Incident Command System (ICS).pdf

BOCA RATON POLICE SERVICES DEPARTMENT Standard Operating Procedure 46.01 INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM (ICS) Revised: December 7, 2023 I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this standard operating procedure is to provide Department employees with information on the activation and use of the incident command syste...

BOCA RATON POLICE SERVICES DEPARTMENT Standard Operating Procedure 46.01 INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM (ICS) Revised: December 7, 2023 I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this standard operating procedure is to provide Department employees with information on the activation and use of the incident command system (ICS) which is a component of the Nationwide Incident Management System (NIMS) The Incident Command System (ICS) may be utilized for any size or type of critical incident or event as a means to coordinate the efforts of individual employees and other responding agencies as they work toward the stabilization of an incident. 17.01 II. DEFINITIONS: After Action Report: A post-incident report which includes a synopsis of the event, the information learned for the post-incident analysis (lessons learned), and corrective suggestions (if needed). Incident: An occurrence natural or human-caused that requires an emergency response to protect life, property, or both. Incidents can, for example, include major disasters, terrorist attacks, terrorist threats, wildland and urban fires, floods, hazardous materials spills, nuclear accidents, aircraft accidents, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, tropical storms, war-related disasters, public health and medical emergencies, and other occurrences requiring an emergency response. Incident Action Plan (IAP): An IAP is a written document that contains general objectives reflecting the overall strategy for managing an incident. It may include the identification of operational resources and assignments. It may also include attachments that provide direction and important information for management of the incident during one or more operational periods. III. PROCEDURE: A. ACTIVATION OF ICS: 1. The ICS shall be utilized for all emergency incidents and/or unusual occurrences. The following steps shall be followed by employees responding to incidents requiring the use of ICS: 17.01 a. The first employee to arrive on-scene shall perform an initial assessment of the incident to include determining what type of response is required, if additional employees are required, and what hazards are present. The first Effective: August 31, 2003 Revised: December 7, 2023 Incident Command System (ICS) SOP No. 46.01 Page 1 of 10 responding employee shall contact a public safety dispatcher (PSD) and relay the information and request a supervisor, if necessary. 17.01 b. The first employee arriving on-scene shall be the incident commander (IC) until relieved by a supervisor. 17.01 c. At the earliest practical time, the IC will transmit that he/she is assuming command of an event over the radio. 17.01 i. As additional employees and supervisors arrive, command will transfer on the basis of who has primary authority for overall control of the incident. ii. Command will only be transferred when the current IC meets with the oncoming IC and transfers command. d. There shall only be one IC in charge at a time. 17.01 e. The IC will determine if any mutual aid needs exist. f. When an incident transitions from another jurisdiction into the City, the watch commander or his/her designee will immediately assume command of the event until otherwise relieved and will ensure notification to all employees involved. 17.01 g. When an incident is initiated by Department employees and/or transitions from the City into another jurisdiction, the watch commander or his/her designee will maintain IC (to include maintaining the integrity of crime scenes) until relieved by a supervisor of the affected jurisdiction. 17.01 2. The ICS may be utilized when preparing for planned events or incidents. If the ICS is used for planning an event, the following shall be documented in an Incident Action Plan (IAP): a. A designated IC. b. The activation of any other sections applicable to the incident and the designation of section chiefs. 3. The ICS shall remain in effect until all involved agencies/employees have been released. As the incident begins to scale down, employees and sections may be released/deactivated upon the decision of the IC. 17.01 B. ACCOUNTABILITY AND DEPLOYMENT: 1. All responders, regardless of agency affiliation, shall check in at the designated location to receive their assignment. Responders and equipment shall only respond when requested or dispatched by an appropriate authority. Effective: August 31, 2003 Revised: December 7, 2023 Incident Command System (ICS) SOP No. 46.01 Page 2 of 10 2. Each individual involved in the event/incident is assigned to only one supervisor. 3. Supervisors will be expected to manage a range of three to seven employees to maintain a reasonable span of control. 4. Supervisors shall ensure that operations are directed and coordinated as outlined in any applicable written incident action plans or orders issued by the IC. 5. Supervisors shall record and report staffing and logistical resource status changes as they occur. C. ORGANIZATION: 1. SINGLE COMMAND: a. The following chart depicts all organizational structures that may be implemented when utilizing the ICS: Incident Command Public Information Officer Liaison Officer Safety Officer Operations Section Planning Section Logistics Section Finance/Admin Section b. This type of organization is designated for incidents that occur within a single jurisdiction with no functional agency overlap. 2. UNIFIED COMMAND: 20.01 a. This type of organization is utilized when there is more than one agency with incident jurisdiction or when incidents cross jurisdictions. Agencies work together through the designated members of the Unified Command, often the IC from agencies and/or disciplines participating in the Unified Command, to establish a common set of objectives and strategies and a single IAP. b. The IC remains in charge of the Department’s response, employees, and resources even if multiple agencies are operating under a Unified Command. Effective: August 31, 2003 Revised: December 7, 2023 Incident Command System (ICS) SOP No. 46.01 Page 3 of 10 c. Incident planning and operations are approved by the members of the Unified Command. 3. AREA COMMAND: a. The function of Area Command is to coordinate the determination of incident: i. Objectives ii. Strategies iii. Priorities for the use of critical resources allocated to the incident assigned to the Area Command. D. COMMAND STAFF: 1. The command staff consists of the IC and the public information officer (PIO), safety officer, liaison officer, and other positions as required, who report directly to the IC. They may have an assistant or assistants, as needed. 2. INCIDENT COMMANDER (IC): 3. The IC is the employee responsible for all incident activities, including the development of strategies and tactics and the ordering and the release of resources. The IC has overall authority and responsibility for conducting incident operations and is responsible for the management of all incident operations at the incident site. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: i. Ensure clear authority and knowledge of Department policies and procedures. ii. Ensure incident safety. iii. Establish an Incident Command Post. iv. Assess the situation and/or obtain a briefing from the prior IC. v. Establish immediate priorities. vi. Determine incident objectives and strategies. a) The objectives will be communicated throughout the entire organization. b) Efforts will be directed for the implementation of the developed objectives and the results of the progress will be documented to measure performance and facilitate corrective action. Effective: August 31, 2003 Revised: December 7, 2023 Incident Command System (ICS) SOP No. 46.01 Page 4 of 10 vii. Establish the level of organization needed and continue to monitor the operation and effectiveness of that organization. viii. Manage planning meetings as required. ix. Approve and implement the Incident Action Plan (IAP). x. Coordinate the activities of the Command and General Staff. xi. Approve requests for additional resources or for the release of resources. 4. xii. Approve the use of participants. xiii. Authorize the release of information to the news media. xiv. Order demobilization of the incident when appropriate xv. Keep agency administrator informed of incident status. xvi. Ensure incident after-action reports are complete. PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER (PIO): a. The public information officer is a member of the command staff responsible for developing and releasing information about the incident to the news media, to incident employees, and to other appropriate agencies and organizations. Only one PIO is designated (even under Unified Command). Responsibilities include but are not limited to: i. Determine, according to direction from the IC, any limits on information release. ii. Develop accurate, accessible, and timely information for use in the press/media briefings. iii. Obtain IC’s approval of news releases. iv. Conduct periodic media briefings. v. Arrange for tours and other interviews or briefings that may be required. vi. Monitor and forward media information that may be useful to incident planning. vii. Maintain current information, summaries and/or displays on the incident. Effective: August 31, 2003 Revised: December 7, 2023 Incident Command System (ICS) SOP No. 46.01 Page 5 of 10 viii. Make information about the incident available to incident employees. ix. Maintain and release casualty information, as directed by the IC. x. Provide rumor control through media briefings and to incident employees. xi. 5. Participate in the planning meeting. SAFETY OFFICER (SO): a. The safety officer is a member of the command staff responsible for monitoring and assessing safety hazards or unsafe situations and for developing measures for ensuring personnel safety. Only one safety officer will be assigned for each incident. The SO may have assistants. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: i. Identify and mitigate hazardous situations associated with the incident. 6. ii. Review IAP for safety implications. iii. Exercise emergency authority to stop and prevent unsafe acts. iv. Investigate accidents that have occurred within the incident area. v. Review and approve a medical plan. vi. Participate in planning meetings. LIAISON OFFICER (LO): a. The liaison officer is a member of the command staff responsible for coordinating with representatives from cooperating and assisting agencies. The liaison officer may have assistants. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: i. Act as a point of contact for agency representatives. ii. Maintain a list of assisting and cooperating agencies and agency representative. iii. Assist in setting up and coordinating interagency contacts. iv. Monitor incident operations to identify current or potential or inter-organizational problems. v. Participate in planning meetings, providing current resource status including limitations and capabilities of agency resources. Effective: August 31, 2003 Revised: December 7, 2023 Incident Command System (ICS) SOP No. 46.01 Page 6 of 10 vi. Provide requirements. E. agency-specific demobilization information and GENERAL STAFF: 1. General Staff are a group of incident management staffing organized according to function and reporting to the IC. The General Staff normally consists of the Operations Section chief, Planning Section chief, Logistics Section chief, and Finance/Administration Section chief. 2. Command and General staff shall continually interact and share vital information relating to the incident. Status reports of the current situation and the projected future of the situation shall be discussed. If necessary, recommended courses of action will be submitted to the IC for consideration. 3. OPERATIONS SECTION: a. This section is responsible for all tactical incident operations. In ICS, it normally includes subordinate branches, divisions, and/or groups. The Operations Section’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to: i. Establish perimeters ii. Conduct evacuations iii. Maintain command post and scene security iv. Maintain security of Department or City facilities, if appropriate v. Provide confinement 4. for detainee transportation, vi. Direct and control traffic vii. Conduct post-incident investigation processing, and PLANNING SECTION: a. The Planning Section is responsible for the collection, evaluation, and dissemination of operational information related to the incident, and for the preparation and documentation of the IAP. This section also maintains information on the current and forecasted situation and on the status of resources assigned to the incident including post-incident demobilization. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: Effective: August 31, 2003 Revised: December 7, 2023 i. Supervise preparation of the IAP ii. Provide input to IC and Operations in preparing the IAP Incident Command System (ICS) SOP No. 46.01 Page 7 of 10 iii. Incorporate Traffic, Medical and Communications Plans and other supporting materials into the IAP iv. Conduct and facilitate planning meetings v. Reassign personnel within the ICS organization vi. Compile and display incident status information vii. unit Establish information requirements and reporting schedules for viii. Determine the need for specialized resources ix. Assemble and disassemble Task Forces and Strike Teams not assigned to Operations x. Establish specialized data collection systems as necessary (e.g., weather) 5. xi. Assemble information on alternative strategies xii. Provide periodic predictions on incident potential xiii. Report significant changes in incident status LOGISTICS SECTION: a. The Logistics Section is responsible for providing facilities, services, and material support for the incident. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: i. Provide all facilities, transportation, communications, supplies, equipment maintenance and fueling, food and medical series for incident employees, and all off-incident resources ii. Manage all incident logistics iii. Provide logistical input to the IAP iv. Brief logistics staff as needed v. Identify anticipated and known incident service and support requirements vi. Request additional resources as needed vii. Ensure and oversee the development of the Communications, Medical and Traffic Plans as required Effective: August 31, 2003 Revised: December 7, 2023 Incident Command System (ICS) SOP No. 46.01 Page 8 of 10 6. FINANCE/ADMINSTRATION SECTION: a. The Finance/Administration Section is responsible for all incident costs and financial considerations. This includes the Time Unit, Procurement Unit, Compensation/Claims Unit, and Cost Unit. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: i. Provide financial and cost analysis information as requested ii. Develop an operating plan for the Finance/Administration Section and fill Section supply and support needs iii. Ensure that employee time records are completed accurately and transmitted appropriately iv. F. Document injuries and liability issues COURT AND PROSECUTORIAL LIAISON: 1. During a major event, when an increased number of arrests may be made, arrangements will be made with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) and the State Attorney's Office for detention and special processing. a. The FSD district commander, or his/her designee, on realization that special actions will need to be taken, will act as liaison with PBSO and the State Attorney's Office at the initiation of preparation for the event. b. The Assistant State Attorney will assist in legal considerations of a criminal nature and the City Attorney will assist in those of a civil nature. G. COMMUNICATIONS: 1. Communications employees shall request mutual aid and resources as requested by the IC. 2. Public safety dispatchers shall create a Palm Beach County LE Common or BSO talkgroup to establish radio communication with any agencies called to assist. 3. If the Department initiated the event, the Communications Section shall retain primary control of radio communications. 4. Communications employees shall not discontinue use of the radio talkgroup until instructed to do so by the IC. H. SITUATION MAPS: 1. The Crime Analysis Unit and Communications Section have the capability to generate maps for use in plotting operational commitments during unusual occurrences. Effective: August 31, 2003 Revised: December 7, 2023 Incident Command System (ICS) SOP No. 46.01 Page 9 of 10 2. The maps indicate not only streets and waterways, but show residences and buildings, and are of a scale small enough to plot items of interest in managing unusual occurrences. I. AFTER ACTION REPORT: 17.01 1. An event debriefing between the Command and General Staff will be conducted within 15 days following the event. The findings of the post-incident analysis will be documented by the IC. The incident commander will then submit an After-Action Report to the chief of police within a practical amount of time following the event. 2. For more information on writing an After-Action Report, see Standard Operating Procedure 46.50 After-Action Reports. J. TRAINING: 17.01 1. Annually, all affected employees will receive training on the Department's "All Hazard" plan. This training will be documented by the Training Unit. K. REVIEW OF PROCEDURES: 1. The Field Services Division (FSD) commander or his/her designee will be responsible for reviewing, updating, planning, and maintaining the procedures in the City’s Emergency Management Plan (EMP), planning responses, and expediting resources for hurricanes, pandemics, and any other unusual occurrences/critical incidents added to the EMP. Effective: August 31, 2003 Revised: December 7, 2023 Incident Command System (ICS) SOP No. 46.01 Page 10 of 10