Boca Raton Police Active Shooter/Hostile Event SOP 2020 PDF

BOCA RATON POLICE SERVICES DEPARTMENT Standard Operating Procedure 46.07 ACTIVE SHOOTING/HOSTILE EVENT Revised: October 20, 2020 I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this standard operating procedure is to establish guidelines and procedures for the response of employees to an active shooting/hostile event...

BOCA RATON POLICE SERVICES DEPARTMENT Standard Operating Procedure 46.07 ACTIVE SHOOTING/HOSTILE EVENT Revised: October 20, 2020 I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this standard operating procedure is to establish guidelines and procedures for the response of employees to an active shooting/hostile event. II. DEFINITION Active Shooting/Hostile Event (ASHER): An incident during which one or more suspects participate in a random or systematic shooting spree, demonstrating their intent to harm others. Subject(s) may also utilize other weapons/devices such as knives, explosives, etc. His/her overriding objective appears to be that of mass murder, rather than other criminal activity. Casualty Collection Point (CCP): A specific location, within the warm zone, where casualties are assembled to be transported to a medical treatment facility (MTF). Cold Zone: An operational (geographical) area surrounding the warm zone where first responders can operate with minimal threat to personal safety. Command Post (CP): The field location where the primary functions are performed. The CP may be colocated with the Incident Base or other incident facilities. Contact Team: Two or more law enforcement officers (LEOs) who immediately pursue the suspect(s). The goal is to make contact as quickly as possible and to stop the active suspect(s) by arrest, containment, or the use of force. Form-Up Area (FUA): A specific location designated for the integration of Fire Rescue Personnel and Law Enforcement Escort Teams, prior to proceeding to the Forward Operations Base, or any other area within the Warm Zone. Forward Operations Base (FOB): A secured forward position, established by law enforcement within the warm zone, used to support tactical operations, most likely located at, or nearby, the Immediate Deployment Area (IDA). Hot Zone: An operational (geographical) area, consisting of the immediate incident location with a direct and immediate threat to personal safety (not a secure area). Immediate Deployment Area (IDA): The location, deemed by the first responding, or on-scene, LEO(s), as suitable for the gathering point for additional responding LEOs. This location shall most likely become the Forward Operations Base (FOB). Effective: June 1, 2009 Revised: October 20, 2020 Active Shooter/Hostile Event SOP No. 46.07 Page 1 of 10 Individual Officer Intervention: A response by one LEO to immediately pursue a suspect(s) based on a reasonable belief that people will be killed or seriously injured if he/she does not immediately respond to the threat. Over Watch Team: Two or more law enforcement officers responsible for protecting the ingress and egress of Fire Rescue vehicles and personnel as they enter and leave the warm zone. Portable Transport Unit: A soft, compact, flexible device, used to transport, transfer, or rescue patients from areas inaccessible to traditional stretchers. Protective Element Medical Team: Two or more law enforcement officers responsible for the delivery of Fire Rescue personnel to the Casualty Collection Point (CCP) and/or the Forward Operations Base (FOB). Rescue Team: Two or more law enforcement officers deployed after the contact team(s). They will be responsible for the location of victims and innocent civilians. Rescue Team personnel shall relocate injured victims to the CCP. Staging Area: Temporary location for available resources. A staging area can be any location in which personnel, supplies, and equipment can be temporarily housed or parked while awaiting operational assignment. Warm Zone: An operational (geographic) area with a potential threat to personal safety. The warm zone typically exists between the hot zones and the cold zones. The warm zone is established and secured by LEOs. Fire Rescue personnel shall be escorted by LEOs at all times while operating within the warm zone. III. PROCEDURES: A. INCIDENT COMMAND: 1. Upon notification of an incident, the watch commander shall respond to the scene and implement the Incident Command System (ICS) using the procedures found in Standard Operating Procedure 46.01 Incident Command System 2. See Appendix A Checklist for ASHER for a condensed listing of operations, designations, and notifications to be handled by the incident commander (IC). 3. The IC shall: a. Respond to the incident location and notify Communications via radio that he/she is the IC. b. Establish and remain at the Command Post (CP). near the incident location, in the Cold Zone. c. Effective: June 1, 2009 Revised: October 20, 2020 Establish a Staging Area near the incident location, in the Cold Zone. Active Shooter/Hostile Event SOP No. 46.07 Page 2 of 10 d. Ensure routes to and from key incident locations remain clear of parked emergency vehicles. e. Request, through Communications, to have the Fire Rescue Battalion Chief respond to the CP, and all other Fire Rescue resources respond to the staging area. i. The IC shall work with the Fire Rescue Battalion Chief to: a) Identify a staging area for Fire Rescue resources b) Identify a Form-up Area for the linking of Police and Fire resources c) Identify a route to and from the FOB/CCP d) Identify the FOB Supervisor and his Fire Rescue counterpart for the coordination of the triage, treatment, and transport of the injured from the CCP f. Direct responding resources to either the IDA or the staging area. g. Designate responsibilities for additional responding LEOs and supervisors, to include: i. Contact Teams ii. Rescue Teams iii. Inner Perimeter positions iv. Outer Perimeter positions v. FOB Security Team and Supervisor vi. Escort Teams vii. Over Watch Teams h. Request response from specialized teams, support units and mutual-aid jurisdictions to include, but not be limited to: Effective: June 1, 2009 Revised: October 20, 2020 i. SWAT Team ii. Bomb Team iii. Crisis Negotiation Team iv. Public Information Office (PIO) Active Shooter/Hostile Event SOP No. 46.07 Page 3 of 10 B. v. Investigative Services Bureau (ISB) vi. Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) vii. Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) viii. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) i. Notify the command staff j. Expand the Incident Command System to include: i. Operations Section ii. Logistics Section iii. Planning Section iv. Finance/Administrative Section v. Safety Officer INITIAL RESPONSE: 1. At a minimum, responding LEOs must have the following items: a. Observable police identification/insignia b. Approved firearm and magazines c. Body armor d. Portable radio 2. The first LEO on the scene will immediately assess the situation and gather information from the public safety dispatchers (PSD), citizens at the scene, the LEO’s own observations (sounds of gunfire, etc.) and any other means. 3. The first LEO on the scene will identify a reasonably safe location for the Immediate Deployment Area (IDA) and advise all other responding LEOs of this location. 4. The first LEO on the scene will determine if an individual LEO intervention is necessary and will act to intervene under the following criteria: a. The individual LEO is properly armed and equipped b. It is reasonable to believe that people will be killed or seriously injured if he/she does not immediately respond to the threat. 5. Prior to intervening, the individual LEO shall notify PSDs of the following: Effective: June 1, 2009 Revised: October 20, 2020 Active Shooter/Hostile Event SOP No. 46.07 Page 4 of 10 a. The LEO’s decision to make entry b. The LEO’s location/entry point c. A designated Immediate Deployment Area (IDA) for responding LEOs. 6. When it is practical and safe, the individual LEO will attempt to form a contact team with other responding LEOs as they arrive on the scene. 7. If multiple LEOs arrive on scene at the same time or meet up while searching for the suspect, they shall form a contact team. 8. CONTACT TEAMS: a. Once an entry point is established, all other teams will enter and exit from this point. Multiple entry points may be necessary depending on the circumstances as directed by the incident commander. b. As more LEOs arrive, they will form a contact team and deploy. c. A supervisor, the most experienced tactical LEO, or a SWAT team member shall designate himself/herself as the Contact Team Leader. d. The number of Contact Teams will vary depending on the size of the incident location, number and capabilities of suspect(s), and presence of explosive devices. e. The Contact Teams will move past victims, harmless distractions, and explosive devices/booby traps that the Contact Team Leader feels are safe to pass. f. The Contact Team Leader shall provide updated information to the IC and other responding LEOs. g. Contact Teams will not perform thorough clearing of areas/rooms within the incident location. Areas will be searched to the extent to determine the presence of the active suspect(s). h. Contact with civilians should be limited to the quick gathering of intelligence. i. Civilians inside the incident location will be told to remain where they are until the Contact Team Leader is notified by the IC that a Rescue Team is ready to handle their removal. j. The Contact Team will continue to search until the active suspect(s) has been arrested, otherwise neutralized, takes hostages, or barricades themselves. Effective: June 1, 2009 Revised: October 20, 2020 Active Shooter/Hostile Event SOP No. 46.07 Page 5 of 10 k. If the active suspect(s) takes hostages or barricades themselves and there is no active threat present, the Contact Teams should contain the suspect(s). 9. EXPLOSIVE DEVICES: a. When explosive devices cannot be by-passed, the Contact Team Leader will notify the Bomb Squad and look for another route. The IC will arrange to have a bomb squad member escorted to the device. If no other route around the device can be located, the contact team will wait for the bomb squad members to disable the device. 10. PUBLIC ADVISORIES/NOTIFICATIONS: a. Public Information Office employees shall send out public advisories/notifications using available public notification systems and social media. 11. FORWARD OPERATIONS BASE (FOB): a. After the deployment of enough Contact Teams, an FOB shall be secured. b. The IC shall designate an FOB Team and an FOB Supervisor. c. The FOB Supervisor shall be responsible for: i. Security of the FOB ii. Direction of additional resources reporting to, or moving through the FOB 12. iii. Identification and security of the Casualty Collection Point (CCP) iv. Liaison with the Fire Rescue Supervisor assigned to the CCP. RESCUE TEAMS: a. When enough Contact Teams have been deployed, the IC shall deploy Rescue Teams to aid in the removal of civilians from the incident location. If available, a SWAT team member should assume the Rescue Team Leader position. i. Rescue Team(s) (two to six LEOs) will be deployed after the Contact Team(s). They will be responsible for the location and removal of victims and innocent civilians. ii. The Rescue Team will be structured in the same manner as the contact team. iii. The Rescue Team must stay vigilant and maintain their formation if contact with the active suspect(s) is still possible. Effective: June 1, 2009 Revised: October 20, 2020 Active Shooter/Hostile Event SOP No. 46.07 Page 6 of 10 iv. The Rescue Team shall relocate injured victims to the CCP and direct uninjured victims to the appropriate exit. The IC will inform the Rescue Team Leader(s) of the appropriate exit for uninjured victims to use. v. The Rescue Team members must remember that uninjured victims may be in shock or paralyzed with fear and may not respond to commands. vi. The Rescue Team shall utilize portable transport units, when appropriate, to relocate injured victims to the CCP. 13. PROTECTIVE ELEMENT MEDICAL TEAMS: a. Protective Element Medical Teams shall stand by at the Staging Area until assigned to a Fire Rescue Unit by the IC or his/her designee. Once assigned, the Team shall: i. Move to the Forming-up Area to meet with the Fire Rescue Unit. ii. Deliver the Fire Rescue Unit to the FOB. iii. Remain with the Fire Rescue Unit until ready for transport of an injured person(s). 14. iv. Escort the Fire Rescue Unit out of the Warm Zone. v. Report back to the staging area for another escort assignment. OVER WATCH TEAMS: a. Over Watch teams shall complete the following: i. Be deployed to tactical locations by the IC or his/her designee. ii. Provide security to the ingress and egress to the FOB, through the Warm Zone. iii. Remain vigilant, scanning the incident location for the active shooter(s) or threats. C. SECONDARY ASSIGNMENTS: 1. INTELLIGENCE GATHERING AND DISSEMINATION: a. Investigative Services Bureau (ISB) employees will debrief victims that are removed from the incident location. Effective: June 1, 2009 Revised: October 20, 2020 Active Shooter/Hostile Event SOP No. 46.07 Page 7 of 10 b. As dynamic intelligence is obtained, it must be rapidly funneled back to the Contact and Rescue teams. c. If an administrator (in the case of schools, office buildings, etc.) is located, they should be transported to the Command Post. 2. PERIMETERS: a. The IC shall assign employees to close roadways at an appropriate distance from the incident location. b. When employees become available, the IC shall set up perimeter posts around the incident location. c. The outer perimeter should be far enough away from the incident location that the perimeter LEOs and civilians outside the perimeter are in no immediate danger. d. Outer perimeter employees will primarily keep people out of the incident location. This may require re-routing traffic or assisting in evacuating surrounding areas. e. The inner perimeter will be established close enough to contain the incident location, but not so close as to endanger LEOs. f. Inner perimeter LEOs should relay any intelligence gathered while on post to the IC. g. Inner perimeter LEOs may encounter civilians attempting to flee the area. LEOs should verify his/her identity and arrange for them to be transported to the debriefing area. h. Under no circumstance is a perimeter post to be left unattended or moved without notifying the IC. 3. EVACUATION/ASSEMBLY AREAS: a. The IC will be responsible for identifying safe areas outside the incident perimeters that will be used as assembly points for any persons exiting the scene. LEOs of the ISB will be assigned to this location to debrief civilians and keep a record of who enters and/or exits this area. b. The following information is to be recorded for every person entering the evacuation/assembly area: Effective: June 1, 2009 Revised: October 20, 2020 i. Name ii. Address Active Shooter/Hostile Event SOP No. 46.07 Page 8 of 10 iii. Telephone Number iv. Status: a) Student (if shooting is at a school) b) Faculty c) Staff d) Employee e) Other f) Parent/Guardian c. The LEOs must be aware that the suspect(s) may attempt to infiltrate this location for the purpose of causing additional harm or as a means of escape. Everyone entering this area shall be searched for weapons. Access shall be strictly limited to: i. Students (if shooting is at a school) ii. Faculty iii. Staff iv. Employees v. Other vi. Parent/Guardian d. Once individuals are logged into the evacuation/assembly area, they are not to be permitted to leave unless authorized by the IC or his/her designee. 4. REUNIFICATION/SAFE AREAS: a. Parents and relatives will be arriving to locate loved ones. Outer perimeter units will direct these individuals to the reunification/safe area. A reunification LEO will be posted to log these individuals in and verify their relationship to the victim. The reunification LEO will request additional resources as needed to maintain security and provide for family assistance and victim advocacy. 5. MEDIA: a. The PIO(s) shall report directly to the IC. b. The IC shall advise the PIO of the designated location for the media to gather. All inquiries are to be directed to that location. Effective: June 1, 2009 Revised: October 20, 2020 Active Shooter/Hostile Event SOP No. 46.07 Page 9 of 10 c. Under no circumstances are members of the media to be permitted inside the outer or inner perimeters, the triage area, or any evacuation/assembly areas, unless specifically authorized by the IC. When authorized, media representatives will always be accompanied by a member of the PIO or an LEO designated by that office. 6. RECOVERY/DEMOBILIZATION: a. Once the violence is eliminated and medical care is sufficient for the seriously injured, the recovery phase should begin. Determinations should be made about the specific agencies that will lead the investigation and be involved in any recovery efforts. b. Evidence preservation is essential, and all employees should make reasonable efforts to protect the scene and any evidence. c. Documentation and records retention are crucial. All information should be recorded in detail for investigative purposes and shall be considered public safety sensitive. d. Immediate consideration should be given for a Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) response for all first responders and public safety call takers/dispatcher. D. OPERATIONAL REVIEW: 1. The IC should, as soon as is practical, meet with the key employees from the Department and other agencies involved to schedule and coordinate an objective, critical discussion of each phase of the operation. 2. In addition, Department representatives will, within thirty days of the incident, host or participate in an after-action briefing, open to all participants, for the purpose of evaluating the overall operation. 3. Following the after-action debriefing, the IC shall complete an after-action report and submit it through his/her chain of command. 4. A bureau commander assigned to the Field Services Division shall conduct an annual review of this standard operating procedure and identify any additional training needs to be submitted to the chief of police. Approved: Michele Miuccio Chief of Police Effective: June 1, 2009 Revised: October 20, 2020 Date: Active Shooter/Hostile Event SOP No. 46.07 Page 10 of 10