SOP 292 - Active Assailant -Rapid Deployment.pdf

SOP HOLLYWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT...

SOP HOLLYWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT #292 ACTIVE ASSAILANT - RAPID DEPLOYMENT ORIGINATION DATE: 03/18/2015 REVISED DATE: 08/25/2023 APPROVED: CHIEF OF POLICE, JEFF DEVLIN PURPOSE: The purpose of this policy is to provide standards and guidelines for the Agency’s response and rapid deployment of officers to an Active Assailant Event (AAE) where there is an imminent threat of loss of life or serious bodily injury. While the term “Active Assailant” is used throughout this policy, it applies to all situations where there is an active, ongoing deadly threat, including but not limited to firearms, explosives, knives, vehicles, and so forth. SCOPE: This SOP applies to all Sworn and applicable Non-Sworn Members of the Department. POLICY: In all critical incident situations, the protection of human life is the Agency’s top priority. It will be the policy of the Agency to respond to such incidents and rapidly deploy available personnel to locate, isolate, contain, and eliminate the threat through the immediate application of appropriate tactics. INDEX: PROCEDURE:.............................................................................................................................................. 3 I. MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES............................................................................................................... 3 A. FIRST RESPONDING OFFICER:............................................................................................................... 3 B. CONTACT OFFICERS:............................................................................................................................ 4 C. EXPLOSIVE DEVICES:............................................................................................................................ 4 D. FIRST RESPONDING SUPERVISOR:......................................................................................................... 4 E. RESCUE TASK FORCE........................................................................................................................... 4 F. ESTABLISHING PERIMETERS:................................................................................................................. 5 G. SHIFT LIEUTENANT:.............................................................................................................................. 5 H. EVACUATION ASSEMBLY POINTS:.......................................................................................................... 6 I. SECONDARY ASSIGNMENTS:................................................................................................................. 6 J. INCIDENT COMMANDER:........................................................................................................................ 7 K. SPECIAL REQUESTS:............................................................................................................................. 7 L. AUTHORIZING THE USE OF FORCE AND CHEMICAL AGENTS:.................................................................... 8 II. CAUSALITY COLLECTION POINT (CCP)............................................................................................. 8 III. MEDIA POLICY....................................................................................................................................... 8 SOP 292 Active Assailant - Rapid Deployment Page 1 of 13 IV. REPORTING............................................................................................................................................ 8 V. DEBRIEFING........................................................................................................................................... 9 VI. AFTER ACTION REPORTS.................................................................................................................... 9 VII.REVIEW................................................................................................................................................... 9 VIII.TRAINING.............................................................................................................................................. 9 IX. DEFINITIONS:......................................................................................................................................... 9 A. ACTIVE ASSAILANT:......................................................................................................................... 9 B. ACTIVE ASSAILANT EVENT (AAE):................................................................................................. 9 C. AMBULANCE EXCHANGE POINT (AEP):......................................................................................... 9 D. APPROACHES:................................................................................................................................. 9 E. BARRICADED SUBJECT:............................................................................................................... 10 F. CASUALTY COLLECTION POINT (CCP):....................................................................................... 10 G. COACH AARON FEIS GUARDIAN PROGRAM:............................................................................. 10 H. COMMAND POST:........................................................................................................................... 10 I. CONTACT OFFICER:...................................................................................................................... 10 J. CONTACT TEAM:............................................................................................................................ 10 K. CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS MANAGEMENT TEAM (CISM):..................................................... 10 L. DECEASED VICTIM STAGING AREA:............................................................................................ 10 M. FAMILY ASSISTANCE CENTER:.................................................................................................... 11 N. HOSTAGE SITUATION:................................................................................................................... 11 O. INCIDENT COMMANDER:.............................................................................................................. 11 P. LINK UP:........................................................................................................................................... 11 Q. MOBILE COMMAND CENTER (MCC):............................................................................................ 11 R. OPERATIONAL ZONES:................................................................................................................. 11 S. PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER (PIO):........................................................................................ 11 T. RESCUE TASK FORCE:.................................................................................................................. 12 U. RESCUE TEAM:............................................................................................................................... 12 V. RESPONSIBILITIES:....................................................................................................................... 12 W. REUNIFICATION POST:.................................................................................................................. 12 X. SEARCH TEAM:............................................................................................................................... 12 Y. SECONDARY RESPONSE TEAM:.................................................................................................. 12 Z. SINGLE OFFICER RESPONSE:...................................................................................................... 12 AA. TACTICAL OPERATIONS COMMANDER (TOC):........................................................................... 12 BB. THREAT:.......................................................................................................................................... 12 CC. THREAT SUPPRESSION:............................................................................................................... 12 DD. TRIAGE POST:................................................................................................................................ 13 EE. UNIFIED COMMAND (UC):.............................................................................................................. 13 FF. VICTIM ADVOCATE:........................................................................................................................ 13 SOP 292 Active Assailant - Rapid Deployment Page 2 of 13 PROCEDURE: I. MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES A. First Responding Officer: 1. Upon determining an active assailant event is in progress, the first Officer on scene will: a. Determine the correct avenue of approach to the threat area. b. Respond directly to an ongoing threat, attempt to engage the assailant, and neutralize the immediate threat. 2. If the situation transitions to a barricaded subject, the first responding Officer will refer to (SOP #209 Critical Incident Response) for guidance and request SWAT personnel. 3. Officers will continue to proactively attempt to locate the active assailant threat until: a. The threat has surrendered. b. The threat has been neutralized. c. The threat barricades themselves 4. Officers’ actions are guided by the priorities of life: a. Victim and/or Hostage b. Innocent bystander c. Officer d. Suspect 5. The first responding Officer will attempt to locate the threat and immediately attempt to engage the threat with the intent of neutralizing the threat with the intent of stopping loss of life or serious bodily injury to victims. In an active assailant event, it is crucial that the threat be located and eliminated as expeditiously as possible to prevent further loss of life or serious bodily injury. The first responding officer(s) will: a. “L.I.C.E.T.” Protocol (1) Locate (2) Isolate (3) Contain; and (4) Eliminate; the immediate threat to stop the loss of life or further serious bodily injury. b. Maintain radio contact and communicate pertinent information to responding units (i.e., equipment needed, resources needed, avenue(s) of approach and or staging, and the location of the threat). c. Determine if the incident is ongoing. d. Immediately deploy toward the threat utilizing appropriate weapon system(s) and, if available, the departmentally issued Active Assailant rifle-rated plate carrier, ballistic helmet, and T.O.R.K. Trauma kit. If the first responding Officer engages and neutralizes the threat(s), they will: e. “TW-SICM” Protocol (1) Threat: Determine the condition of the threat and ascertain if no longer a threat (2) Weapon Status: Determine the status and condition of their weapon system(s) (status of ammunition and functionality of weapon) (3) Security: Establish a secure position for themselves against any other possible threat(s). (4) Immediate Action “Plan”: Develop an immediate plan of action if other threat(s) exist. SOP 292 Active Assailant - Rapid Deployment Page 3 of 13  (5) Communicate: Communicate to responding units their location, attempt to mark their location with some noticeable physical object, the status of the threat(s), articulate if they are in uniform or are in PLAIN CLOTHES, and maintain their position and wait for secondary responding units. (6) Medical: Complete a medical assessment of themselves to ascertain if they are injured. If injured, initiate Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) self-treatment protocol. Verbally instruct other injured victims, within earshot, on how to treat themselves and to stay sheltered in place until instructed by backup Officers where and when to evacuate. B. Contact Officers: 1. If the first responding Officer is alone and the active assailant event is ongoing, they will immediately engage the threat, in accordance with Single Officer Response to Active Assailant tactics and training. If there are several Officers, they will form a contact team and move toward the threat, utilizing limited penetration techniques, in an attempt to locate, engage, and neutralize the threat. The team movement will utilize the departmentally approved formation of a “Modified - T” with point officers and a rear-guard officer, maintaining 360-degree security. Units will move toward a threat utilizing indicators on scene that display where the threat may be located. The team will move only as fast as they can adequately process information on the scene, following known indicators. 2. If the contact team develops intelligence as to where the threat(s) location is through stimulus (i.e., gunfire, specific screams, or verbiage indicating the threat’s location), the team will move at a more rapid pace, passing thresholds going directly toward the active killing. a. Ongoing active assailant events that are time-sensitive, Officers must pass injured victims in an effort to reduce or eliminate any further loss of life. Officers should reassure victims that help is on the way and attempt to gain any viable intelligence from the victim/witnesses. b. A contact Officer or team may initially deploy but have additional contact teams deployed based on the geography of the location of the active assailant event. The amount of contact teams may vary depending on the size of the area where the event is occurring. C. Explosive Devices: If an improvised explosive device (IED) is encountered, the contact Officer(s) will determine if it is safe to bypass and continue their progress toward locating the active assailant threat. If bypassing is unsafe, Officer(s) will attempt to find another route. D. First Responding Supervisor: The first Supervisor on scene will assess the situation, including: 1. Ensuring the responsibilities of the first Officer(s) on scene are initiated or successfully completed and that communications with the Shift Lieutenant are established. 2. Establish a tactical radio channel; 3. Assign additional personnel to contact teams if needed. 4. The Supervisor/Incident Commander will ensure that each team is made aware of the presence and location of additional teams and their responsibilities. 5. Establish rescue/evacuation teams, as needed; 6. Establish perimeter security, containment of the area, and designate escape routes for victims. E. Rescue Task Force When a sufficient number of contact teams have been deployed, the supervisor will deploy a Rescue Task Force to aid in the removal of civilians from the incident location. 1. A Rescue Task Force (two to four officers) will be deployed after the Contact Team(s) have been formed and deployed. They will be responsible for locating and removing victims and innocent civilians from the incident scene. 2. The Rescue Task Force must stay vigilant, as contact with the active assailants(s) may still be possible. SOP 292 Active Assailant - Rapid Deployment Page 4 of 13  3. The Rescue Task Force will remove injured and direct uninjured victims to the appropriate exit. The supervisor in charge will inform the team leader upon assignment of the appropriate exit for uninjured victims to use. The Rescue Task Force members must remember that uninjured victims may be in shock or paralyzed with fear and may not respond to commands. 4. Rescue Task Force criterion will include the following: a. A coordinated joint response between Police Personnel and Fire Rescue Personnel. b. A response to a “warm zone” after the elimination of the known threat. c. Police Responsibilities: Providing security and escort to fire rescue personnel to locate wounded victims safely. d. Fire Rescue Responsibilities: Allocate rescue personnel to triage, treat, and transport victims from the “warm zone” to definitive medical care. e. An initial evacuation area that could be a stronghold position within the warm zone. f. A secondary triage and transport area which Fire Rescue Command will establish. g. Number of Police and Fire Personnel for entry will be determined on a case-by-case basis. F. Establishing Perimeters: 1. Inner Perimeter: a. The inner perimeter will encircle the incident location to contain the assailant(s) / suspect(s) and monitor their actions. b. No person will be allowed to access the inner perimeter other than Law Enforcement Personnel without authorization from a Supervisor on scene. c. Officers staffing perimeter positions will seek proper protective cover. A position allowing an unrestricted view of the scene should be selected. 2. Outer Perimeter: a. The outer perimeter will encircle the entire incident location to restrict access to unauthorized persons and maintain the integrity of the inner perimeter. b. Officers staffing outer perimeter positions will not allow persons to enter the perimeter without Supervisory authorization. c. Persons evacuated from the incident location will not be allowed to return through the outer perimeter without Supervisory authorization. G. Shift Lieutenant: The on-duty Shift Lieutenant is responsible for the following: 1. Assuming command of the situation; 2. Advising the on-call Staff Duty Officer or, if on-duty, a Patrol Division Major of the situation; 3. Ensuring that all required duties and responsibilities of subordinates are being complied with; 4. Summoning the Public Information Officer (PIO) to the scene; 5. Establishing a Command Post, notifying Communications of the location, and assisting the Incident Commander 6. Assign a scribe to document actions at the command post; 7. Ensuring Hollywood Fire Rescue Department is summoned; 8. Coordinate with owners or officials of the incident location to obtain floor plans, a site layout, and a roster (including emergency contact information as available) of employees, students, residents, visitors, or others believed to be on-site; 9. Direct officers to control travel routes by blocking roadways, intersections, and other routes. SOP 292 Active Assailant - Rapid Deployment Page 5 of 13  10. Establish a safe and secure area for the Casualty Collection Point (CCP). The location should be between the inner and outer perimeters and out of the line of sight of gunfire. Request for AOA if needed. 11. Establish a Staging Area for all responding and/or assisting outside jurisdiction law enforcement personnel and notify Communications of the location. Designate a Liaison Officer to remain at this Staging Area to coordinate their assistance. 12. Establish a Sequestering Area for persons not needing medical assistance; 13. Identifying safe area outside the incident perimeters that will be used as assembly points for any persons exiting the scene. Members of the Criminal Investigations Division will be assigned to this location to debrief civilians and keep a record of who enters and/or exits this area. H. Evacuation Assembly Points: The following information is to be recorded for every person entering the evacuation/assembly areas: 1. Name; 2. Address; 3. Telephone Number; 4. Status: a. Student (if killing is at a school); b. Faculty; c. Staff: d. Employee; e. Other; and f. Parent/Guardian; 5. The officers must be aware that the suspect(s) may attempt to infiltrate this location for the purpose of causing additional harm or as a means of escape. Everyone entering this area shall be searched for weapons. a. Access shall be strictly limited to: (1). Students (if killing is at a school); (2). Faculty; (3). Staff; (4). Employees; (5). Other; and (6). Parent/Guardian. 6. Once individuals are logged into the evacuation/assembly area, they are not permitted to leave unless authorized by the Criminal Investigations Division Major or his designee. Parents and/or relatives arriving/attempting to locate loved ones will be directed to the appropriate evacuation/safe assembly point. I. Secondary Assignments: 1. Command Post: A Command Post will be established away from the incident location. Staff Duty Officer will maintain the role of Incident Commander unless relieved by a higher authority. SOP 292 Active Assailant - Rapid Deployment Page 6 of 13  2. SWAT: When SWAT Units arrive on scene and are prepared to deploy, the initial responding Officers’ assignments may be delegated to SWAT Units if deemed appropriate by the SWAT Commander or Incident Commander. 3. Family Assistance Center: Reference the City of Hollywood Family Assistance Center Operations Plan for guidance on activating a Family Assistance Center immediately following a mass casualty incident. The Family Assistance Plan is located in the (Police Resource Folder/Crisis Plans under FAC Plan with Contacts). J. Incident Commander: During normal duty hours, a Patrol Division Major will assume the duties of Incident Commander. After normal duty hours, the on-call Staff Duty Officer assumes the duties of Incident Commander. The Incident Commander is responsible for the following: 1. Responding to the scene and assuming command of the incident; 2. Evaluating the situation and determining the appropriate personnel response. These Members may include: a. SWAT Team; b. Crisis Negotiation Team; c. Additional Officers and Supervisors; d. Field Force Team; e. Canine Unit; f. Bomb Squad; and g. Command Post Personnel 3. The Incident Commander shall ensure that the following actions are accomplished: a. Ensure a command post is established; b. Ensure a staging area for first responders, a second staging area for family members, and a third staging area for the media has been established; c. Organize unified interagency telecommunications; d. Contact appropriate aviation resources to control air space for possible medical evacuation resources and to establish restricted air space for law enforcement use only. e. Identify a Causality Collection Point; f. Initiate intelligence gathering on possible suspects; g. Select a safe location to place evacuees; h. Summon police chaplains and officers to provide information to relatives of victims. i. Ensure SWAT Team Commander or designee is assigned to the command post; and j. Coordinate with the SWAT Commander to identify the location of the SWAT staging area. K. Special Requests: At all active assailant events (AAE) and critical incident scenes, the Incident Commander will request any other necessary resources, including but not limited to the following, if applicable, for operational assistance: 1. Hollywood Fire Rescue Department. SOP 292 Active Assailant - Rapid Deployment Page 7 of 13  2. Surveillance equipment. 3. Request mutual aid, if necessary. L. Authorizing the Use of Force and Chemical Agents: 1. The SWAT Commander will submit a tactical plan to the Incident Commander, which contains use of force and chemical agent recommendations. 2. The Incident Commander must approve the tactical plan and authorize the use of force or use of chemical agents before the plan is executed. 3. If the situation deteriorates prior to that approval, Officers will be guided by the Use of Reasonable Force. 4. No location associated with an active assailant event (AAE) will be considered secure or “cold” until the SWAT Commander deems it to be. II. CAUSALITY COLLECTION POINT (CCP) The Causality Collection Point is where Fire Rescue can receive and treat victims brought by Law Enforcement or Fire Rescue personnel. This area should remain the primary treatment area for life- threatening injuries until transport is available or the scene is determined to be “cold.” Victims may be delivered, dragged, or carried out of the hot zone. The CCP should be located outside the inner perimeter but within the outer perimeter in a safe and secure area with access to the roadway, if possible. III. MEDIA POLICY The Public Information Officer (PIO) will be responsible for controlling media personnel and disseminating all information and news releases. The Department will cooperate as much as possible with the news media and provide authorized access by establishing a location where members of the media will be directed. The following will apply: A. The location will be in a secure area away from an established command post and outside the outer perimeter. B. Members of the media will not be allowed at the command post. C. Members of the media will not be allowed inside the outer perimeter without the approval of the Incident Commander. D. Information will only be released with the approval of the Incident Commander. E. All information distributed to the media will be through the PIO. F. After the incident has ended, all photographs and interviews will be coordinated with the PIO. G. Specific details concerning the tactics or actions of the Crisis Negotiating Team or the SWAT Team will be released to the media only after being reviewed by the Crisis Negotiation Team Commander or SWAT Team Commander. IV. REPORTING A. The first responding officer will complete an incident report as soon as practical. B. All other responding officers will complete supplement reports as soon as practical. C. The Criminal Investigations Division will be assigned to investigate the incident. SOP 292 Active Assailant - Rapid Deployment Page 8 of 13 V. DEBRIEFING (72) hours after the incident, a debriefing will be held with all members and agencies involved. The Incident Commander or his designee will facilitate the debriefing. The debriefing shall identify the deployment's positive and negative aspects to address areas needing improvement and determine whether changes in operational protocols, policy, or training are warranted. VI. AFTER ACTION REPORTS Unless otherwise directed by the Chief of Police or designee, the following reports will be prepared as soon as possible after the event’s culmination and submitted to the affected Patrol Division Major, SWAT Commander, Crisis Negotiation Team Commander, and the reporting Staff Duty Officer for review. A. After Action Report (Crisis Negotiation Team Incident Report) prepared by a member of the Crisis Negotiation Team, as determined by the CNT Team Leader, will be forwarded to the Crisis Team Commander. B. After Action Report prepared by a member of the SWAT Team, as determined by the SWAT Commander. C. All initial Officer and Investigative reports and statements. D. Other reports as necessary. VII. REVIEW The Special Operations Division Major will conduct a documented annual review of this policy and make recommendations if changes are needed to the plan. VIII. TRAINING The Training & Professional Development Unit, in concert with the SWAT Team Commander, will develop training and tactics for the Agency’s response and rapid deployment to Active Assailant Events (AAEs). This training will be delivered to all Sworn and applicable Non-Sworn Members of the Department on an initial and annual refresher basis and documented accordingly. 943.6873 f.s. IX. DEFINITIONS: A. ACTIVE ASSAILANT: A suspect(s) who is actively engaged in causing, or threatening to cause, death or serious bodily injury to others. The location will usually contain large numbers of victims or potential victims. The incident is ongoing when law enforcement arrives. B. ACTIVE ASSAILANT EVENT (AAE): An incident where one or more Active Assailants act to harm or kill others. Such events include, but are not limited to: school shootings, workplace violence, terrorist activities, and snipers. C. AMBULANCE EXCHANGE POINT (AEP): An area that is located near the Triage Post where, after triage is completed, victims are moved to for awaiting transport. The area should have easy ingress and egress and allow for staging of multiple ambulances. D. APPROACHES: Direct Approach or indirect approach. The responding Officer(s) will determine if a direct approach (responding directly to the scene) or an indirect approach (using cover and concealment while approaching the scene) is best. These factors will be determined by the geography of the area. SOP 292 Active Assailant - Rapid Deployment Page 9 of 13  E. BARRICADED SUBJECT: A person who takes a position of confinement to avoid apprehension (the use or threatened use of force to resist apprehension shall have been displayed through actions or words, and the officer shall have reason to believe the suspect will use force to avoid apprehension). A barricaded subject situation is not one where active deadly force is occurring or where there are victims of deadly force with life-threatening injuries who need to be immediately rescued, as that is an AAE. F. CASUALTY COLLECTION POINT (CCP): A temporary location(s) in the Warm Zone where injured victims can be quickly and safely assembled until it is feasible to move the patients to the Triage Post or another formal treatment area. G. COACH AARON FEIS GUARDIAN PROGRAM: The Coach Aaron Feis Guardian Program was established in 2018 through the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act. Guardians are armed personnel who aid in the prevention or abatement of active assailant incidents on school premises. They are either school employees who volunteer to serve in addition to official job duties or personnel hired for the specific purpose of serving as a school guardian. H. COMMAND POST: A post established by the Incident Commander to direct emergency operations. This may include where the Unified Command is located. I. CONTACT OFFICER: The first responding Officer(s) will be responsible for responding immediately to an ongoing threat, in accordance with Single Officer Response to Active Assailant Tactics and Training, and engage the active assailant with the appropriate force to stop the immediate threat to potential victims. Once the Contact Officer has made contact with the Active Assailant and either neutralized the immediate threat or caused the assailant to become barricaded, the contact Officer will relay that information, via police radio, to responding secondary units and advise the status of the threat, avenue of approach, resources needed and mark the area where they are. The Contact Officer(s) will then conduct a self-medical assessment and self-treat any injuries to themselves. The contact Officer(s) will verbally instruct any other injured victims within earshot on how to treat their injuries, to stay sheltered in place, and that help is on the way. The contact Officer(s) will maintain 360-degree security in the event that there are any other threats. J. CONTACT TEAM: A team formed by the first two to five law enforcement officers to arrive on scene who are capable of immediate response to an AAE. Contact Team formations are generally a “T” or diamond formation that provide 360-degree security while advancing through unsecured areas to engage an active assailant. Contact Team formations and tactics are similar to Rescue Task Force formations. Based upon the circumstances, an officer shall take immediate action if they are the only person on scene. The officer shall not wait for another officer/deputy to arrive to take immediate action to stop the threat. K. CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS MANAGEMENT TEAM (CISM): A multi-faceted team comprised of agency and outside personnel that includes trained mental health professionals and religious volunteers. L. DECEASED VICTIM STAGING AREA: An area within the outer perimeter where deceased victims are transported for identification, processing by the Medical Examiner, and subsequent transportation to the Medical Examiner’s Office. SOP 292 Active Assailant - Rapid Deployment Page 10 of 13  M. FAMILY ASSISTANCE CENTER: A location that provides the public with mental, emotional, spiritual, psychological, and logistical assistance immediately following an incident such as, but not limited to, an active assailant event, act of terrorism, or a transportation accident. The center may also be used to obtain critical information about missing persons, incident details, and related matters. N. HOSTAGE SITUATION: Incidents involving an act or potential act of violence where an innocent person(s) is being held against their will may include a situation where the person is used as a bargaining tool or a “shield.” O. INCIDENT COMMANDER: The Incident Commander is solely responsible for managing the entire incident, including approval of the tactical plan, deployment of personnel, development of staff functions to control the incident, coordination of contributing agencies, ordering and releasing of resources, and releasing information pertaining to the incident. The Incident Commander shall be based at the Command Post. P. LINK UP: The process by which secondarily responding Law Enforcement meet up with primarily responding Law Enforcement for the purpose of providing backup and additional resources. The link up is a dangerous point in the Active Assailant Event due to a rapidly changing, austere, stressful environment. Detailed, specific communication between Law enforcement groups is crucial to avoid “blue on blue” or “friendly fire” incidents. This communication can be hampered by being inside thick concrete buildings and different agencies responding on different radio frequencies. Q. MOBILE COMMAND CENTER (MCC): A special-purpose vehicle primarily designed to house the Command Post and provide communications services at the scene of emergency operations. R. OPERATIONAL ZONES: 1. Zone designations are dynamic and will change as the incident develops. a. Cold Zone – An area where there is no threat level and law enforcement has designated it as secure. The Command Post (including Unified Command), patient triage, treatment, and transport are organized and located in this zone. b. Warm Zone – An area where there is a moderate threat level, and the area has not been completely cleared. Law enforcement protection for Fire Rescue units is required to enter this area. c. Hot Zone – An area where there is a high threat level. Active combat is occurring or is likely to occur in this area. EMS/ Fire Rescue personnel, with the exception of SWAT Medics, shall not operate in a Hot Zone. 2. Inner Perimeter – The immediate area of containment, including the Hot Zone and Warm Zone. This area is initially staffed by patrol personnel until relieved by SWAT Team officers. 3. Outer Perimeter – A control area set up outside the Inner Perimeter to restrict crowd and traffic from accessing the Inner Perimeter. It is staffed by law enforcement officers. The Outer Perimeter is located at the warm-to-cold interface, with perimeter teams focused externally to prevent unauthorized people from breaching security. S. PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER (PIO): Disseminates information to the public and media at the direction of the Police Chief or designee. SOP 292 Active Assailant - Rapid Deployment Page 11 of 13  T. RESCUE TASK FORCE: A team of armed police officer(s) who accompany unarmed, trained Fire Rescue personnel into a “warm zone” to attempt to locate and evacuate critically injured victims. It is the responsibility of the Rescue Task Force to provide security for Fire Rescue personnel who will treat and then evacuate injured victims to a casualty collection point, which will be established by the incident command post personnel. U. RESCUE TEAM: A designated group of Officers who respond in a tertiary role to the scene of the active assailant event. The Rescue Team will assist in the location and evacuation of critically injured victims. V. RESPONSIBILITIES: The First Responding Officer(s) will determine if an active assailant event is in progress. The first responding Officer(s) will establish the area of immediate threat, an area of entry and will relay, via police radio, pertinent facts and intelligence gathered to responding units and chain of command. The first responding Officer(s) will respond directly to the threat, utilizing appropriate equipment and tactics, and attempt to immediately engage the threat and stop any further threat to victims or loss of life. W. REUNIFICATION POST: A post established where victims are transported to be reunited with family and friends and for victims’ families and friends to await the rescue and debriefing of victims involved in the incident. X. SEARCH TEAM: The search team will commence a primary, thorough search of the interior of the scene where an active assailant event has occurred. Y. SECONDARY RESPONSE TEAM: Responding backup Officers who will respond to the contact Officer(s) for additional support. Communication is paramount to avoid a “blue on blue” or “friendly fire” incident. Secondary response officers will meet with the contact Officer(s) and initiate an avenue of evacuation for victims who are physically able to move on their own. Secondary responding Officers will immediately begin to treat those victims who are in need of medical intervention, utilizing Tactical Combat casualty Care techniques they have been instructed in. Z. SINGLE OFFICER RESPONSE: An officer who arrives at an AAE and determines that it is necessary to respond alone to engage the active assailant and neutralize the threat. This officer will use the best information available and advance toward the threat using agency-trained tactics to engage the active assailant. AA. TACTICAL OPERATIONS COMMANDER (TOC): An on-scene commander designated by the Incident Commander located in the Warm Zone responsible for coordinating the single officer response and contact teams, Rescue Task Forces, and all on-scene efforts to neutralize all threats and rescue all victims. The TOC is responsible for coordinating with the SWAT commander to maintain all perimeters and building/premises clearing. The TOC is responsible for ensuring evidence is preserved to the greatest extent possible. BB. THREAT: A situation where anyone is engaged in an active or ongoing act of violence towards others, and there is a risk of serious bodily injury or death. CC. THREAT SUPPRESSION: The act to stop a threat to a person by locating, isolating, capturing, or applying the lawful use of appropriate force against any person posing such threat. SOP 292 Active Assailant - Rapid Deployment Page 12 of 13  DD. TRIAGE POST: A post established by emergency medical personnel to evaluate and classify injuries for the purposes of treatment and evacuation. Personnel at the Triage Post conduct the immediate sorting of patients according to the type and seriousness of the injury, the likelihood of survival, and to establish treatment and evacuation priority. The Triage Post is separate from the Causality Collection Point, and the Triage Post is established in the Cold Zone. EE. UNIFIED COMMAND (UC): The integration of command personnel from responding agencies at a multi-jurisdictional or multi-agency operational event to enhance communication, planning, and logistics. Unified Commands are designed to integrate law enforcement, fire, EMS, and other appropriate disciplines. Once a Unified Command is established, the Agency command post and Incident Commander will be located within the Unified Command. FF. VICTIM ADVOCATE: Responsible for providing victim/witness support services. Victim Advocates will serve as the Victim Services Coordinator at an AAE and will facilitate bringing additional victim advocates and support for the victims’ families. SOP 292 Active Assailant - Rapid Deployment Page 13 of 13