Building Search PDF

Building Search Thursday, May 12, 2022 1:49 PM   \\Machine generated alternative text: Org. 12/211 23.02.26 Building and Area Search Searches of Buildings and Areas 1-Apply law and commonly accepted legal principles to search private and public structures and areas. Searches of Buildings and Are...

Building Search Thursday, May 12, 2022 1:49 PM   \\Machine generated alternative text: Org. 12/211 23.02.26 Building and Area Search Searches of Buildings and Areas 1-Apply law and commonly accepted legal principles to search private and public structures and areas. Searches of Buildings and Areas 2-Explain the danger of complacency in policing when searching buildings and areas. Searches of Buildings and Areas 3-Assess the need to be physically and mentally prepared to perform a search and effectively use the tactics and tools necessary to complete it. Searches of Buildings and Areas 4-Demonstrate, explain, and critique the concepts of use of cover, concealment, and effective movement. Searches of Buildings and Areas 5-Create a plan for searching structures and areas, including; all communication needs, theresponse and approach, perimeter, and personnel and equipment needs relative to the size and layout of the structure or area. Searches of Buildings and Areas 6-Demonstrate appropriate methods of interacting with, and handling, persons found inside the structure or area being searched. Searches of Buildings and Areas 7-Upon completion of the search of a structure or area, the officer will follow the necessary steps to secure and relinquish the structure or area to a responsible party, or take measures to prevent further damage or loss. Police Liability 6-Evaluate ways in which officers may be liable for damage occurring to items of private property during the execution of their duties. Machine generated alternative text: Org. 12/213 23.02.26 Building and Area Search While en route to the location: Look for possible suspects leaving the area; this may not be as applicable during the day if dispatched to a densely populated area. Look for individuals wearing unusual clothing, sweating, hurrying to leave, or unusual vehicle conditions. Consider calling the occupant of the building or area to be searched. Part of this consideration should be to notify the owner or residents to help minimize confusion of who is legally present and who might be the target of the search. It is advisable to ask questions directly related to dangers on scene, suchas whether there are vicious dogs, generally unsafe conditions, or firearms present. The First Officer on the Scene Think tactically! The first officer on the scene has the ability and duty to gather information and coordinate the overall response. The officer should park in a secluded area if possible and use binoculars to visually search the exterior of the building and the surrounding area. The officer must review the physical layout of the building and consider the possible and probable points of entry and exit. The parking location may be a short distance from the exact location of the call, allowing officers a few moments to listen before approaching. It may be possible to detect the sound of someone moving in the area, dogs barking, or a car starting the next block over. Do not stand in the open; remain in the shadows or behind cover and concealment for protection. Approach quietly; be observant of the whole area, not just the building. Dispatch should be notified of officer arrival and any unusual or suspicious circumstances observed.This should be done quickly to make other responding units aware of officer presence, avoid duplication of a search, provide for officer safety, and request assistance. Notify the dispatcher of the number of backup officers needed, the positions for them to take upon arrival, and any special equipment that will be necessary. While waiting for backup officers, look around for entry points, lookouts, suspect vehicles, and movement inside the building. Machine generated alternative text: Org. 12/215 23.02.26 Building and Area Search When officers are covering corners of a building, be aware of a possible crossfire situation. Officers should position themselves at different angles, utilizing available cover, to avoid a potential crossfire. The perimeter units must have a firm understanding of their responsibilities for their safety and that of other units entering and searching the building or area. Since a \"blue on blue\" shooting situation is always a possibility, exterior teams must completely understand times when shooting into a building is allowed. Likewise, teams searching the interior of a building or area must be cautious of their rounds exiting the building and hitting officers or civilians. Exterior and the Immediate Surrounding Area Officers should always search the exterior and the immediate surrounding area before entry is made. Check outbuildings, trash bins, trees, shrubbery, weeds, roofs of buildings, company vehicles, and any other hiding place for suspects or evidence. Remember the scope of the search.Officers are allowed to search where the suspect/subject may be hiding. This includes LOOKING IN, AROUND, UNDER, and UP! Do not forget that trees and roofs may be accessed by those whom officers seek to find. USE CONTACT COVER AND BE ALERT!! Do not ignore the possibility of a burglar entering or being on the roof of a building. This should be part of the search of the exterior. If there is a way for a person to get on the roof, assume the subject/suspect knows about it. Vehicles are common in neighborhoods and aroundbuildings. Although they are a common sight, officers need to remember that suspects may have used the vehicles in the area. They also can give information as to who may be legitimately at the location. An officer must be aware of vehicles without licenseplates as they may be stolen. Another reason for a missing license plate may simply be to avoid identification. A suspect may be waiting to ambush an officer, hiding to avoid being caught or collecting \"fruits of the crime\" that has already occurred. Search the exterior of the building for the point of entry. Check doors and windows for pry marks; cut or broken glass; bloodstains; dust disturbed on window ledges; unlocked windows or doors; etc. The transom windows typically sit above the entry door. This type of window may be overlooked as they are primarily decorative in newer houses. The window, although decorative, offered the ability for air to flow in and provide additional ambient light. Remember, if there is a suspect outside or inside the building, they probably know where officers are. Machine generated alternative text: Org. 12/217 23.02.26 Building and Area Search As stated earlier, the responding officer should try to contact the owner or manager. Asking about unusual hiding places in the interior will help set the search team up for success. The owner, manager, and homeowner may already be on scene. This can be of great benefit but may be a hurdle to the search process. The access to keys and information is invaluable, but they may want to help in the search. The officer must not allow them into the building while the search is being conducted!!Although they are just trying to be helpful, it is distracting and makes the search officer responsible for the citizen\'s safety. Additionally, they may be armed, which can further complicate the search and reduce the safety of all involved. Search Team Having at least two officers during the search increases the safety of all involved. Due to a lack of available personnel or an extended response time, it may be challenging to have a secondary officer. This is, of course, something to consider when determining search tactics. Depending on the reason for the search, waiting for one or more assisting officers to show up is always preferable. A two-officer \"search team\" should conduct the search of the exterior of the building, the immediate surrounding area, and the interior of the building. The search team consists of a \"cover\" officer and a \"search\" officer. Each officer must understand their role in this team. When acting as a \"cover\" officer, the primary tasks include covering the \"search\" officer and any other areas not yet searched. The cover officer should consider having a long gun. Consider the area being searched and the potential for changing roles when selecting a weapon system. Both the shotgun and patrol rifle are viable options for officers trained in their use. The deployment of a long gun will be reliant on policy and the structure being searched. Practice proper weapon handling to ensure that the search officer is not \"lasered\" by the muzzle of the cover officer\'s weapon. If the search officer passes in front of the cover officer, the cover officer must lower the weapon muzzle pointing at the ground until the searching officer has cleared the line of fire. The \"search\" officer must conduct the actual search. This officer will typically be armed with their duty weapon only, leaving their hand free to use a flashlight, radio, open and close doors, turn on and off lights, etc. The search should be well planned, slow, and methodical. Getting in a hurry and taking unnecessary risks is how many officers have gotten hurt. A building search that is conducted effectively will resemble water flowing through a structure. This fluid motion of the search team comes as officers increase their comfort with different tactics. This also increases as officers become keenly aware of the other Machine generated alternative text: Org. 12/219 23.02.26 Building and Area Search Once inside the room, each officer is located on the opposite side of the entry point from where they started. Since one officer will cross in front of the other during the entry, muzzle control and muzzle awareness are critical! This allows for a smooth transition into the room and is more forgiving as officers move past the door\'s threshold. Entry can also be made by each officer stepping around and into the building on the same side of the entry point where they were on the outside. This requires telling each other what may be in their way as they enter. This is commonly referred to as the \"button hook\" method. Whatever type of entry is used, officers must remember to move away from the entry point immediately, if possible. Once inside, STOP, LOOK, AND LISTEN. The officer may have gathered a lot of information, but it is important to remember this is still an unknown environment and unknown elements still exist. There also is the need to acclimate to the environment. The room may be dark, and the eyes take a little time to adjust. This can be achieved by taking a couple of steps into the room and establishing a \"point of domination.\" It is vital to scan and be aware of where each officer is relative to each other, reinforcing safe weapon handling and muzzle awareness. Listen for any movement and to the natural sounds of the building. Take some time to evaluate and make any adjustments to the plan established outside. The tactical stance learned in firearms is a stable platform while moving through the building and promotes \"moving behind your panels.\" This concept of moving behind panels is meant for officers to have increased ballistic protection from body armor. Be aware of any cover and understand that walls inside a structure are more likely concealment and not necessarily cover. As they move through a structure, officers must critically think and make decisions. Officers gain and lose based on those decisions. For example, if all units go into a room, they gain a safer room entry but lose coverage of the hallway, and it must be retaken upon when exiting the room. Assuming the area remained clear could be highly problematic and dangerous. Before entering a hallway or entering a room, use the \"slice the pie\" technique to limit exposure while hopefully seeing the suspect before the suspect sees the officer. Machine generated alternative text: Org. 12/2111 23.02.26 Building and Area Search If the officer(s) reach the final room on the primary search and have not yet found a subject, understand there is a high likelihood of encountering a person in the last room. If officers do not find a person after a primary search, consider a secondary search. Consistency is essential. Tactics-Suspect Contact/Control Officers should always expect to encounter someone during the search. This helps in reducing the likelihood of complacency and the possibility of missing something. An officer must determine if entry must be made or if the best option is to call the subject out. This is a balance that the officer must consider. Factors helping this are based mainly on the details of the situation. Is this an active killing situation, or is this a non-violent individual? These are just two of the questions that an officer must ask themselves before entry is made. If a suspect is located, the officers should move to a position of cover. The officer\'s roles change from \"search\" and \"cover\" officers to \"contact\" and \"cover\" officers. Whoever gives the suspect commands is now the contact officer instructing the suspect on what to do next. The remaining officer will cover the suspect and dangerareas. Defining the \"contact\" and \"cover\" roles limits confusion, speaking over each other, and issuing the suspect opposing commands. The first verbal component should include an identification statement. \"Police Department\" or \"Sheriff\'s Office\" may suffice. Not only is it essential for the officer to identify themselves but also to make a specific command. This early command will likely address controlling the suspect\'s hands, combined with an arrest statement and, if possible, the reason for being there. This is very important to gain compliance with any commands given. In addition, the suspect needs to understand who is issuing commands and the fact they are under arrest/detained. Remember, the suspect\'s hands are the most dangerous body part, and officers must clear the hands early in the interaction. As the officer moves the subject, giving clear and concise verbal commands, they must see their hands throughout this process. Machine generated alternative text: Org. 12/2113 23.02.26 Building and Area Search CONCLUSION Officers have historically missed suspects by racing to the scene, failing to detect out-of-the-ordinary factors, and failing to take time to conduct thorough exterior, interior and area searches. Slow down, be thorough, and observant to enhance both safety and apprehension rates. trfggv