Broward Sheriff's Office Standard Operating Procedures (PDF)

BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES 7.4 AVIATION: 7.4.1 General: The Aviation Unit is a multi-purpose operation that includes patrol, search and rescue operations,...

BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES 7.4 AVIATION: 7.4.1 General: The Aviation Unit is a multi-purpose operation that includes patrol, search and rescue operations, and criminal searches and apprehensions. The unit is capable of deploying special teams for water rescue, K-9 and SWAT operations, and is available upon request to assist other agencies. (CALEA 41.1.4) 7.4.2 Aircraft Use: BSO maintains fixed and rotary-wing aircraft to enhance the level of service provided to the public. A. Air Services Available: (CALEA 41.1.4c) 1. Routine patrol 2. Vehicle pursuit 3. Aerial surveillance 4. Criminal Search and Apprehension 5. Stolen Vehicle Recovery 6. Deployment and extraction of the SWAT Team 7. Aerial Crime Scene Photography 8. Search and Rescue B. Helicopter Requests: 1. Helicopter assistance is ordinarily available 24 hours per day, seven days a week. 2. Helicopter assistance requests must be approved by the patrol supervisor responsible for ground operations. C. Aviation Policy: Complete Aviation policy statements are in the Aviation SOP. 7.4.3 Responsibilities: This area will: (CALEA 41.1.4a,c) A. Provide pro-active law enforcement via random aerial patrol, report any criminal or suspicious activity to ground units, and maintain aerial surveillance until the Reviewed: 09/16/2019 Revised: 10/14/2019 Rescinds: 10/01/2005 Effective: 10/31/2019 7.4 Page 1 of 4  BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES situation is resolved by ground units. B. Conduct patrol flights in high-crime or specific target areas requested by other districts, divisions, and agencies. C. Conduct aerial photography including, but not limited to crime scene photography for court presentations, serious or fatal traffic crashes (to assist in reconstruction to determine the cause), and assist other units in preparation for a planned action such as serving a search warrant. D. Provide aerial surveillance flights when the intent is to not be seen by the observed subject. E. Conduct search and rescue flights to find or assist persons in distress. F. Conduct training flights to enhance air operations' safety including emergency procedures. Note: Extra training will be conducted with other divisions such as SWAT, K-9 and Dive Team to maintain proficiency or safety when working with helicopters. G. Perform public-relations flights or displays to educate the public about the capabilities and benefits of airborne law enforcement. Note: Any member of the public aboard a BSO aircraft as an observer must execute a hold harmless agreement prior to the flight. Any Law Enforcement Officer or Government Employee acting on Official Business is exempt from this requirement. 7.4.4 Operating Procedure: (CALEA 41.1.4b) A. Pilots will command the aircraft and be directly responsible for its operation, regardless of employees' rank on board. B. Without fear of disciplinary action, the pilot in command of the aircraft will have final authority and responsibility to cease operations or refuse assignments that may place the aircraft or crew in jeopardy due to weather or other conditions. C. At the end of their shift, pilots will report in writing to the Aviation supervisor the reasons for any cancellation or refusal of flights due to safety. D. Pilots assigned to Aviation will be the only employees authorized to operate flight Reviewed: 09/16/2019 Revised: 10/14/2019 Rescinds: 10/01/2005 Effective: 10/31/2019 7.4 Page 2 of 4  BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES controls of BSO-owned aircraft. This may be waived if a Tactical Flight Officer is receiving emergency procedure training, or if an employee is considered for assignment as an Aviation pilot, already possesses all the minimum requirements and qualifications for a BSO pilot (designated in Section 7.4.3), and approved by administration to receive training for the position. (CALEA 41.1.4g) 7.4.5 Area Search: (CALEA 41.1.4b) A. Any search for criminal suspects will require the area's perimeter to be immediately secured by ground units. Each corner of the area's perimeter will be staffed by one ground unit (minimum four). The pilot will maintain an aerial overview of the entire area. The Aircrew will be authorized to direct any ground unit to the most effective location. B. If Canine is used, no person should contaminate the area. All ground staff should be directed either by the Aircrew or responsible supervisor to relocate. C. Descriptions given to the helicopter by ground units should be basic, not detailed. For example, when searching for a vehicle, the most important features of a vehicle is make, model, and color. License numbers are of little value to helicopter crews. Building descriptions should include the street's block number, not house number, followed by color, and unusual details that separate it from the surroundings. 7.4.6 Vehicle Pursuit: (CALEA 41.1.4b; 41.2.2d) A. A helicopter will not be considered a pursuit vehicle when involved in a vehicle pursuit. If the helicopter is the only asset being utilized to track a vehicle that is not actively fleeing ground units this will not be considered a vehicle pursuit. B. Upon request and if available, the helicopter will respond immediately to the vehicle pursuit area. Descriptions and updated locations will be transmitted to the flight crew while en route. C. When the fleeing vehicle is located from the air, all communications on travel direction and upcoming hazards will be handled by the flight crew. D. With the vehicle in sight and air crew handling communications, ground units will slow down and concentrate on their safety. Reviewed: 09/16/2019 Revised: 10/14/2019 Rescinds: 10/01/2005 Effective: 10/31/2019 7.4 Page 3 of 4  BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES E. Only the Aircrew or the Aviation Unit Command are authorized to call off the helicopter from maintaining surveillance of a vehicle. Key factors to be considered when the aircrew terminates their participation are; 1. Weather 2. Fuel 3. Maintenance Issues 4. Are the suspect’s actions a result of the helicopter being overhead F. If the pursuit is called off by the pursuit supervisor the helicopter is authorized to continue to maintain surveillance of the vehicle in an attempt to identify where the vehicle stops or a bailout occurs. The aircrew will then coordinate with the jurisdictional authority where the bailout occurs to locate and detain the suspects. NOTICE This Standard Operating Procedures is considered law enforcement sensitive and contains certain information that is exempt under Florida Public Records Law. Outside or public requests for information from this Standard Operating Procedures must be directed to the Office of the Inspector General for review and redaction, if necessary, prior to disclosure. Reviewed: 09/16/2019 Revised: 10/14/2019 Rescinds: 10/01/2005 Effective: 10/31/2019 7.4 Page 4 of 4