/2020 Effective: 10/16/2022 4.6 Page 2 of 5  BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES 3. District 5/4 – Central Broward = 3 4. District 15 – North Lauderdale =1 3. South Region = 11 1. District 16 – Cooper City = 2 2. District 2 – Dania Beach = 3 3. District 1 – South Broward = 1 4. District 14 – Port Everglades = 1 5. District 8 – Weston = 4 4.6.4 Operation of a Tactical Alert: A. Upon Activation of a Tactical Alert: Critical Incident Management procedures will be employed, and the identified Incident Commander will: 1. Notify Regional Communications of the Tactical Alert Order. a. The Communications Duty Officer will staff each emergency channel with a dispatcher. b. The Communications Duty Officer will notify all appropriate BSO Command of the Tactical Alert per Regional Communications protocols. c. The Emergency Operations channel will be patched with the Dispatch Channel handling the critical incident 2. Establish and advise Regional Communications of the location of Command Post established. B. The Incident Commander will determine the level of Tactical Alert response assistance needed. 1. Full Tactical Alert will result in all Tactical Alert regions simultaneously responding (37 Deputies) Reviewed: 09/27/2022 Revised: 10/06/2022 Rescinds: 12/25/2020 Effective: 10/16/2022 4.6 Page 3 of 5  BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES 2. Partial Tactical Alert by will result in a smaller contingent of personnel from the Regions as follows: a. North - 15, Central - 11., South – 11 b. Any single region of the three Regional Tactical Alert Areas c. Any combination of the three regional Tactical Alert Areas (e.g. North region, North and Central region, South and Central region) 3. The minimum response will be one complete region for a Tactical Alert deployment. 4. The Incident Commander will utilize the pre-identified TAP deputies in the region in which the Tactical Alert is located. If additional resources are required, the IC will utilize the predesignated TAP deputies from the next closest region. 5. Specialized units (e.g.: SWAT, QRF, Marine, etc.) will not respond to a tactical alert unless specifically requested by the Incident Commander, unless they are already identified as TAP on the daily shift roster/line-up. C. 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. D. Tactical Alert 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. E. Tactical Alert responding personnel will report to the staging area and check in with the Staging Area Manager by providing their name, CCN, home command, and radio call sign. F. The Staging Area Manager is responsible for assigning tactical alert response personnel to specific tasks as requested by the Incident Commander or his/her designee. G. Each Watch Commander, Lieutenant, and Sergeant will ensure that their personnel are aware of the Tactical Alert as well as the circumstances surrounding the event. Reviewed: 09/27/2022 Revised: 10/06/2022 Rescinds: 12/25/2020 Effective: 10/16/2022 4.6 Page 4 of 5  BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES H. Unless otherwise directed by the Incident Commander, deputies working in the district of the Unusual Occurrence/Critical Incident will confine their law enforcement activities to the incident. I. All relevant BSO investigative personnel shall also respond to staging for potential assignments unless otherwise directed by the Incident Commander. J. If additional personnel are required, the Staging Area Manager will request additional municipal law enforcement personnel via BSO Communications so as not to deplete BSO assets required to maintain operational readiness. K. Responding law enforcement personnel will be re-assigned by BSO Communications to the Staging Channel (Sub channel “Mike” on their respective radio Dispatch Channel.) L. Critical Information related to the event will be broadcast on the Staging Channel by staff assigned by the Incident Commander. All responding TAP deputies will remain on the Staging Channel unless otherwise directed via the Incident Commander. Reviewed: 09/27/2022 Revised: 10/06/2022 Rescinds: 12/25/2020 Effective: 10/16/2022 4.6 Page 5 of 5