SOP 254 - Bomb Threats and Explosive Devices.pdf

HOLLYWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT SOP #254 BOMB THREATS AND EXPLOSIVES DEVICES ORIGINATION DATE: 11/01/2001 REVISED DATE: 03/18/2015 AP...

HOLLYWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT SOP #254 BOMB THREATS AND EXPLOSIVES DEVICES ORIGINATION DATE: 11/01/2001 REVISED DATE: 03/18/2015 APPROVED: CHIEF OF POLICE, JEFF DEVLIN PURPOSE: To establish guidelines for the response and handling of bomb calls, threats and explosive devices. SCOPE: This SOP applies to all Members of the Department. POLICY: The Department will respond to all emergencies occurring within the City regarding bomb calls, threats and/or explosive devices. INDEX: PROCEDURE:.............................................................................................................................................. 2 I. OVERVIEW OF BOMB REPORTS, THREATS AND EXPLOSIVE DEVICES....................................... 2 A. BOMB REPORTS:................................................................................................................................... 2 B. BOMB THREATS:.................................................................................................................................... 2 C. EXPLOSIVE DEVICES:............................................................................................................................. 2 II. MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES............................................................................................................... 3 A. ROLE OF MEMBERS WHO OBTAIN DETAILS OF AN EXPLOSIVE DEVICE OR BOMB THREAT:.......................... 3 B. NOTIFICATION OF PERSONNEL AND CHAIN OF COMMAND:........................................................................ 3 C. EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL TO BE DISPATCHED:.................................................................................. 3 D. COMMUNICATIONS AND RADIO SILENCE:................................................................................................. 3 E. RESPONSE AWARENESS:....................................................................................................................... 3 III.DETAILS OF SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES................................................................................. 4 A. COMMAND POST:................................................................................................................................... 4 B. PERIMETER SECURITY:.......................................................................................................................... 4 C. EVACUATION PLAN:............................................................................................................................... 4 D. SEARCH PROCEDURES:......................................................................................................................... 4 E. SUSPICIOUS ITEM FOUND DURING A SEARCH:......................................................................................... 6 F. POST EXPLOSION PROCEDURES:........................................................................................................... 6 IV.COORDINATION WITH FIRE DEPARTMENT........................................................................................ 6 A. BOMB CALLS, THREATS OR FOUND EXPLOSIVES:.................................................................................... 6 SOP #254 Bomb Threats and Explosive Devices Page 1 of 9  B. EXPLOSIONS:........................................................................................................................................ 6 V. COORDINATION WITH INVESTIGATORS OR EVIDENCE SPECIALISTS.......................................... 6 A. OFFICER’S RESPONSIBILITY................................................................................................................... 7 B. ON-SCENE SUPERVISOR:....................................................................................................................... 7 C. ARSON DETECTIVE:............................................................................................................................... 7 VI.TRANSPORTING EXPLOSIVE DEVICES............................................................................................... 8 A. W ITHIN CITY VEHICLES:......................................................................................................................... 8 B. TO CITY PROPERTY:.............................................................................................................................. 8 VII.POLICE BUILDING BOMB THREATS................................................................................................... 8 A. NOTIFICATION OF CHAIN OF COMMAND:.................................................................................................. 8 B. GENERAL EVACUATION PLAN:................................................................................................................ 8 VIII.DEFINITIONS:........................................................................................................................................ 8 A. BOMB REPORTS:............................................................................................................................... 8 B. BOMB THREATS:............................................................................................................................... 8 C. DISPOSAL:.......................................................................................................................................... 8 D. EXPLOSIVES:..................................................................................................................................... 9 E. EXPLOSIVE DEVICE:......................................................................................................................... 9 F. HOT ZONE:......................................................................................................................................... 9 G. PUBLIC SAFETY ANSWERING POINT [PSAP]:............................................................................... 9 PROCEDURE: I. OVERVIEW OF BOMB REPORTS, THREATS AND EXPLOSIVE DEVICES A. Bomb Reports: Though most bomb reports are fictitious and are employed as a method for instilling fear or disrupting business operations, it must be remembered that by calling the police, the media or the intended victim in advance, the bomber may have other motives. Examples include; trying to feel guiltless for injuries or deaths caused by their explosive device; purposely luring Public Safety Officers to the location of a detonation, or just to view the stir of activity caused by their actions. Therefore, every bomb report must be considered real and extreme caution must be used. B. Bomb Threats: Bomb threats are bomb reports tied to a subject’s threat to detonate an explosive device if a certain demand for action doesn’t occur or compensation is not received. In this SOP, we will use the term Bomb Threats for both classifications of threats and calls. C. Explosive Devices: Explosive devices can be as simple as a soda bottle filled with chemicals or flammable liquid, a shotgun shell with nails taped to it, a metal pipe filled with gun powder, or as complicated as a nuclear device. They can also be as obvious as several sticks of dynamite and an alarm clock or as innocent as a regular business envelope or abandoned attaché case. Ignition devices can have similar characteristics of simplicity or sophistication to include; burning fuses, equipment that produces electrical current, trip wires, booby traps, radio frequency receptors, switches that detect movement, or multiple triggering devices. SOP #254 Bomb Threats and Explosive Devices Page 2 of 9 II. MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES A. Role of Members who Obtain Details of an Explosive Device or Bomb Threat: Any Member who receives information of an explosive device or threat will collect the following information: 1. The specific location of the device. 2. Exact time of scheduled detonation. 3. Description of the item. 4. Type of explosive device (incendiary, dynamite, plastics, etc.). 5. The subject’s purpose or reason. 6. Method used to deliver the device (mailed, hand carried, delivery service, etc.). 7. Identity of the caller and/or the organization he represents. 8. Description of the caller (sex, age, nationality, voice characteristics, etc.). 9. Background noises heard. B. Notification of Personnel and Chain of Command: Communications will be responsible for: 1. Dispatching a COP Supervisor and appropriate Officers. 2. Notifying the Fire Department. 3. Notifying the Shift Lieutenant. The Shift Lieutenant will advise if a Command Staff “All Page” is necessary. The Shift Lieutenant will notify the on-call Staff Duty Officer. 4. Notifying the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). C. Equipment and Personnel to be Dispatched: The following personnel and equipment will be dispatched to an explosive device or threat: 1. Two Police Units. 2. Supervisor. 3. Fire Engine. 4. Fire Rescue. D. Communications and Radio Silence: All radios and cell phones will be shut off within 100 yards of any scene. During this period of radio silence, the Supervisor on scene of the incident will leave his radio on to receive and monitor vital information from Communications. All on-scene communications will be routed to the on-scene Supervisor who will communicate to dispatch via a landline phone. E. Response Awareness: When Officers are responding to bomb threat or explosive device incidents: 1. Be wary of being drawn into a trap. Scan rooflines and surrounding areas for suspicious persons, who may; drop explosive devices, trigger a device, or may want to observe the police units arriving before the explosive device is detonated. 2. Be alert for suspicious vehicles parked near buildings. 3. Select a parking place with care. Avoid the front entrance, shrubbery, planters, trash receptacles and suspicious vehicles. SOP #254 Bomb Threats and Explosive Devices Page 3 of 9 III. Details of Supervisor Responsibilities A. Command Post: Supervisors should consider establishing a Command Post where; communications can take place, equipment can be assembled, evacuation and search teams can be organized and permanent incident command can take place. B. Perimeter Security: A Supervisor will respond to all threats and explosive device incidents and secure a perimeter if required, around the scene as follows: 1. Bomb Threats and Found Explosives: At least 100 yards away from the area or building where a report or threat was made or explosive device was found. Additional personnel maybe summoned as needed to establish the perimeter. 2. Detonated Explosives: The perimeter should be at least 100 yards beyond the most outlying pieces of debris. The Perimeter should have: a. A "Hot Zone" or inner perimeter. b. An outer perimeter. c. An area between the inner and outer perimeter for the: (1). Command Post. (2). Media. C. Evacuation Plan: The responding Supervisor will discuss the necessity of evacuation with the property owner or custodian. That person will make the informed decision on whether to evacuate and/or if a search will be conducted. The Police Officer cannot force evacuation of an area or building under bomb threat circumstances unless there is a reasonable belief that the threat may result in Property damage or bodily harm. If the decision is made to evacuate and/or search: 1. The on-scene Supervisor will be responsible for organizing the evacuation. a. This evacuation will be conducted in a calm and safe manner with a combined team effort of the owner or person(s) so designated by the owner and the Police Officer(s) (see paragraph D2, Search Teams of this Section). (1). The Supervisor will agree on a safe place for evacuees to be sent. (2). If the evacuation calls for the movement of persons with special needs i.e.; nursing home, sick or injured, etc., the Fire Department may provide useful assistance. (3). The Supervisor will re-assemble the teams at the Command Post to ensure everyone has been evacuated. b. All evacuees’ include the teams responsible for the evacuation should be sent to an area outside of a 100-yard perimeter of the potential location. If the 100-yard perimeter includes other occupied buildings, these occupants should also be requested to leave the area. 2. The Supervisor will be responsible for not allowing any breaches of the evacuation zone. D. Search Procedures: The Supervisor will be in command of the search operation with the cooperation of the property owner or custodian. 1. Blue Prints and Diagrams: If possible, a set of blue prints or diagrams of the area or building to be searched should be obtained and kept at the command post. SOP #254 Bomb Threats and Explosive Devices Page 4 of 9  2. Bomb Detecting Dog: A Bomb Detecting Dog will be utilized when available or requested by a Supervisor. 3. Organization of Search Teams: a. Whenever possible, business employees should be selected on a voluntary basis to assist the Police in the search. Ideally, these persons should: (1). Be from security and/or building maintenance and have access to all areas of the building, etc. (2). Employees or persons familiar with the business or area, b. Under no circumstances will an employee be permitted to search without a Police Officer accompanying them. c. The number of available Police Officers and employees combined with the size of the area to search will determine the number of teams needed to conduct the search and length of time to conclude it. 4. Assignments and Duties: The Supervisor will be responsible for assigning locations to be searched by the teams and going over with all search teams the following general guidelines: a. Teamwork: Search teams should stay together to enhance the thoroughness of the search. b. Do Not Disturb Suspicious Items: The on-scene Supervisor will brief all Search Teams of the importance of not disturbing items that look suspicious and to immediately make the proper notifications. c. Outside Searching: When searching the outside of the building, the teams will: (1). Include the search of automobiles parked within the 100-yard perimeter. (2). Search planters, window wells, bushes, shrubs, ledges, trash receptacles, and over doorways. (3). Do Not probe freshly turned earth. (4). Check utility and equipment rooms that have exterior access. d. Inside Searching: When searching the inside of the building, the teams will: (1). Pay special attention to rest rooms, waiting rooms, hallways, closets, water fountains and other places having easy public access. (2). Be careful of booby traps while opening doors, etc. (3). When entering a room, stop in the doorway and make a visual search of the room before you enter. Stop Look and Listen. a. Visually sweep the room from floor to waist level then from waist to head level and finally from head level to the ceiling. b. If nothing is visible, enter and conduct a physical search, following the same sweep procedure. (4). Check false ceilings. (5). Make a complete visual inspection of desk and file cabinet drawers, etc. for trip wires or tampering before opening. (6). Avoid touching light switches or any other electrical items such as radios, etc. as they may trigger devices. SOP #254 Bomb Threats and Explosive Devices Page 5 of 9  E. Suspicious Item Found During a Search: If a suspicious item or explosive is found during a search, the Supervisor in charge of the search will: 1. Secure the area and remove all search teams from the building. 2. Re-secure the perimeter and establish a Command Post. 3. Summon additional personnel and equipment (see Section V paragraph B. of this SOP). 4. The Shift Lieutenant will be notified immediately and: a. Confer with the on scene Supervisor to ensure their scene responsibilities have been completed. b. Re-evaluate the perimeter with the Fire Department Commander. c. Direct Teletype to conduct an “all-page” of the Command Staff. F. Post Explosion Procedures: If an explosion occurs at the scene of a bomb threat or report of an explosive device, in addition to the items completed in Paragraph E, Suspicious Items Found During a Search the following will occur: 1. The Staff Duty Officer will be called to the scene. 2. Officers will coordinate their efforts as first-responders with the on-scene Police Supervisor. The Supervisor will coordinate the Police Department’s effort with the Commanding Officer of the Fire Department. Officers must remain alert for the following while conducting first aid: a. Booby traps, and/or secondary bombs. b. Structural damage and dangers of collapse. IV. COORDINATION WITH FIRE DEPARTMENT At the scene of any Bomb Threat or Explosive Device, the Police and Fire Department Members will confer and coordinate their efforts. A. Bomb Calls, Threats or Found Explosives: The Fire Department is usually dispatched simultaneously to many calls handled by the Police Department. In these situations, the Fire Department’s role is to stand-by in case the situation escalates into a rescue or fire suppression operation. B. Explosions: At the scene of an explosion, the Fire Department’s role is to coordinate and command all fire suppression operations and prolonged rescue and extraction operations. 1. However, during the first responder phase of rescue and extraction operations, Police Command and Fire Command should coordinate their efforts, to ensure proper triage of the injured and to ensure public safety personnel proceed safely. 2. Once the Fire Department completes their operations, the Police Department will assume command of the crime scene. 3. Despite the devastation and rescue operations, Officers must make a conscious effort to protect and preserve evidence and the crime scene. However, the protection of life will always supersede this necessity. V. COORDINATION WITH INVESTIGATORS OR EVIDENCE SPECIALISTS Depending upon the nature and scope of a bomb threat or explosive device incident, coordination of effort must occur between Officers, Investigators and Evidence Collection Specialists. SOP #254 Bomb Threats and Explosive Devices Page 6 of 9  The following should provide guidance for Members: A. Officer’s Responsibility Officers will be responsible for coordinating: 1. Contact with the owner or custodian to explain the incident and gather preliminary information. 2. Evacuation efforts with persons familiar with the area or building. 3. Search efforts with persons familiar with the area or building. 4. Establishing and maintaining a secure perimeter. 5. Communication with the on-scene Supervisor without the use of a radio or cell phone. 6. Coordination of first aid and assistance to the injured with the Fire Department. 7. The preliminary investigation and a Priority Mobile Field report with the Arson/Bomb Detective. B. On-Scene Supervisor: The on-scene Supervisor will be responsible for coordinating: 1. Field communications without the use of cellular or radio frequencies. 2. Establishment of a perimeter. 3. The activities of the Command Post(s) with responding Officers and assisting Agencies. 4. The proper response of equipment and personnel to the scene. 5. Evacuation and Search Plans. 6. Extraction and rescue activities with the Fire Department. 7. Law Enforcement activities within and outside the Agency to include: a. Bomb Detecting Canine b. Arson Detective. c. Agencies capable of Deactivation and Disposal of Explosives. (1). Broward Sheriff’s Bomb Disposal Unit or, (2). Naval Ordnance at Lloyd State Park (for military explosives). d. The collection of evidence with the Identification Unit, i.e.: (1). Fingerprints from pay phones, packages, suspicious items etc: (2). Applicable audio/video tape(s). (3). Calling information of the suspect via: (a). Telephone Company. (b). Caller ID (4). Scene photographs. C. Arson Detective: The Arson Detective will be responsible for coordinating: 1. The investigation with Fire Department personnel. 2. The investigation with all other assisting Agencies and/or Specialized Units. SOP #254 Bomb Threats and Explosive Devices Page 7 of 9 VI. TRANSPORTING EXPLOSIVE DEVICES A. Within City Vehicles: Items, which are known or suspected to be explosive or incendiary in nature, will not be placed or transported in city owned vehicles except: 1. Officers may transport small arms and ammunition, which have been impounded as evidence in criminal cases, or held for safe keeping (see SOP #270 Property and Evidence). 2. Members may transport gasoline in a proper container to a stalled motorist. B. To City Property: Items, which are known or suspected to be explosive or incendiary in nature will not be transported to city, owned property unless: 1. It is by a Bomb Disposal Agency and, 2. It is a clear area that is needed for detonation if transportation over a greater distance would be hazardous. VII. POLICE BUILDING BOMB THREATS A. Notification of Chain of Command: If a Member receives a bomb threat affecting Headquarters, the Shift Lieutenant will make the decision to search and/or evacuate the building. The following Commanding Officers will be notified: 1. The Staff Duty Officer. 2. The Chief of Police. B. General Evacuation Plan: If it is determined that the Police Building is to be evacuated, the Shift Lieutenant will have Communications make that announcement via Police radio. The Shift Lieutenant will be responsible for: 1. Assigning Officers to a secure perimeter around the building and prohibiting any entry. 2. Assigning Officers to evacuate the building starting with the top floor and working down. 3. Ensuring that Fire/Rescue responds. 4. Ensures that a Bomb Detecting Canine responds to search the building. VIII. DEFINITIONS: A. BOMB REPORTS: The report of an explosive device or possible detonation of an explosive device. B. BOMB THREATS: The report of an explosive device or possible detonation of an explosive device coupled with a subject’s threat to detonate an explosive unless a certain demand for action or compensation takes place. C. DISPOSAL: The safe decomposition of explosives and/or incendiary materials, chemicals, chemical fillers and initiating or detonating devices through chemical means or through a controlled detonation at a designated area. SOP #254 Bomb Threats and Explosive Devices Page 8 of 9  D. EXPLOSIVES: Any chemical compound, mixture or device, the primary purpose of which is to function by "explosion." The term "explosives," includes, but is not limited to: dynamite, nitroglycerin, trinitrotoluene [TNT], other high explosives [i.e., plastics], black powder, pellet powder, initiating explosives [i.e., RDX and PETN], detonators, safety fuse, squibs, detonating cord, igniter cord and igniters. This does not include cartridges for firearms or fireworks as defined in Chapter 791 F. S. E. EXPLOSIVE DEVICE: Any item suspected of, or containing explosive or incendiary filler, that could be solid, liquid or gaseous in nature. This will include, but is not limited to, all homemade bombs, military or personnel ordnance, pyrotechnics and dangerous chemicals. E. HOT ZONE: An inner perimeter around an area which could contain an explosive or hazardous device. F. PUBLIC SAFETY ANSWERING POINT [PSAP]: A designated area receiving emergency 911 calls and dispatch police services. SOP #254 Bomb Threats and Explosive Devices Page 9 of 9