Denver Police Department Crowd Management Manual PDF

DENVER POLICE DEPARTMENT Crowd Management Manual Revised May 31, 2023 HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL – OFFICER SAFETY INFORMATION Law Enforcement Sensitive - For Official Use Only Not for Release to Non-Law Enforcement Personnel Disseminate on a Need to Know Bas...

DENVER POLICE DEPARTMENT Crowd Management Manual Revised May 31, 2023 HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL – OFFICER SAFETY INFORMATION Law Enforcement Sensitive - For Official Use Only Not for Release to Non-Law Enforcement Personnel Disseminate on a Need to Know Basis Only This document is the property of the Denver Police Department, is loaned to your agency, and is not to be disclosed outside your agency without the prior written approval of the Custodian of Records for the Denver Police Department  2 This manual serves as a guide for crowd management and control operations. Strategies, tactics and equipment may be revised as needed. Crowd management and control can be an unpredictable challenge, sometimes requiring a flexible response not covered precisely by this manual. Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  3 Table of Contents POLICY………………………………………………………………….…4 PURPOSE…………………………………………………………………4 DEFINITIONS AND TERMS…………………………………………….5 FIELD FORCE TACTICS AND PROCEDURES……………………...9 CROWD MANAGEMENT, INTERVENTION, AND CONTROL…….14 RULES OF CONDUCT………………………………………………….17 RULES OF ENGAGEMENT…………………….………………………20 USE OF FORCE OPTIONS……………………………………………..28 USE OF FORCE REPORTING……………………………………...….32 State laws and City Ordinances.................................... Appendix A C.R.S. Title 18 Chapter 9, Part 1.................................... Appendix B DPD Use of Force Policy............................................... Appendix C Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  4 Denver Police Department Crowd Management Manual POLICY The policy of the Denver Police Department is to appropriately direct and control public gatherings to protect life and property, maintain public peace and order, ensure compliance with the law and respect all constitutional rights including those of free speech and assembly. Efforts will be made to isolate and arrest violators from a crowd before declaring an assembly as unlawful. PURPOSE This manual serves as a guide for strategies and tactics in circumstances requiring management and control of crowds. Flexibility and adaptation are important elements of successful crowd management and control while ensuring that the police response is not disproportionate to the situation. When possible, crowd management tactics will be used prior to implementing crowd control tactics. Crowd control tactics are generally intended for use when efforts to manage a crowd or event have been unsuccessful or simply require a greater level of police intervention. Some situations, both planned and spontaneous, may require a combination of management and control. In all situations it is critical that command officers and supervisors lead, direct and control the police response. Strong command and control elements are essential to maintaining a unified, measured and effective police response. A team-based response with strong leadership is the key to maintaining control and safety. Impulsive actions by involved officers must be controlled. Police personnel must maintain a professional demeanor, despite unlawful or anti-social behavior on the part of crowd members. Unprofessional police behavior can inflame a tense situation and make control efforts more difficult and dangerous. Nothing in this policy will prohibit officers from legally using appropriate force to protect themselves or others from what they reasonably believe to be the use or imminent use of physical force while effecting or attempting to affect an arrest or while preventing or attempting to prevent an escape as stated in C.R.S. §18-1-707(1) (Use of physical force in making an arrest or in preventing an escape). Furthermore, nothing in this policy will prohibit officers from legally using lethal force when reasonable and necessary under the limited circumstances set forth in C.R.S. 18-1-707(2). Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  5 DEFINTIONS AND TERMS 40mm Launcher: Single round or multi-launcher that fires department approved and issued 40 mm specialty impact munitions. The 40MM launcher is prohibited for crowd control use. Active Aggression: An overt act or threat of an assault, coupled with the present ability to carry out the action, which reasonably indicates that an assault or injury to a person is likely. Some activities that fit into this category during a crowd control event include the throwing of missiles, deployment of lasers, incendiary devices and setting fires. Aggravated Active Aggression: Lethal force encounter, which includes physical actions which may or may not involve a weapon, which are likely to result in death or serious physical injury to an officer or another person. See OMS titled “Lethal Force – CRS 18-1-707 (2) & (3) Arrest Teams: A complement of officers operating in an organized manner for the purpose of identifying law violators and affecting arrests. Carotid Compression Technique: A technique used to incapacitate a combative or physically resistive person whose conduct rises to the level of aggravated active aggression. Application of this technique compresses the carotid arteries and diminishes the supply of oxygenated blood to the brain, resulting in unconsciousness. Carotid compression techniques are prohibited by the department. CEW/TASER: Conducted electrical weapon which uses an electrical signal to temporarily override the motor and sensory nervous system. Chemical Agents and Munitions: Personal OC, Mk-9, MK-60, PepperBall® system, OC canister munitions, and other OC delivery systems used as a means of preventing or overcoming resistance, assault, or dispersal. Command Presence: A general force level that requires no physical contact. This force option allows the officer to be able to persuade and influence without physically touching an individual. Crowd Control: Techniques used to protect lawful public assemblies and free speech activities by addressing larger scale or more violent unlawful activities. Techniques likely include expanded use of Crowd Management and Crowd Intervention tactics and a display of an increased number of police officers. Crowd Dispersal tactics may be necessary and group arrest procedures should be prepared. Crowd Dispersal: Methods and techniques intended to permanently scatter, disband or break up a crowd. Unless exigent circumstances exist, this method requires Incident Command declaration that a group is an Unlawful Assembly. Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  6 Incident Command gives approval to begin dispersal orders (to include direction of dispersal) and time to comply prior to dispersing the crowd. Crowd Intervention: Techniques used to address individual unlawful behavior by controlling, dispersing, or arresting the specific persons engaging in the unlawful conduct. By addressing individual unlawful behavior, these techniques attempt to de-escalate crowd behavior, permitting lawful public assemblies and free speech activities to continue. Crowd Management: Techniques used to address lawful public assemblies before they begin and during the event for the purpose of guaranteeing a lawful assembly. Prior to the event, this can include coordination with event planners and group leaders, permit monitoring, past event critiques. Both prior to and during an event, this can include area control, traffic control, and crowd movement control. This includes future planning after an event. Defensive Resistance: Physical actions that attempt to prevent an officer's control including flight or attempt to flee, but do not involve attempts to harm the officer (includes “turtling,” which involves a pronated individual pulling his or her arms and/or legs to their chest to prevent access and control by an officer). Some activities that fit into this category during a crowd control event when an unlawful assembly has been declared and crowd dispersal has been ordered, include the use of umbrellas, shields, gas masks, and protestor devices while failing to comply with dispersal orders. Prior to crowd dispersal, persons equipped with these items are not considered to be resistive, however individual actions, behavior and equipment may fit reasonable suspicion depending upon the circumstances. Defensive Tactics: Physical force techniques designed to be used in a self- defense capacity and/or to control a resistive situation. Field Force Tactics: Maneuvers utilized by one or more squads of officers employed to manage or control a crowd. Hand Control: Physical restraint (e.g., gripping, wristlocks, come-along holds, etc.) and non-impact pain compliance (i.e., joint manipulation and pressure point) techniques used to prevent or overcome resistance and/or assault to place someone in custody. Impact Tool: Authorized baton used to deliver strikes as a means of self-defense or the protection of others. Less Lethal Weapon and Munitions: A crowd control approved weapon (PepperBall® system, CEW/TASER) which when used as designed and intended has less potential for causing death or serious bodily injury than police lethal weapons. Mass Arrest Processing Teams: Teams of officers who can be independently deployed to perform on-site arrest processing. Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  7 Noise Flash Diversionary Device (NFDD): Also referred to as a “flash sound diversionary device” and “diversionary device” are intended to provide a brief distraction. Flashbang devices are not permitted for crowd control use. Officer Presence: The display of an increased number of police officers for the purpose of managing or controlling a crowd. Organized Squad: A complement of officers generally consisting of a squad leader and eight to ten members operating in a structured and uniform manner. Passive Resistance: Physical actions that do not prevent an officer’s attempt to exercise control of a person or place them in custody. For example, a person who remains in a limp or prone position. Some activities that fit into this category during a crowd control event, when an unlawful assembly has been declared and crowd dispersal has been ordered, include area occupation without the use of protestor devices. Pepper Ball System: An air-powered launch device that deploys plastic sphere projectiles filled with powdered Oleoresin Capsicum (OC). Persons of Interest (POI): Individuals who have been identified as being involved in possible criminal activity based on reasonable suspicion. Protestor Devices: Devices used by protestors to disrupt or delay public and/or police activities. Devices are often used to attach protestors to each other, to fixed objects or to cut off access to facilities. Devices include, but are not limited to, bicycle locks, cement blocks, heavy chains, sleeping dragons, and tripods. Psychological Intimidation: Non-verbal cues in attitude, appearance, demeanor, or posture that indicate an unwillingness to cooperate or comply or threaten an officer or other person. Rapid Deployment Vehicle (RDV): A marked police SUV or Pickup equipped with platforms and rails, permitting trained personnel to ride on the outside of the vehicle. This is a form of a Rapid Response Unit. Rapid Response Unit: The use of marked vehicles to quickly move small field force units. Reasonable Suspicion: The reasonable belief that a person is committing, has committed, or is about to commit a crime Resistance: As stated in C.R.S. 18-18-103 Resisting Arrest: A person commits resisting arrest if he knowingly prevents or attempts to prevent a peace officer, acting under color of his official authority, from effecting an arrest of the actor or another, by: (a) Using or threatening to use physical force or violence against the peace officer or another; or (b) Using any other means which creates a substantial risk of causing bodily injury to the peace officer or another. Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  8 Riot Control Agents: CS based chemicals that produce extreme eye discomfort and closure to incapacitate the recipient and make him or her incapable of resisting or remaining noncompliant. Their major functions are to cause pain, burning, or irritation of the mucus membranes and large amounts of discharge from the nose and eyes. Shadow Team: A team of officers assigned to identify Persons of Interest as being involved in possible criminal activity based on Reasonable Suspicion. Skirmish Line: A line formation (see Crossbow Formation on p.39), either stationary or advancing, intended to deny an area or move a crowd from an area. Verbal Non-Compliance: Verbal responses indicating an unwillingness to comply with an officer's directions, or threat to injure a person without the present ability to carry out the threat. Videographers: Personnel specifically dedicated to document police actions and police response to civil disturbance activities. Voice Control: A general force level that requires no physical contact. This force option allows the officer to be able to persuade and influence without physically touching an individual. Planned Event: An activity involving large numbers of people that requires a permit or is planned and publicized beforehand. Such occurrences may include but are not limited to parades, concerts, religious gatherings, parties, community activities, sporting events, and demonstrations. Spontaneous Event: An unplanned or unforeseen event or incident that may create a risk to public safety, peace and order, or damage to property. Such incidents may include but are not limited to crowd disorders, incidents at schools, transportation accidents, bombings, explosions, disasters, major fires, labor disputes, celebratory crowds and organized first amendment assemblies. Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  9 FIELD FORCE TACTICS AND PROCEDURES The following section describes equipment, personnel and general procedures necessary for a Field Force response, as well as squad and platoon commands and maneuvers. Terminology Team – Generally, four officers supervised by a corporal, technician or other officer designated as the assistant squad leader. Squad – Generally, two teams of eight officers, two less lethal/grenadiers who serve as assistant squad leaders and a sergeant or other officer designated as a squad leader. Platoon – Four squads commanded by a lieutenant or other officer designated as a platoon leader. Company/Division – Two or more platoons commanded by a captain, commander or other officer designated as a company/division supervisor. For the purpose of this manual, the term field force units and rapid response units are essentially interchangeable. Both are made up of teams, squads, or platoons. Although their basic duties may differ, either can form what is commonly referred to as a field force. Generally, field force units are deployed in deliberate, slow-moving formations. They can be used to clear disturbances involving large crowds from streets or other locations. Field force units can travel by bus with police escort or entirely by patrol car. In Denver, the rapid response unit concept involves greater mobility. Response teams/squads can operate as a field force or divide into smaller units using a rapid response to quell smaller disturbances and acts of vandalism or violence. The use of police cars or highly mobile multi-passenger vehicles is essential to ensure mobility and a quick response. Personnel & Resources Field forces (squads and platoons) can be quickly assembled from in-service patrol personnel or pre-planned for large-scale crowd events. When drawn from in- service personnel, field forces will meet at a designated location and form a vehicle caravan for efficient transportation. The vehicle caravan generally has:  Three to four officers per car.  A lead vehicle containing a squad leader.  Additional vehicles containing squad members following in succession. Note: The vehicle caravan conducts a Slow Code 10 response assuring that all vehicles remain together. Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  10 Staging With spontaneous events, field forces should generally stage outside the view of the crowd incident, but close enough to reach it on foot. During planned events, field forces may be staged in clear view of crowd participants. With spontaneous events, police vehicles can be parked diagonally, by backing into side-by-side spaces, allowing for a quick withdrawal if necessary. During planned events, police vehicles may be parked in designated formations or locations or completely removed from the area once the officers dismount. During spontaneous events sergeants or squad leaders will assist with parking to insure efficiency. Police or other vehicles should not block points of ingress and egress. If police vehicles have not been removed from the area, vehicle security should be considered. If crowd behavior has the potential of becoming violent, police vehicles must either be removed from the area to keep them from being damaged, or a car guard must be assigned to each vehicle and be prepared to remove the vehicle from the area with little notice if necessary. On-Scene Preparation All personnel gather equipment such as personal protective equipment, shields, batons, less lethal systems, chemical munitions, etc. Once on-scene, squads will immediately Fall-In (Post) in a column of two; platoons immediately post in a double column. Less lethal officers will deploy at the rear of the deployed unit. Generally, officers assigned to the skirmish line will deploy in PPE, helmet, gas mask and crowd control baton. Less lethal officers will deploy behind the skirmish line and float to areas of need. Deployment of shields will depend on the circumstances and availability. Verbal Commands All commands for movements are given using preparatory commands and the command of execution. In addition to verbal commands, hand signals are simultaneously given in the event of crowd noise. Military bearing is used to present a strong and professional appearance. All commands given are echoed by the squad and assistant squad leaders, ensuring that they are understood over the crowd noise/distraction. This is especially important once officers are wearing gas masks and commands are muffled. Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  11 Arrest Teams Arrest Teams act at the direction of the division supervisor, platoon leader or squad leader. Arrest teams can be made of select personnel, single or multiple squads from behind the skirmish line and are supervised by a squad leader. Depending on the dynamics of the crowd being faced, arrest teams must consider how far into the crowd they can safely penetrate to affect an arrest. Arrest teams may act while the skirmish line is advancing or stationary. Advancing skirmish lines must walk around and pass the arrest team as it is taking a subject into custody. If the skirmish line is stationary, the arrest team will bring the subject back behind the line. The field force commander has final authority on how to proceed once an arrest is made. If a scout car is available, it can follow directly behind the field force, while gathering prisoners. Tail cars may also be deployed, in which marked police vehicles occupied by one or two officers follow the field force. When an arrest is made, the tail car officer(s) relieve the arrest officer(s). The arrest officer(s) place the prisoner in the tail car, transport for processing, and return when processing is complete. Cut Teams Cut Teams are deployed for the purpose of defeating protestor devices used to secure protestors together or to an object to blockade a location or intersection or prevent access to an area or building. Protestor devices require the use of tools by law enforcement to defeat the device for the purpose of making an arrest. Cut Teams must work in a secure environment and require the assistance of crowd management elements to ensure that their actions and equipment are safe from interference. Crowd control may be necessary to ensure a safe environment for the Cut Teams to operate. Crowd management units should be ready to provide support to the Cut Teams in the event of an incident. This assistance will include area security, on-scene crowd management, and providing officers to perform the arrest of the individuals cut from the protestor devices. Familiarity & Practice Field Force concepts should be practiced at regular intervals. Officers should always have their protective equipment with them in their patrol car. This includes turtle gear, gas mask, helmet and baton. Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  12 Typical Equipment  Flashlight  Gas masks (filters)  Helmets & face shields – marked with unit / rank designation  Crowd control baton  Acrylic shields  OC spray with holsters  Fire suppression equipment with holsters  PPE– chest protector (marked with department-issued, “POLICE”, agency & badge number designations), fore-arm protection, lower leg protection, ballistic vests, toe protective footwear, gloves with knuckle or finger protection, and groin protection.  Portable radios and headsets (radio discipline required), extra batteries  Body worn cameras with appropriate uniform or PPE mounts  Uniform shirts & jackets  Flex cuffs (marked with agency / serial #) & knife or cutter for flex cuffs  Hand wipes / cleaning rag / plastic bags for contaminated uniforms  Drinking water / snacks  Chemical munitions with bag or vest (triple chaser, etc.)  Pepper Ball w/ vests  Vehicles (rear doors unlocked), scout cars, buses  Megaphone (Bullhorn)  Saline – may depend on the type of gas used Safety Equipment It is understood that a strong police presence can have a quieting effect on crowds that are not fully committed to riotous or illegal action. The use of safety equipment is of paramount importance for the protection of officers involved in crowd management incidents. Safety equipment includes but is not limited to helmet, gas mask, PPE, crowd control baton and shields. With the tense and rapidly evolving threats of crowd management, officers may not have time to retrieve all safety equipment when it is not on their person. All officers assigned to a crowd management incident will have their safety equipment available at hand when responding to these events. Officers will deploy with a minimum of straight baton, helmet and gas mask slung on their person for quick deployment if necessary. The use of control options, PPE, batons and shields will be deployed when directed by a supervisor or when the officer can articulate the need based on safety. Gas Masks Gas masks will be donned and doffed using the following commands: Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  13 Line Support Masking – While in skirmish line formation, the officers will mask based on their numbers (1,2,1,2). When commanded, the odd numbers will fall in behind the even numbers (who will hold the line) drop to one knee and don the mask. Once done, they will trade places with their even counterpart who will then don their mask. Close Support Masking – From the Close Support formation, the unit leader will give the command for the rear rank to mask. When all rear rank officers have masked, the unit leader will give the Line Relief command and will then give the command for the rear rank to mask. When completed, the unit leader may give a second Line Relief command to return the field force to its original position. Emergency Masking – On the Emergency Mask command, all officers will drop to one knee and immediately don the gas mask. Once complete, they will stand, signifying that they are ready. Any unit member may give the Emergency Mask command. Squad Leaders and Assistant Squad leaders will ensure that all officers have donned their mask correctly, replaced and secured their helmet, and secured their gas mask carrier. Removal of the Mask – When all clear, the squad/platoon/company supervisor or leader will remove their gas mask and wave it above their head. All officers will drop to one knee and remove their mask. Once done, they will stand, signifying that they are done. Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  14 CROWD MANAGEMENT, INTERVENTION AND CONTROL Crowd Management techniques are used to address lawful public assemblies before they begin and during the event for the purpose of guaranteeing a lawful assembly. Before the event, this can include coordination with event planners and group leaders, permit monitoring, and past event critiques. Both prior to and during an event, this can include area control, traffic control, and crowd movement control. This includes future planning after an event. 1. Planned Event Management: Management of an activity involving large numbers of people that requires a permit or is planned and publicized beforehand. Such occurrences may include but are not limited to parades, concerts, religious gatherings, parties, community activities, sporting events, and demonstrations. Some strategies for managing the planned event include:  Operational Planning: Supervisors and command officers will complete an operational plan for significant events per DPD OMS 104.35. A comprehensive operational plan ensures that department resources are efficiently coordinated.  Crowd Leadership: An attempt will be made to coordinate with event organizers, permit holders or the leadership of a crowd if time permits. Officers assigned to plan the department’s response to an event will communicate both legal and operational needs and expectations to the event’s leadership.  Traffic Management: Event planning will include a traffic plan that will minimize the impact of the event on the normal flow of traffic. All legal permitting processes will apply. Should a spontaneous crowd issue result in traffic disruptions, as soon as the event is stabilized, supervisors and commanders should consider the need to alter pedestrian and vehicular traffic patterns to minimize traffic disruptions.  Public Information Officer (PIO): A PIO will be assigned to monitor crowd control events. When possible, the PIO will share pictures and live videos of the situation on the ground on social media to address misinformation. Social media posts may include recommendations for the public to stay away from an area when crowd behavior dictates. When available, the PIO will record dispersal orders and share on social media instructions for the public to vacate the immediate area of the unlawful assembly.  Law Enforcement: Officers will make every effort to differentiate between individual misbehavior and lawful actions of the crowd in general. The department’s goal is to gain voluntary compliance from members of the crowd and allowing the lawful members of the crowd and their leadership the opportunity to assist the police in gaining lawful compliance from crowd members. This is, in most circumstances, a sound de-escalation tactic. Officers will apply the performance guidelines detailed in this manual. Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  15 2. Spontaneous Event Management: Management of an unplanned or unforeseen event or incident that may create a risk to public safety and peace and order, or damage to property. Such incidents may include but are not limited to:  crowd disorders,  incidents at schools,  transportation accidents,  bombings, explosions,  disasters,  major fires,  labor disputes,  celebratory crowds and  organized first amendment assemblies. Spontaneous demonstrations or crowd events, which occur without prior planning and/or prior notice to the department, present less opportunity for DPD’s planning and prevention efforts. Nonetheless, the same policies and regulations concerning crowd management, crowd intervention and control apply to a spontaneous event situation as to a planned demonstration or crowd event. Some strategies for managing the spontaneous event include:  Incident Command: An incident commander will be declared and will make every effort to confirm the: 1. Location and the type of event 2. Approximate number of individuals engaged in unlawful conduct 3. Immediate threats to the safety of the public and/or police officers 4. Number of structures or vehicles involved 5. The size of the involved area 6. Number of additional officers and police resources needed.; 7. Appropriate manner of response 8. Staging area 9. Potential ingress and egress routes 10. Additional resources needed (e.g., paramedic, fire department, outside agencies).  Crowd Leadership: See Planned Event Management, second bullet for definition  Traffic Management: See Planned Event Management, third bullet for definition.  Law Enforcement: See Planned Event Management, fifth bullet for definition. 3. Regardless of the incident type, maintaining accurate police response records at the time of deployment is imperative.  The incident commander (or designee) will maintain a digital roster for all personnel deployed as the police response. This roster will include all officers assigned to the incident, the times of their deployment, and an approximate start location for their deployment. Crowd Intervention: Techniques used to address individual unlawful behavior by controlling, dispersing, or arresting the specific persons engaging in the unlawful Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  16 conduct. By addressing individual unlawful behavior, crowd behavior is de- escalated, permitting lawful public assemblies and free speech activities to continue.  Individuals will only be arrested based on probable cause. In making arrest decisions, the following may be considered: 1. The likelihood that police action will improve the situation given the totality of the circumstances 2. Whether arrests will be effective in ending the unlawful activity 3. Whether such arrests can be performed safely 4. Whether clear and secure ingress and egress routes have been established for the crowd and police when appropriate under the circumstances 5. Whether communication has been established with crowd leadership to the extent leadership can be determined 6. What contingency plans are available Crowd Control: Techniques used to protect lawful public assemblies and free speech activities by addressing larger scale or more violent unlawful activities. This technique may require the following:  The expanded use of Crowd Management and Crowd Intervention tactics  A display of an increased number of police officers.  Crowd Dispersal tactics  Group arrest procedures  Crowd Dispersal: Methods and techniques intended to permanently scatter, disband or break up a crowd. Barring exigent circumstances, the dispersal process will contain: 1. An incident commander’s declaration that a group is an Unlawful Assembly. 2. An incident commander’s approval to begin dispersal orders (to include direction of dispersal) 3. A continuation of dispersal orders to begin and continue until the crowd is dispersed or Incident Command gives order to stop dispersal. 4. A sufficient time to comply is provided. 5. The use of Field Force Tactics to move the crowd in the direction of dispersal to encourage dispersal. RULES OF CONDUCT All officers and commanders will abide by the following performance guidelines while assigned to crowd management and crowd control duties. In all situations it is critical that command officers and supervisors lead, direct and control the police response. Strong command and control elements are essential to maintaining a unified, measured and effective police response. A team-based response with strong leadership is an important element of maintaining control and safety. Impulsive actions by involved officers must be managed. Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  17 Police personnel must maintain a professional demeanor, despite unlawful or anti- social behavior on the part of crowd members. Unprofessional police behavior can inflame a tense situation and make control efforts more difficult and dangerous for officers and citizens. De-Escalation The overriding goal of police actions at the onset of civil disturbance problems is the de-escalation of violence. Although the free expression of individuals is recognized as a priority, large crowds do not manage themselves. As such, a recognizable, approachable and visible police presence is necessary to set the threshold of acceptable behavior. The preferred use of uniformed and non- uniformed police officers is to communicate as much as possible to demonstrators and their leaders that police officers are present in order to facilitate the peaceful and lawful expression of First Amendment rights. Officers should understand and adhere to the following principles regarding conduct in civil disturbance situations:  The success of police tactical concepts is highly dependent on the attitude and actions of police supervisors and commanders.  Officer behavior and appearance represent the government. Officer conduct should be unbiased while being respectful of cultures and nationalities, only judging people by their actual behavior.  Officers should be approachable, flexible and active in making contacts. Avoid an “Us versus Them” mentality by helping legal demonstrators prevent violence.  If possible, avoid confrontation to not provoke the demonstrators.  Officers must adhere to the prescribed rules of engagement for the event. The tactical framework, designed to protect life, property and individual rights, will typically call for the police to take a preventative approach while taking strict and immediate police action against violent behavior. General Rules If participants fail to abide by time, place and manner restrictions made in the interest of public safety and security, DPD must first seek voluntary compliance with those restrictions. If voluntary compliance is not obtained in a reasonable amount of time, then enforcement through the issuance of citations and/or arrest of non-compliant persons shall be the appropriate police response. If identifiable participants engage in disorderly conduct or violence and if circumstances allow, DPD must consider dispersing, controlling, or arresting the specific persons engaging in the conduct not by issuing a general order to disperse.  A general dispersal order will only be given under the following circumstances: 1. A “significant number or percentage” of participants fail to adhere to time, place and manner restrictions and voluntary compliance, targeted citation and/or targeted arrest actions have not resulted or Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  18 are not “reasonably likely” to result in “substantial compliance”; or 2. A “significant number or percentage” of participants are engaging in, or are about to engage in, tumultuous and violent conduct which creates grave danger of damage or injury to property or person or substantially obstructs the performance of any governmental function.  The Denver Police Department will handle un-permitted demonstrations similar to permitted events (i.e., a dispersal order cannot be issued solely because the assembly has no permit).  A police line will not be used to encircle or “substantially encircle” any part of an assembly unless the following three circumstances exist: 1. To provide safety for the demonstrators or when there is probable cause to believe that a significant number or percentage of the persons to be encircled have committed unlawful acts (other than failure to have a permit); 2. The police have the ability to identify those individual violators; and 3. The police have decided to arrest the violators.  To effectively and accurately document the police response, all officers, regardless of rank, will wear a body-worn camera (BWC) when assigned to any type of crowd management activity. When involved in any type of planned or spontaneous crowd control situation, officers will activate the BWC while actively engaging an individual or group per DPD OMS 119.04. 1. Supervisors will ensure that officers under their supervision are equipped with a BWC and that it is properly affixed to their uniform prior to being deployed. 2. At the end of each shift, supervisors will conduct a spot-check review of uploaded BWC videos to ensure officers under their supervision are activating the BWC per departmental policy and will properly address any identified gaps. Monitoring Persons of Interest Persons of Interest: Individuals who have been identified as being involved in possible criminal activity based on Reasonable Suspicion. Shadow Teams are deployed only in areas open to the general public or in areas where the police can legally have access. Shadow Teams provide uniformed and non-uniformed personnel working as an organized group to support the Incident Commander in monitoring a lawful assembly, march or rally for unlawful behavior. The decision to monitor persons of interest must be based on a reasonable suspicion of criminal conduct. Members will communicate their contacts with persons of interest to the Intelligence Group Supervisor and use the assistance of Arrest Teams to make arrests as necessary. Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  19 Shadow Teams and Arrest Teams Shadow Teams are a team of officers assigned to identify Persons of Interest as being involved in possible criminal activity based on Reasonable Suspicion. Shadow Teams are supported by Arrest Teams that consist of a complement of officers operating in an organized manner for the purpose of identifying law violators and affecting arrests. The Shadow Team coordinates with Field Force personnel and other elements to provide intelligence, make an arrest or contact people of interest. During non-exigent criminal activities, the decision to make arrests during Shadow Team operations will be made by the Intelligence Group Supervisor. Shadow Team members will continue to monitor the unlawful activities until Arrest Team personnel can remove the subject(s) with minimal disruption. The shadow team provides the incident commander and lieutenants with intelligence during the crowd event. The incident commander coordinates with the Shadow Team to determine a course of action. Shadow Team members will maneuver the Arrest Team. During exigent circumstances (physical threats, assaults, etc.), arrests should be made immediately to prevent injury. The decision to arrest under these circumstances may be made by Shadow Team personnel without the approval of the Intelligence Group Supervisor, and then only under compelling circumstances. In general:  Non-uniformed personnel are deployed in a crowd to monitor unlawful behavior.  Uniformed personnel may be deployed inside or outside a crowd to support non-uniformed personnel and/or to monitor possible unlawful behavior, contact persons of interest, or make accurate arrests as needed.  After members of the Shadow Team observe criminal activity, the team members notify the Intelligence Group Supervisor.  A transport vehicle will be arranged.  The Arrest Team will make the arrest and transport.  Any evidence will be recovered and documented.  The arrest situation will be communicated to command post personnel.  Communication will be made with the crowd as required.  Field Force personnel will be used as needed.  Mass Arrest Processing Group personnel will process the arrestee.  All police personnel will ensure minimal disruption to First Amendment activities. RULES OF ENGAGEMENT Rules of Engagement are a set of guidelines to be used by all officers and commanders while managing and controlling crowds. Crowd management and Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  20 control strategies and tactics will be utilized based on the Incident Commander’s (or designee’s) assessment of the crowd’s threat to public safety. The assessment should include the type of disturbance, crowd size, level of violence and the presence of criminal activity. When deciding to address law violations during crowd control situations, officers must consider the totality of the circumstances to include factors such as:  The nature of the violation  The urgency of the crime (property crime or a crime against a person)  The risk to officers and the public  The extent of property damaged or endangered  The importance of removing violators who may be impacting the rights of those involved in a lawful assembly and expressive activity in order to maintain control of the crowd and provide free expression opportunities to non-violators De-Escalation The policy of the Denver Police Department is not to choose a standard police reaction (such as skirmish lines and the use of chemical agents) in a robotic response to problematic crowds. Techniques such as communication, mediation and negotiation, along with the use of Shadow Teams to identify and address small numbers of law violators are preferred in an attempt to prevent the escalation of violence. Traditional police response to crowd problems will be used only when the safety and security of the public are threatened. Although it is difficult to plan for those individuals who want violence at all costs, several de-escalation techniques that may be appropriate in certain circumstances include:  Adopt a proportionate response to demonstrator misconduct  Differentiate between those causing violence and those who are not  Disengagement  Containment  Surveillance  Crisis Intervention Team (C.I.T.) techniques  Wait out a subject  Call in reinforcements  Limit chemical agent use in crowds  Use mass arrests as a last resort  Lower your threshold when it comes to counter attacking violence  Prevent escalation by not choosing a standardized police response (such as lines and charges)  Create hard zone areas (inaccessible areas) Decision to Declare an Unlawful Assembly The decision to declare an unlawful assembly and issue a dispersal order will be made by the incident commander (or designee). Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  21 The decision to declare an unlawful assembly must be based on a specific and compelling need for the safety of the public and unrelated to the content of the speech. The declaration of an unlawful assembly should only be issued when there are no other reasonable alternatives available. Reasonable alternatives include addressing dispersing, controlling, or arresting specific persons engaging in criminal behavior so that the remainder of the crowd may continue to peaceably assemble (crowd intervention). Once an assembly has been declared unlawful, a dispersal order must be announced to the crowd. This announcement should be made by the senior officer (either by rank or position) on scene. The intent of the dispersal order is to permanently disperse a crowd, not merely relocate the problem to another location. It should be made clear that the crowd is expected to disperse and immediately leave the area. The geography of the area should allow for the immediate egress of the crowd. The incident commander (or designee) must regularly reassess crowd behavior and confirm the current ordered police response is still appropriate given the current circumstances. A Passive Resistive Crowd engages in physical actions that prevent an officer’s attempt to control but does not involve attempts to injure or harm an officer. The incident commander or designee may issue a declaration of unlawful assembly to a passive resistive crowd that is violating the law when:  There is a specific and compelling need for the safety of the public.  There is no other reasonable alternative available.  The violators have chosen to remain after being warned to disperse. A Defensive Resistive Crowd engages in physical actions that attempt to prevent an officer's control including flight or attempt to flee, but do not involve attempts to harm the officer. The incident commander (or designee) may issue a declaration of an unlawful assembly to a defensive resistive crowd that is violating the law when:  There is a specific and compelling need for the safety of the public  There is no other reasonable alternative available  The violators have chosen to remain after being warned to disperse  Members of the crowd have initiated use of defensive items such as umbrellas, shields, gas masks or locking protestor devices. An Aggressive or Combative Crowd engages in physical actions that attempt to prevent an officer’s control with intentions to harm the officer. The incident commander or designee may issue a declaration of unlawful assembly to an aggressive or combative crowd that is violating the law when:  Riot conditions exist  There is a specific and compelling need for the safety of the public  There is no other reasonable alternative available Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  22  The violators have chosen to remain after being warned to disperse  Attempts to subdue individuals will likely be ineffective or unsafe because: 1. A significant portion of the crowd is demonstrating assaultive behavior such as the throwing of missiles, the display or use of offensive weapons, or setting of fires 2. A small portion of the crowd is demonstrating assaultive behavior coupled with other crowd members use of passive and/or defensive resistive behaviors that impede police efforts to address the assaultive behavior. The authority to give dispersal orders during riot conditions are detailed in Section 18 Article 9 of the Colorado Revised Statutes (C.R.S.): Riot means a public disturbance involving an assemblage of three or more persons which by tumultuous and violent conduct creates grave danger of damage or injury to property or persons or substantially obstructs the performance of any governmental function. 18-9-105. Disobedience of public safety orders under riot conditions. A person commits a class 3 misdemeanor if, during a riot or when one is impending, he knowingly disobeys a reasonable public safety order to move, disperse, or refrain from specified activities in the immediate vicinity of the riot. A public safety order is an order designed to prevent or control disorder or promote the safety of persons or property issued by an authorized member of the police, fire, military, or other forces concerned with the riot. No such order shall apply to a news reporter or other person observing or recording the events on behalf of the public press or other news media, unless he is physically obstructing efforts by such forces to cope with the riot or impending riot. Inapplicability of the order is an affirmative defense. Dispersal Order A loudspeaker or public address system should always be used to increase the likelihood that all crowd members can hear police commands. Unless there is an imminent threat of personal injury or significant damage to property, the dispersal order should be repeated at least three times, and if possible, from a variety of locations. The order must include dispersal route information and a warning that the refusal to disperse shall subject participants to arrest. The dispersal order must be followed by sufficient time and space to allow compliance with the order and enable the crowd to comply. The order should be publicly announced and read verbatim as follows: "I am (name and rank) of the Denver Police Department. All persons assembled are in violation of (City ordinance or state statute - stated in general terms). In the name of the people of the City and County of Denver, I command all of you to disperse. Failure to disperse will subject Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  23 each of you to arrest and prosecution. If you remain, reasonable and necessary force may be used to disperse this unlawful assembly. The following are routes of dispersal for you to peacefully leave the area: (describe the route you want the crowd to take to leave the area). You have ____ minutes (provide a reasonable time for the crowd to leave taking into account the number of participants, location, and the number of routes) to disperse. The time is …" The orders will be recorded via BWC. If circumstances permit, an officer should be posted on the far side of the crowd to record the order. If available, the PIO should also record the order to post on social media. Verbal warnings may not be practicable if a crowd management element is already under attack or if public safety would be seriously threatened without immediate action. Crowd Dispersal If voluntary compliance with the dispersal order is not obtained, dispersal tactics may be necessary. The order of application of dispersal tactics is fluid, and could include escalation and de-escalation, and will change based on the control required, consistent with the department policy of using the minimal police intervention needed to address a crowd management issue. A staging area must be established and officers must function as a team under the control of the operations chief or designee. The mission is to disperse the crowd as safely as possible. Dispersal tactics that may be employed individually or in combination to disperse a crowd include:  Dispersal Order  Officer Presence  Field Force Tactics  Chemical Agent (Personal issue OC and OC fogger)  Less-Lethal Munitions (Pepper Ball)  Riot Control Agents (CS and CN gas) Crowd Management Matrix The matrix presented in this section outlines several strategies and tactics that may be used to address the unlawful behavior of individuals or groups. It should be realized that these are not the only options available to law enforcement when faced with crowd management and crowd control situations. Additionally, as the level of unlawful behavior increases, a higher level of control may be necessary depending on the exigency of the circumstances and the size of the crowd. Any decision to use force should take into consideration the following factors when determining objectively reasonable options based on the totality of the circumstances known at the time such as:  Imminent threat of injury to an officer(s) and/or others. The greater the level of the threat, the greater the level of force that may be used.  If the person is actively resisting seizure, the officer may escalate the Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  24 justified (reasonable) level of force.  Circumstances are tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving. Some incidents take hours to resolve, while others are over in seconds. The more intense, uncertain and rapidly evolving the incident, the higher the level of force that may be reasonable.  The more severe the crime, the more force that may be justified.  Attempting to evade seizure by flight may justify escalating the level of force. Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  Denver Police Department 16 Crowd Management Matrix Pepper Ball System (area saturation only) Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  Denver Police Department 16 Crowd Management Matrix Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  Denver Police Department 16 Crowd Management Matrix Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  28 USE OF FORCE OPTIONS In addition to the traditional use of the Baton and Chemical Agents, there is generally one less lethal system appropriate for use in crowd control incidents: The department uses the PepperBall® system. The use of this system is outlined in DPD OMS 105.00. The below information is specific to crowd control events only. PepperBall® System Use of the PepperBall® projectile shall be considered a use of force and must meet the requirements of all department policies and procedures and C.R.S. The PepperBall® projectile will not be deployed against a specific individual in a crowd without the approval of the division or unit supervisor, unless exigent circumstances exist. Additionally, the PepperBall® system will not be used against a group or crowd without prior authorization from a command officer. Use of the PepperBall® system in crowd control situations may be appropriate in the following circumstances:  Against subjects within a crowd who are actively throwing objects at officers.  Against individuals who attack the Arrest Team or violently interfere with the movement of the team or arrest process. PepperBall® operators are responsible for every round they fire. They must ensure that innocent persons are not struck unintentionally by not firing projectiles indiscriminately into a crowd. Unless lethal force is warranted, an officer shall not intentionally deploy the Pepper Ball® projectile as follows:  To the head, eyes, throat, neck, back, breasts of a female, genitalia, pelvis, or spinal column.  To a pregnant female, if the officer has knowledge of or should reasonably know of the pregnancy.  On or in an open wound if the officer has knowledge of the open wound. When practicable, officers shall communicate to other officers that they are about to discharge a less lethal weapon prior to its use or clearly and audibly announce the same to officers in the immediate area unless urgent circumstances prevent this from occurring. If possible, immediate evaluation by medical personnel is required to determine the degree of injury suffered by the suspect. However, in crowd control situations this may not be feasible or appropriate. Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  29 Crowd Control Baton- (42” or 36” Straight Baton) If a person resists non-violently (i.e., passive resistance), an impact tool may be used to apply come-along or escort techniques only. Use of any baton as an impact tool to strike any individual shall be considered a use of force and must meet the requirements of all department policies and procedures and C.R.S. The crowd control baton is authorized for use solely in civil disturbance events. In crowd control situations, the crowd control baton is generally used in conjunction with field force tactics. Authorization for the use of field force tactics to address a crowd will be made by the division or unit supervisor. The crowd control baton is meant to be displayed in such a way as to gain voluntary compliance from a crowd without intentionally making physical contact with any person. With this goal in mind, the baton will be used in the following manner:  All techniques begin with the baton carried at the left shoulder – right hip.  Most of the techniques used are two count movements done at a half-step march.  Officers will give the order “MOVE – BACK” as needed in an attempt to move a crowd in a specific direction. The “MOVE – BACK” command will be given in uniform cadence, coinciding with the step count as the officers move in a particular direction. The command will be given in a loud and deliberate manner, clearly indicating that the crowd is expected to move in a particular direction.  Other non-contact uses of the baton include the baton carry positions: 1. Order Arms 2. Port Arms 3. Parade Rest 4. On Guard 5. Low Guard The crowd control baton is used primarily to direct the movement of crowds without contact. A person who remains non-violent will not intentionally be struck with the baton. However, if an individual forcefully resists and/or attacks an officer or other person, or fails to move back as directed, force may be necessary. Officers may use the baton to push and make contact with an uncooperative individual in a crowd. The command to “MOVE – BACK” will still be verbalized and directed toward the specific individual. Officers are also permitted to strike an individual if threatened with Active Aggression as described above. Officers must use reasonable care to confine such pushes or strikes to areas of the body which, if struck, are not intended or likely to cause serious bodily injury. The head and neck shall not be intentionally struck with any impact tool/device unless the officer is justified in using lethal force. Contact uses of the baton include:  Baton push (with contact) Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  30  Defense against attack  Baton retention  Baton strike (top or bottom)  Baton thrust Chemical Munitions Use of chemical munitions (e.g., Mark 4 (personal issue OC), Mark 9 (fogger OC), & Mark 60 (extinguisher size OC) units) shall be considered a use of force and must meet the requirements of all department policies and procedures and C.R.S. The use of a chemical agent for crowd control or riot control must be authorized by the division or unit supervisor. Chemical agents will not be used prior to issuing an order to disperse in a sufficient manner to ensure the order is heard, and repeated, if necessary, followed by sufficient time and space to allow compliance with the order. Chemical agent use in crowd control situations may be appropriate in the following circumstances:  To prevent an injury to an officer or a third person  To subdue a person who is threatening or attempting physical harm to himself or another  Against subjects resisting arrest  To quell rioting  Against subjects interfering with an arrest  Any situation where the officer can clearly articulate the need for deployment Noise Flash Diversionary Device (NFDD) The use of NFDD’s for use in crowd control incidents is prohibited. Less Lethal Inventory and Deployment The deployment of less lethal systems appropriate for use in crowd control incidents also requires a controlled inventory before, and especially during, each incident and that each deployment be accurately documented. To ensure a controlled and systematic method for supplying less lethal munitions and agents:  Chemical agent munitions (except for MK-4 personal OC) and PepperBall® systems must be inventoried and signed out from the district or unit armory by a corporal, sergeant or above, or from a Special Operations Bureau representative in the field, to an authorized user/operator.  At the conclusion of a shift or event, all chemical agent munitions and PepperBall® systems will be returned to the district or unit armory to a Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  31 corporal, sergeant, or above or the Special Operations Bureau representative, for inventory and accountability. A CAD/GO report number must be recorded and required reports must be completed for any used or missing munitions per DPD OMS 105.  A CAD/GO number for all used or missing munitions will be provided to the Less Lethal Coordinator’s office for replenishment or replacement. Each use of force incident, including less lethal deployments, when a subject was taken into custody, will be reported per DPD OMS 105.03 titled Force Related Policies- Reporting prior to the deploying officer’s end of shift. At the conclusion of a crowd control event, or during an event as deemed appropriate by the incident commander or designee, each less lethal operator will include in the unit’s comprehensive use of force report all incidents during a crowd control event when they used less lethal munitions but were unable to safely arrest the subject. The less lethal operator’s statement will include:  The location  Time  Physical description of the subject force was directed toward  The subject behavior requiring the force  Whether supervisor permission was given to deploy less lethal  An account of rounds deployed from the less lethal system  The effect of the less lethal deployment  Why the subject could not be safely taken into custody for each deployment of the less lethal system during the event Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  32 USE OF FORCE REPORTING Every use of force incident, when an individual was taken into custody, will be immediately reported to a supervisor and reported on a DPD12 prior to the end of the deploying officer’s shift, per DPD OMS 105.03. At the conclusion of a crowd control event, or during an event as deemed appropriate by the incident commander or designee, a single comprehensive use of force report may be completed for a field force unit (team, squad, platoon, or division) to document uses of force when individuals were not able to be taken into custody and show of force incidents. The size of the unit reporting will depend on how many non-custodial uses of force occurred. A small number of non-custodial uses of force during a brief crowd control event may require only one division unit report. If many non-custodial uses of force occurred over an extensive crowd control event, unit reporting may need to occur at the squad or team level to document the incidents. Regardless of the unit size, the comprehensive use of force report is utilized, each officer assigned to the unit that used or witnessed force or a show of force where a subject was not taken into custody will complete a statement and attach it to the report. Statements will include the location, time, physical description of the subject force was directed at, the subject behavior requiring force, the force used, effect of the force, and why the subject could not be taken into custody for every use of force and show of force during the event. Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  33 Examples: Commands from the Halt Action Preparatory Command of Notes Command Execution Squad POST 4 Squad Platoon- - Single file 1-3 Squads- Fall in or POST OR - Double file Officers should immediately count off Platoon Squad (1,2,1,2) by Team Left or Right Face Left/Right Face About Face About Face Parade Rest Parade Rest Parade Rest (No Hand Signal) At-Ease Squad At-Ease (No Hand Signal) Dismissed Dismissed Squad or (No Hand Signal) Fall-Out Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  34 Commands on the Move Action Preparatory Command of Notes Command Execution Forward March Forward March Column Right March or Left Column Right/Left Counter Column March Counter Column Squad Halt Squad Halt Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  35 Commands in Platoon / Squad formations Action Preparatory Command of Notes Command Execution Line Formation Move Skirmish Line Emergency Line No Prepatory Command. Emergency Line Officers form emergency skirmish line on the NONE leader. Crossbow Line Form.- Move Crossbow Line Formation Close Support Move Close Support Left or Right Move Guard Left / Right Guard Gap slide Move Commanders must dictate how far to Gap Slide or Surge advance. Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  36 Action Preparatory Command of Notes Command Execution Encirclement MOVE Used to surround passive resistive group to be arrested. Encirclement Leaders must ensure the element knows who to encircle. Arrest Rescue MOVE Used to rescue or arrest a single person in the OR crowd. Arrest / Rescue Leaders must ensure the element knows who to arrest or rescue Arrest Signal: Grab wrist Rescue Signal: Cover fist Separation MOVE Used to separate factions within the crowd or open a path through the crowd to pass through. Leaders Separation also need to ensure that their element knows who or what to separate. Line Support Mask Used when time permits with multiple squads in Close Support, or odd numbered officers use Line Support even numbered officers Mask on the line as cover, then switch. Mask, Mask, No prepatory command. Mask Used to have an entire element immediately drop Emergency Mask to one knee and mask. NONE Baton Push Move Baton Push at a half step, address the crowd. Baton Push Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  37 FORMATIONS Legend Captain/Commander (Company/Division Supervisor) Lieutenant (Platoon Leader) Sergeant (Squad Leader) Grenadier Corporal/Technician (Asst. SL) Pepper ball/Grenadier Corporal/Technician (Asst. SL) Pepper ball/Grenadier Officer (42” Baton) Column Formations - used to move elements on foot to and from the scene of an incident. Officers will automatically lower their helmets protective face shield upon falling into the column of twos. Squad Platoon Direction of March Additional Squads Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  38 Movement in Column Formation Forward March Squad Halt Column Right (or Left) Counter Column Form Skirmish Line Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  39 Crossbow Formations – A line formation used to manage or move crowds for containment and control; with support units in column formation ready for additional formation movements. Two or More Squads Threat Direction Platoon Company/Division Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  40 Tactical Movements Line Advance Elements move forward, at half- step, full step or double time pace. If in proximity to the crowd, the speed is slowed and the crowd is addressed “Move Back” and the “Baton Push” is used. Crossbow Line Formation The Column Formation rapidly pushes through the forward element and forms a new skirmish line to the front. The original skirmish line immediately re-posts in column preparing to advance. Close Support Close Support is used to add a second skirmish line behind & offset of the forward element. This tactic provides a formidable presence to the crowd and assists in holding the line. Close Support can be done with multiple elements to form formations up to 4 deep. Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  41 Left/Right Guard Guard movements are used to protect the flank of the skirmish line. Depending on the threat and geography the follow element(s) can be used to cover either the left, right or both flanks simultaneously with enough elements. Encirclement Encirclement is used to surround a passively resistive group of arrestees. Leaders must face officers in/out as needed. Additional officers / elements form arrest teams. Line officers rapidly deploy to encircle the group, and then address the crowd using the “Move Back” command with the “Baton push” to create space and the hold the circle if necessary. Multiple squads must be used for large crowds or large numbers of arrestees. Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  42 Arrest / Rescue Arrest / Rescue is used to penetrate a crowd to make an arrest or rescue. The lead two officers will rake the arrest or rescue into the hands of the following two arrest officers, while the rest of the squad(s) provide a secure perimeter to work in. Arrest officers’ batons are at order arms (in ring) Line officers address the crowd using the “Move Back” command with the “Baton push” to form and the hold the circle. The leader must have a way for the entire element to safely exit the crowd with the arrestee. In large more violent crowds, multiple squads should be used. Separation Separation is used to separate two hostile groups, or open a path through a crowd. Line officers rapidly enter the crowd in column formation, when in position, they turn and address the crowd using the “Move Back” command with the “Baton push” to move and hold the crowd back. In large more violent crowds, multiple squads must be used to keep the element from being flanked or engulfed. Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  42 APPENDIX A STATE LAWS AND CITY ORDINANCES In incidents where the dispersal of a crowd for the purpose of “Protection of Property” and/or the “Protection of Public Order” becomes necessary, the following violations may be considered in ordering crowd dispersal: 38-89 (a) Disturbance 38-61 Damaging, defacing or destruction of public property 38-62 Protection of fire and police department property (unlawful to deface, interfere with, etc.) 38-71 Damaging, defacing or destruction of private property 38-86 Obstruction of streets or other public passageways 38-101 Prohibited noises 38-115 Trespass Any C.R.S. for Destruction of Property, Arson, or actions including CRS 18-9- 101 thru 18-9-108. In violent crowd control events where the “Protection of Life” is of paramount importance, the violence against persons or officers presented by the crowd will be the measuring factor in determining what tactic or tools should be used to disperse the crowd. Some of the criminal acts that may support an increased level of force or tactics are: 38-31 Interference with police authority 38-32 Resisting any police authority 38-36 Aiding or rescuing prisoners 38-92 Threats 38-96 Irritants 38-93 Assault 38-117 Unlawful possession of dangerous weapons 38-120 Unlawful use or discharge of certain weapons 38-121 Firing or discharging dangerous or deadly weapons 38-122 Unlawful throwing of projectiles and missiles Any CRS for Assault, Aggravated Assault or more severe threats, including CRS 18-9-101 thru 18-9-105. Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  Appendix43B APPENDIX B C.R.S. Title 18 Article 9 Offenses Against Public Peace, Order, and Decency Part 1 Public Peace and Order Please refer to the following web link: www.michie.com/colorado/ Denver Police Department – Official Use Only  62 APPENDIX C DPD Use of Force Policy Please refer to the following web links: OMS Force Related Policies - Use of Force Policy OMS Force Related Policies - Force and Control Options OMS Force Related Policies - Reporting OMS Force Related Policies - Shooting by and/or of Police Officers OMS Force Related Policies - Use of Force Review Board Denver Police Department – Official Use Only