Los Angeles Police Department Supervisor’s Field Operations Guide PDF

Los Angeles Police Department Supervisor’s Field Operations Guide Published By: Emergency Preparedness Unit, Emergency Operations Division, Special Operations Bureau Los Angeles Police Department Supervisor’s Field Operations Guide – Volume 2 of the LAPD Emergency Operations Guide Page 1 2009 SUP...

Los Angeles Police Department Supervisor’s Field Operations Guide Published By: Emergency Preparedness Unit, Emergency Operations Division, Special Operations Bureau Los Angeles Police Department Supervisor’s Field Operations Guide – Volume 2 of the LAPD Emergency Operations Guide Page 1 2009 SUPERVISOR’S FOG TABLE OF CONTENTS INCIDENT CHECKLISTS.............................................................................................................. 3 AIR CRASHES........................................................................................................................ 3 ATTEMPTED SUICIDES ......................................................................................................... 6 BARRICADED SUSPECTS ...................................................................................................... 8 BOMBS / IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE (IED) ............................................................... 11 CROWDS ............................................................................................................................ 14 EARTHQUAKE .................................................................................................................... 20 EVACUATION ..................................................................................................................... 27 FIRES .................................................................................................................................. 30 CBRN/ HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INCIDENTS ..................................................................... 32 OPERATIONS POST TASKS ................................................................................................. 34 HOMICIDES........................................................................................................................ 41 MEDIA RELATIONS ............................................................................................................ 45 MISSING PERSONS ............................................................................................................ 48 OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTINGS ....................................................................................... 50 PERIMETERS ...................................................................................................................... 53 SPECIAL EVENTS ................................................................................................................ 56 STORMS AND FLOODING .................................................................................................. 59 INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM .............................................................................................. 61 COMMAND........................................................................................................................ 66 OPERATIONS SECTION ...................................................................................................... 68 PLANNING SECTION .......................................................................................................... 71 LOGISTICS SECTION ........................................................................................................... 75 FINANCE/ADMINISTRATION SECTION .............................................................................. 81 INCIDENT FACILITIES ......................................................................................................... 85 MEETINGS AND BRIEFINGS ............................................................................................... 88 UO RESOURCES, LAWS, AND REPORTS .................................................................................. 92 MOBILE FIELD FORCE CONCEPT ........................................................................................ 92 MOTORCYCLE STRIKE TEAM ............................................................................................. 94 AFTER‐ACTION REPORTING .............................................................................................. 97 UO AFTER‐ACTION REPORT .............................................................................................. 97 SPECIALIZED RESOURCES ................................................................................................ 101 ASTRO RADIO CAPABILITIES ............................................................................................ 104 Supervisor’s Field Operations Guide – Volume 2 of the LAPD Emergency Operations Guide Page 2 HOME Incident Checklists AIR CRASHES CONTROL OBJECTIVES (IC/OPERATIONS) • Provide a detailed Size-up: • Location of accident; • Size of the involved area; • Type(s) of structure(s) involved; • Number of injuries and deaths, if known; • Military or civilian aircraft; • Type of aircraft (passenger, cargo, helicopter...); • Class of aircraft (single engine, multi, jet....). • Determine additional assistance needed (police, fire, medical, military, etc.) • Establish a location for the Staging Area. (Emphasize numbers of department personnel, not units.) • Determine the best available ingress/egress routes for emergency vehicles. • Establish Perimeter and Traffic Groups and devise a traffic plan with direction from Fire Department. • Maintain ingress/egress routes (Ensure initial responders do not block roadways.) • Establish a Witness Management Group and designate a secure witness management area. • Obtain other missions from Fire Unified Commander such as: • Crash site security; • Evacuation. • INCIDENT COMMANDER TASKS Establish a Unified Incident Command Post with Fire Department. Complete necessary pages of ICS Form 201 (4 pages). Map Sketch, Summary of Current Objectives and Actions, Current Organization, and Resources Summary. Build organizational chart appropriate to the scope of the incident /event. Initiate a Bureau or Citywide tactical alert if necessary. If needed, establish a Law Branch. Operations Post. Ensure the Staging Area is large enough and provides easy access for responding resources. Establish a Joint Information Center (JIC). • • • • • • • NOTIFICATIONS Watch Commander RACR/DOC Area Commanding Officer Air Support Division NTSB FAA Military (if applicable) • • • • • • + SAFETY MESSAGE + ¾ ¾ ¾ ¾ Do Not Approach unless Life Saving. Don PPE/Mask to protect from Toxic Fumes. Watch for Ordinance in Crash Site. Control Crash Site as if a Homicide Crime Scene. Supervisor’s Field Operations Guide – Volume 2 of the LAPD Emergency Operations Guide Page 3 SCOPE OF POLICE DEPARTMENT INVOLVEMENT: The Los Angeles Fire Department will be the initial lead agency in the Unified Command. The LAFD Incident Commander has full power and authority regarding rescue and fire fighting. The Coroner is responsible for recovery and identification of the dead. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have primary investigative responsibility in non-terror or criminal incidents. The Police Department missions are to support the Incident Commander by providing: • A Size Up; • Control of emergency vehicle ingress/egress routes; • Perimeter and traffic control; • Crash site security; • Evacuation, if necessary; and, • Preservation of evidence. AREA WATCH COMMANDER/INCIDENT COMMANDER RESPONSIBILITIES: • Ensure that a Size Up has been obtained and communicated to Communications Division: 9 Location of accident; 9 Size of the involved area; 9 Type(s) of structure(s) involved; 9 Number of injuries and deaths, if known; 9 Military or civilian aircraft; 9 Type of aircraft (passenger, cargo, helicopter...); 9 Class of aircraft (single engine, multi-engine, jet....). • Determine additional assistance needed (police, fire, medical, military, etc.), and location of Staging Area. (Emphasize numbers of department personnel, not units.) and; • Determine the best available ingress/egress routes for emergency vehicles. • Assign someone to be Acting Watch Commander. • Go to the scene and take command of police operations. Take this guide with you. • Establish Unified Command. For major air crashes, consider requesting activation of the DOC and other resources listed in the Department Resources Section. • Request a Bureau Traffic supervisor to direct the Department investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will send investigators to the scene (as will the military, if needed) upon notification by RACR. • As soon as Fire Department personnel and equipment arrive, the role of the Police Department becomes supportive and may include: • Perimeter control. Consult with the LAFD Incident Commander (through your Agency Representative.) Ensure all crash debris is protected. • Traffic control. Considerations for traffic diversion: • If freeways are involved, establish liaison with the CHP by requesting a CHP agency representative to respond to your Incident Command Post; • Consider use of the Sig-Alert system. (Contact Communications Division); • Maintain control of ingress/egress routes and; Supervisor’s Field Operations Guide – Volume 2 of the LAPD Emergency Operations Guide Page 4 • • • • Assign personnel to direct traffic at key intersections along traffic diversion routes. Request Department of Transportation (DOT) for road closures and traffic control. Restrict air traffic over the scene. Limit air space to LAPD and LAFD official aircraft by contacting Air Support Division on a tactical frequency or by phone. Crash site security. • Establish adequate control to keep unauthorized persons out of the scene. Be especially aware of looting of bodies and theft of wreckage. • Avoid unnecessary movement of dead bodies, body parts, and crash debris. On occasion it may be necessary for authorized rescue personnel to move dead bodies to accomplish the rescue of injured persons; in such exceptional situations, it is imperative that the former location of dead bodies be marked and documented. • To remove small aircraft from traffic ways, contact the Bureau of Street Maintenance via RACR Division or City Hall Operator. Identification of witnesses • Establish a secure witness management area. • Obtain complete FI's of eyewitnesses. • Obtain statements, including: 9 Time of accident; 9 Location of witness at time of crash; 9 Weather at time of crash; 9 Aircraft direction in flight; 9 Aircraft fire in flight; 9 Explosion prior to crash. 9 Impact angle and position of survivors; 9 Did objects fall from aircraft; 9 Anything removed from scene and by whom. If victims or aircraft parts are missing: • Survivors may have parachuted. • Survivors may have left prior to officer arrival. • Deceased or injured victims may be displaced by impact. Conduct a thorough, wide area search. Body parts located away from the scene should be covered and guarded until removed by Medical Examiner-Coroner personnel. Remote aircraft parts should be left in place and guarded. Military Aircraft-Special Considerations. Beware of ejection seats, explosive devices, ammunition, solid and liquid propellants, and other hazards. Preserve the scene until the appropriate military authorities arrive. Except for essential emergency personnel, deny access to ALL and refer inquiries to military authority. Photographing of Crash Site. • Do not photograph military crash sites. • Do not admit the press within the perimeter unless accompanied by a representative from the military authority. • For civil aircraft, request SID-Photograph Section to photographic documentation of the scene from several angles, including the air (if practical). Supervisor’s Field Operations Guide – Volume 2 of the LAPD Emergency Operations Guide Page 5 HOME ATTEMPTED SUICIDES CONTROL OBJECTIVES (IC/OPERATIONS) • Contain scene establish a perimeter and restrict access to the area by unauthorized persons. • Conduct evacuations as necessary. • Control subject (Do not allow person attempting suicide to have contact with anyone except initial communicator.) • Establish contact with person attempting suicide (Find out who, what, when, where, why - before making contact.) • Have containment team in place in case of early surrender • Consider Crisis Negotiation Team/SWAT. • Obtain floor diagram if appropriate and all background info on suspect. (Consider involving area Detectives to pull prior criminal/mental history and photo.) • • • • • INCIDENT COMMANDER TASKS Establish Incident Command Post out of view of the subject. • Complete necessary pages of ICS Form 201 (4 pages). Map Sketch, Summary of Current Objectives and Actions, Current Organization, and Resources Summary. • Build your organizational chart appropriate to the scope of the incident/event. • Request Rescue Ambulance and Fire Department to stand by. NOTIFICATIONS Watch Commander Communications Division RACR Mental Evaluation Unit Metro/CNT (Crisis Negotiation Team) ROLE OF THE INITIAL COMMUNICATOR Once containment has been established, initiating dialog with the person attempting to commit suicide is essential. It is recommended that at least two officers be part of this process. One officer to establish dialog with the person attempting to commit suicide and the second (preferably a Sergeant) to communicate with the Incident Commander /Operations Section Chief regarding the progress of the negotiation process. Supervisors should generally avoid becoming involved in the role of negotiator. The following points are suggested for the initial communicator: • Establish initial contact as soon as possible; • Coordinate all actions with the Incident Commander; • Attempt to stabilize the situation through dialogue; • Remember that the communicator is not the decision-maker; • Be prepared to remain as the communicator until relieved by the Crisis Negotiation Team. The initial conversation with the person who is attempting suicide is extremely important. As an initial communicator it is critical that words are used that will calm the situation. The following guidelines will assist the initial communicator in establishing productive dialogue: • Find out who, what, when, where, why - before making contact with the person attempting to commit suicide; • Calm down before initiating communications; Supervisor’s Field Operations Guide – Volume 2 of the LAPD Emergency Operations Guide Page 6 • • • • • • Introduce yourself by first name and as a representative of the Department; If the person attempting to commit suicide does not give their name, or refuses to respond, give them a name and continue to communicate; Allow the suspect to vent his or her frustrations; Don’t rush - listen to the subject; Avoid a critical, uncaring tone; Build rapport and establish trust. GENERAL NEGOTIATION GUIDELINES The use of negotiations is another resource to control and manage the crisis situation. It is a process of combining verbal and physical tactics to affect the safe resolution of the conflict. However, there are central guidelines that should be followed during the negotiation process: • Avoid face-to-face negotiations; • Avoid third party negotiations; • Do not offer transportation; • Demands for weapons, drugs, or alcohol cannot be met; • Subjects should not be allowed to go mobile; • Communicate in English when possible; • Do not have the subject surrender until officers at the scene are prepared to take the person into custody. Face-to-face negotiations may occur during jumper scenarios and the ability to avoid this format may not be practical. However, it is imperative that the communicator stays a safe distance from the jumper during negotiations (in the interest of officer safety). Third party negotiators are essentially individuals other than law enforcement personnel. Third party negotiator requests are typically family members or friends. Until the Crisis Negotiation Team relieves the initial communicator, it is recommended that a third party negotiator not be introduced into the negotiation process. Any dialogue that relates to an exchange of drugs, alcohol and weapons should be avoided! Supervisor’s Field Operations Guide – Volume 2 of the LAPD Emergency Operations Guide Page 7 HOME BARRICADED SUSPECTS CONTROL OBJECTIVES (IC/OPERATIONS) • Contain the suspect(s) by establishing an inner and outer perimeter. • Evacuate the inner perimeter if necessary. • Determine what crime(s) has been committed. • Gather intelligence on the suspect from friends, relatives, or neighbors. • Make telephonic contact with the suspect and request his surrender. • Request a tactical frequency. • Establish a traffic plan for residents and responding resources. • Deploy an Urban Police Rifle(s). • Broadcast suspect description. • Diagram the location. • "4 C’s": Containment, Control, Communications, Coordination. • • • • • • • • • INCIDENT COMMANDER TASKS Establish an Incident Command Post outside of the inner perimeter. Complete necessary pages of ICS Form 201 (4 pages). Map Sketch, Summary of Current Objectives and Actions, Current Organization, and Resources Summary. Build your organizational chart appropriate to the scope of the incident/event. Initiate a Bureau or Citywide tactical alert if necessary. NOTIFICATIONS Watch Commander RACR Area Commanding Officer Area Detectives Commanding Officer Metropolitan Division SWAT (Crisis Negotiation Team) WHAT IS A BARRICADED SUSPECT? Not all suspects who refuse to surrender are considered to be barricaded. A barricaded suspect is defined within the following limited criteria: 1. The suspect is probably armed; and 2. The suspect is believed to have been involved in a criminal act or is a significant threat to the lives and safety of citizens and/or police; and 3. The suspect is in a position of advantage, affording cover and concealment; or is contained in an open area and the presence or approach of police officers could precipitate an adverse reaction by the suspect; and 4. The suspect refuses to submit to arrest. Once these criteria are met, the Incident Commander should immediately request SWAT to respond. TACTICAL RESPONSE: THE FOUR "C’s" Containment. Immediate containment is essential to prevent the suspect’s escape. All sides of the location must be covered. The proper means for containing the suspect is to establish inner and outer perimeters. The inner perimeter is a high-risk area, and should be established at the closest distance from the location that is still safe for officers. The outer perimeter will then be established at a distance far enough to provide a safe working zone for responding resources. During containment operations, good cover is essential for officer safety. Cover offers protection from gunfire and allows the officer to safely observe the suspect’s position. If the suspect has a Supervisor’s Field Operations Guide – Volume 2 of the LAPD Emergency Operations Guide Page 8 rifle or other long barreled weapon, officers must seek additional cover. Traditional sources of cover may not be adequate. A barricaded suspect meets the criteria for deployment of the Urban Police Rifle (UPR). This is especially true when the suspect is armed with a rifle or other long barreled weapon. The Incident Command Post should be established outside the inner perimeter. Consideration should be given to finding a strategic location that allows easy ingress and egress for responding personnel. Control. Control of the suspect is of paramount concern. Officers must prevent the suspect from having any outside contact. Outside contact could allow the suspect the opportunity to get help or take a hostage. This means the affected area (inner perimeter) must be isolated from all pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Adjoining buildings and rooms should be evacuated. Isolation includes all persons -- no clergymen, relatives, neighbors or friends. Communications. Definitely request a tactical frequency for the incident. Telephones should be used for making notifications and requests, especially when requesting SWAT. Communication should also be established with the suspect to seek and encourage surrender. If possible, this should be done by telephone. If a telephone is not available, a vehicle loudspeaker or bull horn may be used. You must ask for the suspect to surrender. Document the date/time and who requested the suspect to surrender. Document the method utilized to communicate with the suspect. If amplification is used, verify that the announcement was audible by personnel some distance away from the suspect location. Citizen witnesses who are able to hear the verbal requests should also be identified for possible testimony during court proceedings. Do not allow non-police personnel to have contact with suspect. Do not use family or friends to negotiate with the suspect. Intelligence information about the suspect should be gathered from witnesses, friends, family or neighbors. Any information that may be helpful should be forwarded to the Incident Command Post. This information should include the number of suspects and/or hostages, physical descriptions clothing, age and the mental state of the suspect. Coordinate. The Incident Commander must coordinate the response of resources such as additional patrol units, Metropolitan Division Canine, SWAT, Air unit, Bomb Squad, etc. Remember that the officers in Canine and SWAT are specially trained and equipped to handle area searches/barricaded suspects. In addition, an Air unit can be utilized to coordinate the perimeter and seal the area, especially if the primary responding unit is not intimately familiar with the location. SWAT Notification. When requesting SWAT, the Incident Commander should be prepared to answer the following questions: • What is the situation? Be prepared to give a detailed brief. • Are there any hostages? • Have shots been fired? What type of weapon was used? By whom? Supervisor’s Field Operations Guide – Volume 2 of the LAPD Emergency Operations Guide Page 9 • • • • Is the suspect contained? How do you know? Are containment officers deployed behind proper cover/concealment? Has the suspect been asked to surrender? How was this done? Telephone? Loudspeaker? Is the affected area isolated? Is evacuation needed or done? What is the safest route to approach the Incident Command Post? Handling barricaded suspects is one of the specific assignments given to SWAT. SWAT has a dual role at the scene of a barricaded suspect: 1. SWAT gathers information and provides tactical solutions to the Incident Commander. 2. If requested by the Incident Commander, SWAT will employ a tactical plan to apprehend the barricaded suspect. Once SWAT has been given the mission, a SWAT supervisor will become the Operations Section Chief. All tactically deployed personnel shall be guided by the direction of this SWAT supervisor. In the event a hostage is taken, all efforts should be made to prevent the suspect from moving the hostage. The Incident Commander should notify Metropolitan Division that a hostage is involved. Metropolitan Division will automatically include crisis negotiators with the initial SWAT response. Before SWAT arrives, have all witnesses or other involved persons at the command post. It is also helpful to prepare a diagram of the area and the involved building. Number the sides of the structure starting from the front and moving clockwise around the structure (see diagram). Include a floor plan of the structure in your diagram. Also number the openings to the structure. All openings should be numbered from left to right. 3 2 (REA 4 1 Supervisor’s Field Operations Guide – Volume 2 of the LAPD Emergency Operations Guide Page 10 HOME BOMBS / IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE (IED) TACTICAL MISSIONS (IC/OPERATIONS) • Conduct a Size Up. Radio Transmissions: • Turn off MDC. • Do not transmit on radios. • Turn off cellular telephones. • Use only landline telephone for communications. If a bomb threat is received, survey the surroundings for potential danger prior to entry. • Make contact with person familiar with area. • Conduct search with person familiar with area. If a possible device is found, evacuate 300-ft min. • Notify Watch Commander. • Notify Bomb Squad. • Have gas and electricity turned off. If a device has exploded, ensure Fire Department has been notified. • Evacuate area and be aware of possible secondary and tertiary devices. • Control of emergency vehicle ingress/egress routes. • Establishment and maintenance of the perimeter around the Closed Area (limited access or no access). • • • • • • • INCIDENT COMMANDER TASKS Establish an Incident Command Post or Unified Command Post if necessary outside the perimeter. Complete necessary pages of ICS Form 201 (4 pages). Map Sketch, Summary of Current Objectives and Actions, Current Organization, and Resources Summary. Build your organizational chart appropriate to the scope of the incident /event. Initiate a Bureau or Citywide tactical alert if necessary. Assign a Safety Officer within your Command Staff. (Bomb Squad Officer) Initiate a Joint Information Center (JIC) if necessary. Establish a witness management area. NOTIFICATIONS • Watch Commander • RACR • Bomb Squad • MCD/CCS • Area Detectives • Labor Relations (If a business is involved) • SOB –and Metro for any major explosions • ASD – "Code 5 Edward" if necessary. + SAFETY MESSAGE + ¾ ¾ ¾ ¾ ¾ ¾ Do Not Approach unless Life Saving. Be Observant for persons on cell phones near suspected device. Look for additional devices before establishing ICP/Staging. Limit vibrations and possible static charges. Utilize cover to protect from shrapnel if device detonates. Only one person needs to see the suspected bomb, don’t get curious! Supervisor’s Field Operations Guide – Volume 2 of the LAPD Emergency Operations Guide Page 11 RADIO TRANSMISSIONS No radio transmissions or MDC communications should be made in the vicinity of the call. Some devices are wired with electric blasting caps or are radio controlled. Officers are reminded that this does not necessitate the radio being turned off. Officers should leave their radios on to allow the monitoring of radio traffic. The danger occurs when the officer transmits, as a radio signal is sent out upon the radio being "keyed". The MDC, however, sends out a radio signal each time a message is sent or received. After all information has been received, responding units should turn off the MDC approximately one block away from the location. Cellular telephones also have the potential to detonate a bomb; only conventional (landline) telephones should be used upon arrival at the scene. The possibility of a secondary device requires that the preceding communication procedures be followed whether the call is a bomb threat, an actual device, or an explosion. BOMB THREAT CALLS When a unit is assigned a bomb threat call, the unit will be advised via radio to monitor that particular incident number’s comments and respond "Code-3." A supervisor will also be assigned the call and will respond with the assigned unit. The purpose of this process is to prevent unauthorized persons from being attracted to the scene. Upon arrival at the location, officers should immediately survey the surroundings for potential danger. The first officer at scene should contact the person who received the call and, if a business or public entity, the person in charge. The officer should obtain precise statements of the individual making the threat and the method used to communicate the threat. Also, if possible, the type of bomb, location, time of detonation, and the reason for the threat should be determined. SEARCHING A LOCATION The person in charge of the location is responsible for determining if a search is to be conducted (officers may recommend a search if they believe it is advisable). The search should be coordinated from a safe location and anyone involved in the search must be admonished not to touch any suspected items, activate light switches, thermostats, or other mechanisms that might trigger an explosive device. The watch commander should be notified by telephone of any developments particularly if a device or suspected device is located. The building should be systematically and cautiously searched beginning with public areas such as restrooms and lobbies. Searchers should be directed to report their findings to a designated "Search Team Leader". The Search Team Leader will ensure that the entire search is completed and that all relevant areas are searched. If NO device is located, all parties who are aware of the search should be notified that a bomb was NOT found, especially the person in charge and the watch commander. Officers should tell the parties involved that NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY WAS FOUND. Do not tell the parties that the location is safe. Supervisor’s Field Operations Guide – Volume 2 of the LAPD Emergency Operations Guide Page 12 SUSPECTED DEVICE LOCATED Explosive devices can be contained in almost anything. Small bombs have been disguised as letters; others have been concealed in automobiles to create a tremendous explosion. Bombs can be detonated by a variety of methods including the slightest touch. Therefore if any device is located, DO NOT TOUCH IT!!! Immediately notify the Hazardous Device Section (Bomb Squad) and RACR, via landline telephone. The initial search was at the option of the person in charge of the location. Once a possible device is located, the responsibility now lies with the senior officer to conduct an appropriate evacuation. If anyone refuses to evacuate, a police officer has the authority under section 409.5 of the Penal Code to evacuate an area for the public safety. During the evacuation, care should be taken to keep all persons away from windows or other objects that could cause injury during an explosion. The area should be cleared of all persons prior to the arrival of the Bomb Squad. A quick, orderly evacuation is important because the device may be on a timer. Once the area is secured, only Bomb Squad personnel shall be allowed to enter. RESPONDING TO THE SCENE OF A BOMBING Officers responding to the scene of a bombing should establish a Unified Command with the Fire Department. Immediately deploy personnel for perimeter control. The perimeter should extend 1.5 times the distance from the point of detonation to the furthest identifiable fragment. The ICP should be outside the perimeter. Locations where a bomb has detonated should be evacuated exactly as if a live explosive device has been found. A second explosive device may be present or the first device may have only partially detonated leaving a live explosive in the bombing area. Entry to the area should be limited to the number of persons necessary to achieve evacuation of the injured. Once the fire rescue party has left, no one should be allowed to re-enter until bomb technicians have declared it safe. A Witness Management Group and a secure witness management area should be established. Officers at the scene should attempt to locate and complete a Field Interview card on all witnesses. Observations should be recorded on the back and the completed FI’s should be given to the Department’s lead investigator at scene. The FI cards should be as complete as possible and shall include the name and serial number of the officer taking the statement. Although the Department maintains a cooperative relationship with the media, media representatives are NOT allowed to enter bomb scenes. Bomb explosions are a crime scene, not a disaster. Merely walking into the area may destroy critical evidence. News media representatives should be referred to the Incident Commander or the Public Information Officer if one has been assigned. If necessary establish a Joint Information Center. Supervisor’s Field Operations Guide – Volume 2 of the LAPD Emergency Operations Guide Page 13 HOME CROWDS CONTROL OBJECTIVES (I/C/OPERATIONS) • Provide a detailed Size Up, and: • Location of the incident; • Size of the involved area; • Estimated size of the crowd; • Nature of the problem (e.g., demonstration, spontaneous response, abortion clinic, anti-war, etc.); • Number of injuries and deaths, if known. • Additional assistance needed (police, fire, medical, military, etc.), and location of Staging Area. (Emphasize numbers of personnel, not units); • Best available ingress/egress routes for emergency vehicles. • Use Crowd Management Strategies: • Make contact with the crowd and also make contact with the event organizer(s). • Obtain voluntary compliance. For Riots or Unlawful Assemblies: • Know the criteria for declaring an Unlawful Assembly (violence or imminent threat of violence). • Issue a Dispersal Order. • Quickly organize resources into squads and contain the situation. • Consider MFF tactics and request a MFF if needed. • Arrest violators. • • • • • • • INCIDENT COMMANDER TASKS Establish an Incident Command Post or Unified Command Post if necessary. • Complete necessary pages of ICS Form 201 (4 pages). Map Sketch, Summary of Current Objectives and Actions, Current Organization, and Resources Summary. • Build your organizational chart appropriate to the scope of the incident/event. • Initiate a Bureau or Citywide tactical alert if necessary. • Ensure the Staging Area is large enough to accommodate resources and provides easy access for responding resources. • Establish a Staging Area • NOTIFICATIONS Watch Commander Metropolitan Division Communications Area Commanding Officer RACR/DOC Labor Relations Unit (if labor related) A complete discussion of crowd situations can be found in Volume 5 of the Emergency Operations Guide – Guidelines for Crowd Management and Crowd Control. PUBLIC ASSEMBLIES Any public assembly of individuals be it for lawful protest or for unlawful activities may require a response by law enforcement. The response of law enforcement can range from simple observation to crowd management strategies to crowd control tactics. In a society where the right of free speech and assembly is guaranteed by the Federal and State Constitutions, it is the responsibility of police officers to ensure the protection of Constitutional Rights of the members of the public. Supervisor’s Field Operations Guide – Volume 2 of the LAPD Emergency Operations Guide Page 14 These Constitutional guarantees apply to First Amendment activities, including participation in marches, demonstrations, picketing, protests, rallies, leafleting, signature gathering for petitions, charitable solicitation as well as singing, chanting, pantomime, skits, dance or any other activities that communicate information or ideas. The government may not prohibit or regulate these activities in a way that will prevent meaningful and effective communication. The government may impose reasonable regulations as to the time, place, and manner of any expressive activities. In determining whether the speech activity is lawful, police officers may not base their decisions on their subjective, personal views of either the political affiliation or the message of those persons exercising their right to speak. The rights guaranteed individuals by the United States and California Constitutions, including the right to assemble and engage in expressive activities, are not annulled by the declaration of a state of emergency. The declaration of a civil emergency and its communication to the public are a factor which may be considered by the government in determining whether it is reasonable to impose specific time, place, and manner limitations on the exercise of constitutional rights. Crowd Management The Los Angeles Police Department recognizes that not all crowd situations involve civil disorder or unlawful activities. Therefore, it is the policy of the Department to use crowd management strategies and tactics whenever possible to mitigate the possibility of a lawful crowd escalating to an unlawful assembly or riot. Crowd Control The police officer's responsibility is to objectively discern at what juncture a demonstration leaves the realm of legal protest and becomes an abridgement of the rights of others. As a general rule, speech alone, without passive disobedience or violent action, has a high priority of protection. Public officials cannot restrict such speech unless, as the courts have said, "there is a clear and present danger of a substantive evil that arises far above public inconvenience, annoyance, or unrest." Civil disorders, by their very nature, have the potential to cause damage to property, injury or even death and the infringement on the rights of citizens. Because of the dangerous nature of civil disorders, the Department has an obligation to restore a lawful and safe environment as quickly as possible. Supervisors and officers shall use appropriate crowd control tactics to achieve this objective. Use of Force There are no exceptions to the Department’s Use of Force Policy. When the use of force is justified in a crowd control situation, only reasonable force necessary to accomplish an arrest or dispersal shall be employed. Officers are permitted to use whatever force is reasonable and necessary to protect others or themselves from bodily harm. Penal Code Section 835a states officers "may use reasonable force to affect the arrest, prevent escape or overcome resistance." During crowd control situations, officers must use only reasonable and necessary force to overcome resistance and effect control. Supervisor’s Field Operations Guide – Volume 2 of the LAPD Emergency Operations Guide Page 15 MISSIONS AND OBJECTIVES Crowd Management Mission and Objectives The mission of the Department when responding to the scene of a lawful assembly is to preserve public order while at the same time protecting the constitutional rights of the individuals involved. The objectives that must be addressed to accomplish this mission are (in priority order): • Establish contact with the crowd and make contact with the formal leader or event organizer(s), if possible. • Obtain voluntary compliance with police directives. • Minimize enforcement action. Crowd Control Mission and Objectives The mission of the Department during a civil disorder is to restore conditions to normal as rapidly and efficiently as possible. The objectives that must be addressed to accomplish this mission are (in priority order): • Protect life; • Protect vital facilities; • Arrest violators; • Restore and maintain order; • Protect property. General Principles of Crowd Management 1. Establish Contact with the Crowd. Experience and studies have shown that crowds are frequently not anonymous gatherings of strangers. They are more likely to consist of groups of known people. As such, formal Event Organizers or informal leaders will exist. Supervisors or senior officers should attempt to make contact with identified formal or informal leaders of a crowd. During the course of a march, demonstration, protest, rally or other First Amendment protected activity, officers may observe behavior by individuals which constitutes unlawful conduct. The unlawful behavior of individuals, or unlawful conduct observed in an isolated incident, should not automatically form the basis for declaring an otherwise lawful assembly to be unlawful. To protect the expressive rights of the entire assembly and the safety and rights of the public at large, officers should endeavor where they believe it practical to give warning to the leaders or spokespersons of the activity, the other participants, and/or the individuals who are acting or have acted unlawfully, about any observed unlawful or potentially unlawful conduct. Officers should instruct them clearly on what they must do to comply with the laws, so as to allow an opportunity to correct the conduct in question. Interaction with the crowd will allow officers to understand the purpose and motives of the group and allow an opportunity to suggest ways for the group to avoid illegal actions that would necessitate a more aggressive police response. This is referred to as "reading the crowd." 2. Control of Personnel. An otherwise peaceful group can be aroused by inappropriate police conduct, such as individual officers engaging in verbal disputes with individual crowd Supervisor’s Field Operations Guide – Volume 2 of the LAPD Emergency Operations Guide Page 16 members or by showing contempt for the crowd or its beliefs. If possible, it is preferable for a crowd to remain focused on the event itself rather than on police tactics used at the event. A show of force may be appropriate as a deterrent in some unruly crowd situations. Careful consideration of the circumstances must be given prior to employing a show of force. Avoid displaying a "challenge" mentality. When possible, keep a disciplined control force out of public sight ready to respond. 3. Separate Opposing Factions. Often a specific issue will polarize groups into hostile opposing factions. When possible, officers should delineate separate areas for each group to exercise their legal rights to picket or demonstrate. Physical barriers or police lines may be used to effect this separation. For planned events, specific areas should be identified and physically established for use by groups expected to demonstrate. Physical or natural barriers can assist control forces in managing opposing groups. 4. Gather Intelligence. Information that has been evaluated and found to be valid is of utmost importance to the management of groups. The most obvious place to obtain information on what is to occur is from the group itself. Establish contact with group members before an event if possible. During the event, attempt to maintain contact with group leaders to stay aware of any changes in their plans or actions. Such information may be incomplete or inaccurate, but experience has shown in the past that it is better to listen to groups than ignore them. 5. Knowledge of Previous Events. Crowd management procedures start not with a specific event but with events in the past and those occurring elsewhere. Supervisors may examine open sources of information and/or after-action reports from prior events or from similar events in order to identify group behavior and successful and unsuccessful tactics and strategies. It is highly recommended that supervisors and commanding officers properly document the results of actions taken at a crowd management or crowd control incident. 6. Alternate Location for Assembly. When it is determined that an assembly may become unlawful due to the inappropriate nature of the location (e.g., an otherwise lawful crowd exceeds the size of the location and spills onto and inadvertently blocks the public sidewalk), police may identify an alternative site to leaders or spokespersons where the assembly could relocate to avoid the possibility of the assembly being declared an unlawful assembly. General Principles of Crowd Control 1. Rapid mobilization and deployment of police resources. The early moments of a civil disorder are critical. The rapid mobilization of and deployment of police resources is a visual representation of the Department's firm commitment to maintaining peace. This display of police resolve, coupled with orders for the crowd to disperse, will often result in the prevention and/or quelling of the disorder without actually employing further measures. 2. Contain and isolate. The disorder should be contained to the smallest possible geographical area and participants isolated from the public by: • Defining the perimeter; • Establishing perimeters on appropriate roadways along the perimeter; • Posting teams to patrol in sectors within the involved area; Supervisor’s Field Operations Guide – Volume 2 of the LAPD Emergency Operations Guide Page 17 • Creating staging areas for support units outside the perimeter on appropriate commercial roadways. 3. Secure critical or sensitive locations. Incident Commanders will immediately identify and secure critical or sensitive locations within the disturbance area (e.g., hospitals, communication centers, firearms establishments, public utility centers, religious institutions, etc.) that, if not protected, could serve to escalate the disturbance. Incident Commanders shall use the minimum amount of personnel necessary for these assignments. 4. Disperse and discourage disorderly groups. The Incident Commander must rapidly deploy forces and utilize equipment that will quickly demonstrate the Department's unwavering determination to restore order. The arrest of violators and the repeated dispersal of unlawful groups will reduce the crowd's will to resist lawful police orders. 5. Provide protection to City agencies or utilities. In the involved area, the continuance of basic quality of life services to the community is a necessity for the eventual return to normalcy. Therefore, an organized system of police escorts will be provided in appropriate circumstances. 6. Return to normalcy. Provide for a smooth transition to a state of normalcy by gradually reducing police presence in the affected area. The utilization of community leaders and combined efforts with law enforcement will greatly assist with this effort. DISPERSAL ORDERS Whenever an officer forms the opinion, based on reasonable and articulable facts, that an unlawful assembly exists, a dispersal order shall be given. The following factors should be considered when issuing a dispersal order: • Use of an amplified loudspeaker system to issue the order. • If possible, send an officer to the far side of the crowd to tape record the order. • If circumstances permit (absent serious violence), the order shall be made repeatedly over a period of time and, if necessary, from a variety of locations. • The order must include an adequate period of time to disperse and a clear and safe route to disperse. The intent of a dispersal order is to permanently disperse a crowd, not to merely relocate the problem to another location. It should be made clear that the crowd is expected to break up and immediately leave the area, preferably going home to their respective residences. Supervisor’s Field Operations Guide – Volume 2 of the LAPD Emergency Operations Guide Page 18 DISPERSAL ORDER “I am (rank and officer’s name), a police officer for the City of Los Angeles. I hereby declare this to be an unlawful assembly and, in the name of the people of the State of California, command all those assembled at (give specific location, for example, the area bounded by Main Street on the east, Spring street on the west, City Hall steps on the north, and the south sidewalk st of 1 Street on the south) to immediately disperse, which means to break up this assembly. If you do not do so, you may be arrested or subject to other police action. Other police action may include the use of less lethal munitions, which could cause significant risk of serious injury to those who remain. Section 409 of the Penal Code prohibits remaining present at an unlawful assembly. If you remain in the area which was just described, regardless of your purpose in remaining, you will be in violation of Section 409. The following routes of dispersal are available (give the most convenient route(s) of dispersal). You have ____ minutes (give a reasonable amount of time – take into consideration the number of participants, location of the event and number of exit routes) to disperse.” SPANISH TRANSLATION OF DISPERSAL ORDER “ Soy (Rank and officer’s name) official de la policia de la Ciudad de Los Angeles. Por la presente declare que esta reunion es illegal y en nombre del pueblo del Estado de California ordeno que todas las personas reunidas en (give specific location, for example, the area bounded by Main Street on the east, Spring Street on the west, City Hall steps on the north, and the south st sidewalk of 1 Street on the south) se dispersen inmediatamente. De lo contrario seran arrestadas o estaran sujetos a otras acciones policiacas. Otras acciones policiacas pueden incluir el uso de miniciones de menos lethal, el cual puede causar riesgo signification de heridas serias a los que permanecen. La Ceccion 409 del Codigo Penal prohibe permanecer en una reunion illegal. Si usted/ustedes permanecen en las areas mencionadas, sin importer el proposito de su permanencia, usted/ustedes estaran violando la seccion 409 del Codigo Penal de California. Las rutas que se pueden usar para dispersarse son las siguientes: (give the most convenient route(s) of dispersal). Uds tienen ___ minutos (give a reasonable amount of time – take into consideration the number or participants, location of the event and number of exit routes) para dispersarse.” Supervisor’s Field Operations Guide – Volume 2 of the LAPD Emergency Operations Guide Page 19 HOME EARTHQUAKE CONTROL OBJECTIVES (IC/OPERATIONS) • Immediately conduct a roll call accounting for all personnel in your Command. • Conduct a physical assessment of your Area Station/Facility. • Organize and assign units to conduct a damage assessment. (Windshield Survey) and provide the DOC or Bureau Command Post (if activated) with assessment information within 30 minutes. • Assess Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources (CIKR) first. • Include Station damage assessment. • Implement the Area Earthquake Response Plan. • Assign units to control ingress/egress for emergency vehicles at CIKR sites. • Facilitate evacuation of displaced persons and their pets (City Rec. & Parks should establish shelters). • Assess communications equipment (e.g.: telephones, ASTRO radios, NECS and ACC computers, LAN). • Initiate Department Mobilization process when advised to do so by the Department Commander. • • • • • • INCIDENT COMMANDER TASKS Establish an Incident Command Post or, Unified Command Post if necessary. Complete necessary pages of ICS Form 201 (4 pages). Map Sketch, Summary of Current Objectives and Actions, Current Organization, and Resources Summary. Build your organizational chart appropriate to the scope of the incident /event. Establish a staging area(s). Refer to Divisional Standing Plans for Earthquake Response Plans. Establish a Joint Information Center (JIC) if necessary. • • • NOTIFICATIONS Watch Commander, Communications Division RACR/DOC Area Commanding Officer SCOPE OF POLICE DEPARTMENT INVOLVEMENT: Police responsibilities will vary depending on the amount of damage caused. The Fire Department, other City departments, and the public utilities will be heavily involved in handling the disaster. After a minor quake, not all of the below listed police responsibilities will apply; however, after a major quake, most or all of them may apply. The most urgent police responsibilities immediately after an earthquake are: • Accounting for Area/Division personnel; • Re-establishing communications, if disrupted; • Within 30 minutes, providing the Department Operations Center or Bureau Command Post (if activated) with a damage assessment of Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources (CIKR) as well as a general damage assessment of the Area; • Implementing the Area Earthquake Response Plan; • Opening major ingress/egress routes for emergency vehicles; • Facilitating evacuation including special needs community members (i.e. elderly, disabled). Supervisor’s Field Operations Guide – Volume 2 of the LAPD Emergency Operations Guide Page 20 AREA WATCH COMMANDER RESPONSIBILITIES: • Conduct a roll call to account for all on-duty Area/Division personnel. • Start a log. Assign sufficient staff to maintain the log and to monitor available communications, including a commercial radio station (e.g., KFWB). • Contrary to other emergencies, after an earthquake, Watch Commanders should consider remaining at their stations to facilitate the damage assessment process until the extent of damage and casualties is known and has been communicated to the Department Operations Center of Bureau Command Post (if activated). • Telephonically survey or dispatch personnel to assess and report damage of Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources (CIKR) in each Basic Car area. Refer to the Area Earthquake Response Plan. • Instruct Area personnel to report damage to the station (via telephone if possible), not to Communications Division. (Communications will give similar instructions in an all-units broadcast.) • Attempt to establish communications with: 9 Communications Division, or 9 Department Operations Center, or 9 Your Bureau office, or 9 A nearby Area, or 9 Any other organizational element which may be able to facilitate communications. IF NORMAL COMMUNICATIONS ARE DISRUPTED: • Attempt to communicate with your Area/Division units on a car-to-car basis (fallback/ “simplex” mode). • Within 30 minutes, dispatch your Area/Division personnel status report, damage assessment, and Size Ups by motor officer or other messenger to the Department Operations Center located in City Hall East (4th sub-level), or other location designated by the Communications Division Watch Commander. IF AT LEAST ONE MODE OF NORMAL COMMUNICATIONS IS OPERATIONAL: • Establish communications with the Department Operations Center or other Command level personnel. • Within 30 minutes, communicate to the Department Operations Center or Bureau Command Post your Area/Division personnel status report, damage assessment, and Size Up. • Any initial survey of the involved area should include the status of Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources (CIKR). The other consideration is those areas that are critical to the response and recovery phases. If possible, an Air Support Division helicopter can provide an aerial assessment. Examples of Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources (CIKR): hospitals, dams, fire stations, public utility sites, waterways, telecom facilities, etc. (See your corresponding standing plans for CIKR to your particular area.) • Take charge of your Area/Division emergency operations until relieved. Be aware that it may take several hours for assistance to arrive. • Maintain communications with personnel resources. Officers should generally not become involved in rescue operations unless such incidents are immediately life threatening and rescue can be accomplished rapidly. Officers must fulfill their primary Supervisor’s Field Operations Guide – Volume 2 of the LAPD Emergency Operations Guide Page 21 • • functions of observing, estimating, and communicating the overall situation estimate, allowing the DOC to prioritize resources and coordinate a city-wide response. This coordinated approach may ultimately save thousands of lives in a major event, instead of the limited number that could be rescued by individual efforts alone. Implement the AREA EARTHQUAKE RESPONSE PLAN (located in the Watch Commander's office). If damage is determined to be relatively localized (i.e., one major situation), go to the scene and establish an Incident Command Post (see the ICS section), if appropriate or provide police support to the Fire Department Incident Commander. WINDSHIELD SURVEY The Police Department and the Los Angeles Fire Department are the first responders in a disaster and are the primary source of initial disaster intelligence information. Officers will conduct a drive-by assessment of certain pre-determined critical facilities within their reporting district. Officers are responsible for completing the General Area Survey report (Form No. F-3). Weather permitting; the LAPD’s Air Support Division conducts an aerial survey with priority accorded to those sites that are most likely to produce the greatest harm or those sites that are of critical importance to the community. General Area Survey Report (Form No. F-3). This report is a “windshield survey” of all areas of the City. It is a damage-overview report designed to give the EOC managers and the other decision makers situational awareness of the impact the disaster has on the residents of the City. Officers will complete the General Area Survey Report following a major earthquake. This form is designed to be completed rapidly and reported through the radio communication system. It is not expected to be precise. For the purpose of this report, damages and its impact can be divided into six general categories: • • • • • • A quick summary impression of the status of the Area Does the road and bridge network show signs of damage that will hinder movement? Does the area show structures with visual signs of damage, partial collapse, or total collapse? Is there a need for Urban Search and Rescue? Is there a need for Medical Evacuations? Are there large numbers of people displaced who require temporary shelter? A color code system is used in the report and designed to give a graphic display of the damage and types of support services needed. Information is taken from the General Area Survey Report and used to compile the General Area Survey Summary Report. (Form No F-2) Supervisor’s Field Operations Guide – Volume 2 of the LAPD Emergency Operations Guide Page 22 WINDSHIELD SURVEY DAMAGE ASSESSMENT ANNEX-FORMS FORM F-3 GENERAL AREA SURVEY REPORT (This is a field paper report format to be filled out by the person checking the area. The report is sent to the EOC where it is compiled into a General Area Survey Summary Report) Line No. ITEM EXPLANATION DATA (Circle the appropriate color) 1 TYPE OF REPORT Indicate whether a city report or a county unincorporated area report 2 DATE OF REPORT The effective date (MM/DD/YYYY) of the report. EMIS must have a four digit year 3 TIME OF REPORT The effective time (HH:MM - Colon must be used between HH & MM) of the report. This is in military time using the 24 hour clock but when it is entered into EMIS, there must be a colon between hours and minutes. 4 AREA NAME If a City, the city name. If a county unincorporated area, the name of the reporting Sheriff Station 5 DIVISION AND RD LIST THE DIVISION AND THE REPORTING DISTRICT 6 SUMMARY A color code indicating the general overall condition of the reporting district. Very subjective. See description of color codes. GREEN - AMBER - RED BLACK 7 ROADS AND BRIDGES A color code indicating the existence of damage to the road and bridge network in the area that impacts movement. Very subjective. See description of color codes below GREEN - AMBER - RED BLACK 8 STRUCTURAL DAMAGE A color code indicating damage. Very Subjective. See description of color codes below. GREEN - AMBER - RED BLACK 9 NEED FOR List what is resources are needed (USAR , MED EVAC, CORONER SHELTER Supervisor’s Field Operations Guide – Volume 2 of the LAPD Emergency Operations Guide Page 23 9a URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE SUPPORT A color code indicating the need for USAR support. Very subjective. See description of color codes below. GREEN - AMBER - RED BLACK 9b MEDICAL EVACUATION A color code indicating the need for medical evacuation. See description of color codes below. GREEN - AMBER - RED BLACK 9c CORONER ASSISTANCE A color code indicating the need for Coroner assistance for recovery of multiple fatalities. Very subjective. See description of color codes below N/A 9d SHELTERING A color code indicating the need for Coroner assistance for establishment of temporary shelters to care for