SPECIAL OPERATIONS 16.2B
TEQUESTA POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
TITLE: SPECIAL OPERATIONS
GENERAL ORDER: 16.2B
EFFECTIVE: January 15, 2003
REVISES: G.O. 16.2A
PAGES: 6
CONTENTS:
This order consists of the following numbered sections:
I. SPECIAL RESPONSE TEAM
II. SELECTION OF HOSTAGE/CRISIS NEGOTIATORS
III. HOSTAGE/BARRICADED SUBJECT
IV. DIGNITARY PROTECTION PLAN
V. SPECIAL EVENTS
VI. SEARCH AND RESCUE
VII. GLOSSARY
PURPOSE:
To establish guidelines for handling special responses and the coordination of agency resources for
dignitary protection and special events.
SCOPE:
This order applies to all members.
DISCUSSION:
The responsibility of the agency is to provide, or request the assistance of, specialized services in
support of unanticipated law enforcement operations requiring the use of special weapons, tactics, or negotiations outside
the realm of conventional operational components of the agency. Agency members in any pre-planned, high risk
situation, as defined in the glossary, are required to wear, at minimum, protective body armor.
PROCEDURE:
I. Use of Special Response Team (SRT)/Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT):
A.Request for SRT/SWATdoes not
: The Tequesta Police Department maintain an SRT /SWAT team. In the
event an SRT/SWAT response is needed the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office will be contacted. If for some reason
they cannot respond requests for SRT/SWAT assistance will then be made to the Jupiter Police Department or the
Palm Beach Gardens Police Department respectively. Examples of situations that may require an SRT/SWAT
response include, but are not limited to:
1. Anti-sniper tactics are required;
2. Barricaded subjects;
3. Anti-terrorist tactics are required;
G.O. 16.2B
4. Apprehension of armed and/or dangerous persons;
5. Execution of search warrants;
6. Crisis and hostage rescue operations;
7. Dignitary protection;
8. Other situations at the discretion of a shift supervisor.
B. Call-Out:
The decision to request the SRT/SWAT team’s response shall be made by the shift supervisor. The
request for an SRT response shall require the immediate notification of the Operations Commander and the Chief of
Police.
C. Scene Command:
The shift supervisor shall respond and take charge of an incident scene unless a member of
the command staff arrives and assumes command. Upon arrival of the SRT/SWAT team, direction of tactical
operations and related activities on scene will be coordinated through the SRT/SWAT team commander. The final
decision for a tactical resolution to an incident shall be developed through continuous communication between the
SRT/SWAT team commander and the Tequesta Police Department commanding officer on scene.
D. SRT/SWAT Support:
Tequesta Police Department personnel shall provide any necessary support at the
incident scene in cooperation with the SRT/SWAT team.
II. Hostage/Crisis Negotiators:
If needed, Hostage/Crisis Negotiators will be requested following the same procedure
as outlined above in paragraph I, A.
III. Hostage/Barricaded Subject Situations:
A.
The procedures for handling hostage/barricaded subject situations are as follows:
1. Communications:
Communications, at the direction of the shift supervisor, will make the following
notifications and requests for assistance:
a. Request SRT/SWAT response and provide them with the location of the command post;
b. Notify the Chief of Police, Operations Commander, Support Services Commander, and public
information officer.
c. Notify the surrounding agencies of the situation.
2. First Officer On Scene:
The first officer to arrive at a high-risk situation will:
a. Assess the situation and render assistance to any injured persons;
b. Request emergency radio clearance and assistance based on the initial assessment;
c. Confine perpetrator(s) to the immediate area;
d. Notify his or her immediate supervisor of the situation;
e. Secure the area and arrange for evacuation of the injured;
f. Designate a secure area for an initial command post, and inform the communications dispatcher of areas
or streets that may be unsafe for responding members. The location of the command post should be out of
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G.O. 16.2B
the suspect's line of sight and fire;
g. Request medical, fire, or surveillance equipment as needed;
h. Refer or escort persons having pertinent information to the command post for debriefing.
3. First Supervisor On Scene:
The first supervisor to arrive at a high-risk situation will:
a. Assess the situation and ensure the responsibilities of the first officer on the scene have been met.
b. Notify the Operations Commander and the Chief of Police.
c. Remind members that the safety of agency members, hostages, and citizens in the area is the primary concern.
The supervisor should emphasize the need to avoid confrontations with the subject(s) pending the arrival of the
SRT/SWAT team and/or hostage negotiator.
d. Designate an alternate mobilization point for responding members, when needed.
e. Evacuate bystanders and residents from the danger area.
f. Establish an inner and outer perimeter with additional personnel as needed.
g. Collect intelligence information regarding the subject(s) location, weapon(s) involved, subjects’ identification,
mental state, physical condition, crime(s) committed, physical descriptions of hostages involved.
h. Keep the Communications Division informed of member status and deployment.
i. Provide a status report as needed.
j. Assign one officer to record all events in chronological order.
k. Designate an assembly area for the media.
l. Maintain the outer perimeter, crowd control, and support functions until the arrival of the incident commander.
4. Shift Commander:
The shift commander will be the contact person for the media until relieved by the Public
Information Officer.
5. Incident Commander:
The incident commander will respond to the command post and assume overall
responsibility for security, crowd control, and support functions. His or her duties include:
a. Obtain a situation report from the first supervisor on the scene.
b. Evaluate the danger to hostages, agency members, and citizens.
c. Plan for relief of members and the availability of food and drink.
d. Request additional agency resources as needed. Establish communications with concurrent jurisdictions or
surrounding agencies, when necessary.
e. Establish a chain of command and maintain a roster of all members deployed at the scene.
f. Ensure coordination between SRT/SWAT, support personnel, and other components.
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G.O. 16.2B
g. Coordinate and forward intelligence to the Chief of Police.
h. Submit an after action report.
6 Public Information Officer:
The Public Information Officer (PIO) will:
a. Respond to the scene and report to the incident commander.
b. Provide an updated release of the appropriate details surrounding the incident.
c. Receive all request for news releases concerning in-progress tactical situations. Any and all news releases will
be in accordance with General Order 17.1 “Public Information”.
d. Establish a media area within the outer perimeter and conduct all communications with the media.
Representatives of the media shall be granted access to the scene as long as the area is normally open to the
public, and the on-scene commander has determined the area safe.
7. Use of Force/Chemical Agents:
The incident commander and/or the SRT/SWAT commander will be the
primary authorizing agents at the scene to compel the use of force or chemical agents
8. Jurisdictional Considerations:
High risk situations involving jurisdictional boundaries will be conducted in
accordance with existing mutual aid agreements.
9. Pursuit/Surveillance Vehicles:
Although all efforts will be made to contain the suspect and incident location,
contingency plans should be discussed and coordinated between SRT/SWAT and the Incident Commander,
considering all resources available for pursuit/surveillance vehicles and control of the travel routes in the event the
suspect has or gains access to a conveyance (automobile, boat, or public transportation).
10. Plan Review:
The Operations Commander, or his designee, shall be responsible for a periodic review of the
agency’s plan and forward a written report of the review to the Chief of Police.
IV. DIGNITARY PROTECTION PLAN:
A.
Requests for dignitary or special protection service will be directed to the Chief or designee who will supervise
and coordinate agency activities related to such operations. He or she will:
1. Coordinate activities with other agencies requiring the protective services.
2. Plan and reconnoiter primary and alternate travel routes.
3. Procure weapons, equipment, vehicles, and body armor for dignitary and security members.
4. Perform advanced inspections of sites and facilities to be used.
5. Coordinate with intelligence personnel and other sources to gather intelligence information.
6. Coordinate support activities of agency members and outside resources to include:
a. Fire Rescue and medical facilities to include the quickest and/or safest route.
b. Communications required for the mission, i.e., hand-held radios, cellular telephones.
c. Other law enforcement agencies.
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G.O. 16.2B
7. Establish a means of identification for individual members, i.e., security pin or badge.
B.Training:
The Operations Commander will coordinate dignitary protection training needs with the training
coordinator.
V. SPECIAL EVENTS:
All requests for law enforcement services at a special event will be directed to the Chief or
designee. He or she will assign a member as the special event coordinator and determine if the utilization of members
and resources will be extra or on duty status. Coordinator responsibilities include:
A. Plan of Action:
The coordinator will conduct an on-site inspection of the event location and develop a plan of
action that will consider the following:
1.
Traffic control.
a. Vehicle ingress and egress.
b. Parking space and prohibitions.
c. Alternate traffic routes.
d. Temporary traffic controls/barricades.
2.
Estimated number of attendees.
3.
Crowd control measures and security posts.
4.
Command post requirements.
5.
Staffing required.
6.
Potential crime problems and contingency plans.
7.
Any required or specialized equipment.
B. Staffing:
The Chief or designee will make a final determination of staffing requirements based on the plan of
action. If the special event is to be an on duty assignment, the coordinator may arrange for additional personnel as
needed.
C. Outside Agency Resources:
The coordinator will ensure cooperation from outside organizations required to
assist in completing the plan of action to include:
1.
Other Village of Tequesta Departments such as Fire Rescue, Public Work, etc.
2.
Any participating mutual aid law enforcement agency such as Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, Jupiter
Police Department, etc.
3.
Any other State or Federal agency as needed.
VI. SEARCH AND RESCUE:
Search and Rescue operations are the responsibility of Tequesta Fire Rescue. Police
Department members would be deployed to assist, if requested. Operations will be conducted in accordance with the
Village of Tequesta Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, Appendix C – “Search and Rescue Operations Plan”.
VII. GLOSSARY:
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G.O. 16.2B
BARRICADED SUBJECT - A person has taken a position of confinement to avoid apprehension and is threatening
suicide or other harm to him. The use of force to resist apprehension will have been displayed through actions or words,
and there is reason to believe the suspect will use force to avoid apprehension.
COMMAND POST - The field headquarters from which the incident commander will supervise an operation. The
command post will be out of sight of the actual scene, safe from gunfire and other hazards.
HIGH RISK SITUATION - Incident involving an act of violence, or potential acts of violence, in which innocent persons
and/or law enforcement officers may be at a tactical disadvantage and exposed to extreme danger.
HOSTAGE SITUATION - When one or more persons are being held against their will with actual or implied use of
force. The situation may be the result of a crime, domestic problem, attempted suicide, or other incident.
INCIDENT COMMANDER - The highest-ranking supervisor in command at the scene of a hazardous or high-risk
situation, pending relief from an outside agency.
INNER PERIMETER - The immediate area of containment initially manned by patrol members.
OUTER PERIMETER - A second perimeter established outside the inner perimeter to prevent persons and traffic from
gaining access into the problem area.
PLAN OF ACTION - A plan that outlines the course of action to be used to accomplish a mission or neutralize a
situation.
SPECIAL EVENT - Anticipated events requiring additional logistical needs outside the normal operational requirements
of the agency.
SRT /SWAT TEAM – Special Response Team/Special Weapons And Tactics. A unit comprising certified law
enforcement officers who are specially trained, equipped, and designated to respond to high risk situations.
INDEXING:
BARRICADED SUBJECT
DIGNITARY PROTECTION
HIGH RISK SITUATIONS
HOSTAGES
SPECIAL EVENTS
SRT TEAM
SPECIAL RESPONSE TEAM
DRAFTED:
DJR/January 6, 2003/Filed: Spcops16.2
APPROVED:
Pete Pitocchelli, Chief Date: November 05, 2011
Tequesta, Florida
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