Ballistic Protection Policy PDF

Policy 905 Chesapeake Fire Department Policy Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/04/01, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Ballistic Protection - 1 Ballistic Protection 905.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE The Chesapeake Fire Department is committed to reducing or el...

Policy 905 Chesapeake Fire Department Policy Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/04/01, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Ballistic Protection - 1 Ballistic Protection 905.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE The Chesapeake Fire Department is committed to reducing or eliminating occupational risks and hazards whenever possible in an effort to improve member safety. The purpose of this policy is to identify ballistic protection as a practical safety measure that should be used to reduce some of the occupational risks and hazards confronting members. 905.2 POLICY It is the policy of the Chesapeake Fire Department to provide ballistic protection to department members who may be exposed to any of the occupational risks and hazards the armor is designed to protect against. The Chesapeake Fire Department authorizes members to utilize department- issued ballistic protection whenever members believe it may be prudent or appropriate to do so. It is not the intent of the Department to have members utilize ballistic protection on a routine basis, but rather to have ballistic protection available to personnel for situations that may be violent, potentially violent or otherwise a risk to safety that the use of soft body armor could reduce or eliminate. A supervisor may mandate the use of ballistic protection in any situation or circumstance that he/ she feels may warrant the use of armor. 905.3 SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY AND USE CONSIDERATIONS (a) For the purposes of this policy a supervisor may be defined as: 1. The Incident Commander (IC) directing any incident. 2. Any supervisor in the Incident Command System (ICS) chain of command directing or supervising the activities of personnel assigned to him/her. 3. The Company Officer in charge of any apparatus or crew. 4. The senior member of any crew or functional unit when no clear lines of rank or authority exist (e.g., the senior member of a two-person medic unit crew). (b) In certain situations, supervisors and members of the Department will utilize ballistic protection. These situations include: 1. Incidents involving groups or organizations with a known history of violent encounters or activities. 2. Any incident when law enforcement representatives recommend the use of soft body armor. 3. Any time deemed necessary by the IC or person in charge of the crew. (c) Personnel shall don body armor prior to responding to the following dispatched situations: 1. Any shooting or stabbing incident. Chesapeake Fire Department Policy Manual Ballistic Protection Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/04/01, All Rights Reserved.Published with permission by Chesapeake Fire Department Ballistic Protection - 2 2. Any Active Threat situation 3. Any area in which a civil disturbance is occurring or has potential to occur 4. Any police standby or situation involving violence 5. Any domestic violence, family dispute, or address that has been flagged for such hazards or flagged for known violence against public safety personnel. 6. Any incident that may be interpreted as an explosive devices (suspicious package, bomb threat, etc.) being present or suspected. Per Policy 309 Staging, whenever an incident involves a potentially violent encounter (stabbing, shooting, physical altercation, etc.) Fire Department personnel should employ the Stage Away option until the scene has been cleared and deemed safe by Police units. Fire Department units may then respond to the scene, in ballistic protection. The Incident Commander should then evaluate the scene for safety, and the need for Fire Department members to continue to utilize ballistic protection. During peaceful protests or marches, Fire Department personnel will don department issued station uniforms and reflective vests. Ballistic protection should be available and easily accessible if needed. During violent or uncontrolled events, or active threats Fire Department personnel will don ballistic protection. 905.4 STORAGE OF BALLISTIC PROTECTION All department-issued ballistic protection should be stored in full compliance with the manufacturer’s guidance. Generally, all ballistic protection should be stored such that it is not subject to direct sunlight or extreme temperatures and is protected from moisture or high humidity. Ballistic protection should be stored in a location that is reasonably accessible to members, as needed. During times of known or anticipated violent events, ballistic protection may be temporarily moved to and stored in any location that makes it more readily and quickly accessible to members. 905.5 MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE LIFE OF BALLISTIC PROTECTION All department-issued ballistic protection shall be inspected and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. All department ballistic protection will be immediately removed from service at any time that it is obviously damaged, any time it fails the manufacturer’s inspection criteria or when it has exceeded its rated service life.