Explosive Breaching.pdf

BOCA RATON POLICE SERVICES DEPARTMENT Standard Operating Procedure 46.21 EXPLOSIVE BREACHING Revised: November 21, 2017 I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this standard operating procedure is to provide operational guidelines for the Boca Raton Police Service Department’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWA...

BOCA RATON POLICE SERVICES DEPARTMENT Standard Operating Procedure 46.21 EXPLOSIVE BREACHING Revised: November 21, 2017 I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this standard operating procedure is to provide operational guidelines for the Boca Raton Police Service Department’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team and Bomb Squad members involved in explosive breaching operations. II. POLICY: It shall be the policy of the Department and its personnel to adhere to the following guidelines to maximize the safety and coordination of incidents requiring explosive breaching. III. DEFINITIONS: Explosive Breacher: A SWAT Team member or Bomb Squad member who has attended an approved tactical explosive breacher’s course where he/she was trained in the construction, placement, and initiation of an explosive breaching device. IV. PROCEDURE: A. CONDITIONS FOR USE: 1. The Department’s SWAT Team and Bomb Squad have established this program to provide an additional means (explosive) of breaching. The Bomb Squad shall be on scene whenever an explosive breach is going to be conducted. 2. Incidents during which explosive breaching may be used include, but are not limited to the following: a. High risk warrant service b. Hostage situations c. Barricaded suspects d. Armed felon suspect arrests e. Sniper situations Effective: November 4, 2014 Revised: November 21, 2017 Explosive Breaching SOP No. 46.21 Page 1 of 3 f. B. Requests for assistance by other law enforcement agencies SWAT COMMANDER RESPONSIBILITIES: 1. It shall be the responsibility of the on-scene SWAT commander to determine the need for explosive breaching. The choice to employ explosive breaching shall be based primarily on the safety of hostages, innocent civilians, officers, and offenders. C. BREACHER RESPONSIBILITIES: 1. Bomb Squad breachers shall be responsible for maintaining and controlling all explosive inventories. 2. Explosive breachers shall maintain a log containing information about the testing and evaluation of all explosive charges deployed in training and during real events. D. TRAINING: 1. Explosive breachers shall participate in training a minimum of four times annually. Training exercises will be conducted jointly between SWAT Team and Bomb Squad breachers and documented on monthly training worksheets. E. IMPLEMENTATION: 1. During callout events, the explosive breachers will conduct joint reconnaissance when it is safe to do so. When it is unsafe for joint reconnaissance, only SWAT trained explosive breachers will be used to provide information about the structure. 2. Explosive breaching charges will be constructed jointly by SWAT Team and Bomb Squad explosive breachers. 3. If it is safe to do so, explosive breaching charges will be placed and detonated by Bomb Squad breachers with the assistance of SWAT Team breachers. If the placement of the explosive charges is deemed unsafe for joint placement and detonation, only SWAT trained explosive breachers will place the explosive breaching charges. 4. The SWAT commander or his/her designee shall determine when reconnaissance and placement are unsafe for Bomb Squad explosive breachers. 5. During an event, a minimum of one SWAT breacher and one bomb technician shall be on scene. All explosive charges that fail to fire during the breaching operation will be handled by Bomb Squad technicians in accordance with their training. 6. Incidents where explosive breaching is utilized shall be documented in applicable SWAT Team and/or Bomb Squad after action reports. Effective: November 4, 2014 Revised: November 21, 2017 Explosive Breaching SOP No. 46.21 Page 2 of 3 F. EQUIPMENT: 1. All equipment will be provided by the Department SWAT Team and/or Bomb Squad. This includes uniforms, gear, hardware, explosives, etc. 2. Explosives utilized for breaching shall be transported within a magazine. 3. Explosives utilized for breaching shall be stored within the Bomb Squad truck and the Police Department range. 4. The Bomb Squad shall be responsible for documented monthly inventories and inspections of the explosive breaching equipment. Approved: Daniel C. Alexander Chief of Police Effective: November 4, 2014 Revised: November 21, 2017 Date: Explosive Breaching SOP No. 46.21 Page 3 of 3