Metropolitan Police Department Washington D.C.

Subject:

Barricade & Hostage Situations and Other Unusual Incidents

Series    Number  Change

309       01

Effective Date

November 07, 1986

Revision Date

*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The purpose of this order is to establish policy and procedures to be ­followed by members of the department at the scene of major crimes, barricade/hos­tage situations, mentally deranged persons, or unusual incidents where numerous police officers and units from more than one organizational element of the de­partment will be utilized in the police function. This order consists of the following parts:

 

PART I            Responsibilities and Procedures for Members of the Department.

 

A.        Definitions.

B.         Barricaded Persons.

C.        Notification of Activities by Picketers, Strikers, and Demonstrators.

 

PART II           Responsibilities and Procedures for Supervisory and Command Personnel

 

A.        Initial Field Commander.

B.         Senior SOD Official.

C.        Senior Traffic Enforcement Branch Official.

D.        Director, Communications Division.

E.         Commanding Officers.

 

PART I

 

A. Definitions.

 

            1.         For the purposes of this order, an unusual  incident is any un­scheduled event with the                             potential for personal injury or property damage. The event can be the result of natural or                                   manmade situations affecting a substantial number of persons and requiring police action.                        This includes any event drawing a large crowd with indications that some individuals may                   become unruly or uncooper­ative.

 

            2.         A major crime is that which is of such public interest as to attract a gathering of                                      persons large enough to require the services of more than two patrol district units and one                      unit from the Criminal Investigations Division during the preliminary investigation. This                                     includes scenes where several units join efforts to apprehend a criminal attempting escape.

 

            3.         The senior ranking district official at such scenes is designated as the initial field                                      commander.

 

Publication

 

Effective Date

Page Number

General Order 309.01

 

November 07, 1986

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            4.         The Emergency Response Team (ERT) is comprised of tactical and negotiation teams of the                              Special Operations Division (SOD). Their mission is to respond to all barricade, hostage,                                               criminal and terrorist situations and provide trained personnel to resolve such incidents.

 

            5.         The term “Senior SOD Official” when used in this order, shall be the SOD Commander or in                             his/her absence the highest ranking official assigned to ERT.

 

            6.         SOD Watch Commander is the official in command of the Special Operations Division in the                             absence of the Division Commander.

 

            7.         Civil Disturbance Unit (CDU) when used in this order refers to specially trained members of                              SOD (excluding ERT) or the districts, and when des­ignated by the senior SOD official or SOD                          watch commander will be used primarily for containment purposes.

 

            8.         The Barricade Equipment Carriers are vehicles maintained by SOD which have been equipped to                      outfit SOD/CDU personnel responding to the scene of an incident. These vehicles have been                             designated as Cruisers 646 and 665 and they may be summoned to the scene of any incident by                                    contacting the official then in command of SOD.

 

            9.         Cruiser 678 is the Hostage Negotiation Van. This van is utilized for conducting negotiations and                                     gathering intelligence information.

 

            10.       Negotiators are specially trained personnel who are assigned to ERT. Once ERT has teen                                              activated for a hostage/barricade situation, only the negotiators assigned to ERT shall have any                           conversation with the barricaded sub­ject(s). Negotiators shall also be called for subjects                                                attempting to commit suicide.

 

            11.       The Inner Perimeter is the danger area controlled by ERT person­nel. The Middle Perimeter is the                       safe area reserved for Support personnel and the press. The Outer Perimeter is the area                                                considered safe for the general public and is always located behind police lines.

 

B. Barricaded Persons.

 

            1.         The police frequently must apprehend persons who seek to escape capture following some                                bizarre behavior or after the commission of a crime. Tnese situations have a high potential for                             death or serious injury and must not, under any circumstances, be reacted to in a routine manner.

 

            2.         A person who has barricaded himself/herself against arrest pre­sents an extraordinary danger to                          officers who must apprehend him/her, to innocent persons, and to himself/herself. Officers                                  confronted with the problem of arrest­ing such a person must cease to function as individuals and                                     quickly unite as mem­bers of a well-organized and highly coordinated team.

 

            3.         All non.ERT personnel, both uniform and plainclothes, reporting to the scene of an incident shall                         report to the field commander prior to engaging in any activity.

 

            4.         The first officer(s) on the scene of a police incident who deter­mines that a barricade Situation is                          developing shall be responsible for taking the following action:

 

                       

Publication

 

Effective Date

Page Number

General Order 309.01

 

November 07, 1986

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                        a.         Contain the subject who has sought to escape by covering all possible escape routes,                                         using the assistance of other offi­cers.

 

                        b.         Request that a district official respond to the scene and in­form the Communications                                            Division of the situation and that the services the ERT be needed.

 

                        c.         Take a position that affords protective concealment. shoot only at a visible target which is                                  at the moment presenting an immediate danger to human life. (Gunfire by a barricaded

                                    subject in the direction of officers who are adequately con­cealed does not justify the                                          return of gunfire.)

 

                        d.         Remove all spectators from any area that may be considered dangerous.  However, this                                                 activity will be discontinued once ERT has been deployed. Any further evacuations will                                      be undertaken  only at the direction of the senior SOD official.

 

                        e.         Brief the district official upon his/her arrival, including the Stdtus of the situation and the                                      deployment of officers in the area.

 

            5.         After the arrival and deployment of ERT, non-ERT members, includ­ing non-SOD members who                                    remain at their posts, shall resort to gunfire only when explicitly instructed to do so by the senior                                     SOD official. The purpose of this course of action is to restrict firing to selected marksman who                                     are properly equipped and are knowledgeable in the operational plan and deployment of ERT.

 

            6.         It is the policy of this department to utilize members of ERT, em­ploying the least stringent                                   means consistent with the circumstances. ERT is also trained to effect the capture of every                                 criminal or mentally deranged person who resists bein; taken into custody by seeking refuge in a                                     building or other pro­tected area, after using or threatening to use deadly force against                                         himself/her­self or others, and has ignored Orders to Surrender.

 

            7.         ERT personnel may be utilized for serving warrants where automatic and/or numerous weapons                                     are suspected and there is a high risk for violence.

C.        Notification of Activities by Picketers, Strikers, and Demonstrators.

            Whenever any member of the force learns of any actual impending strike, demonstration, and/or             picketing in the District of Columbia by any group or fac­tion, he/she shall Immediately notify the       official In command of the district where such activity is occurring.

 

PART II

 

A.        Initial Field Commander.

 

            1.         At any major crime or unusual incident, the senior ranking district  official at the scene shall                                 assume and exercise the responsibilities of field commander until relieved from such                                            responsibility by a supervisor officer. The mere presence or arrival of a superior officer at the                             scene shall not indicate  his/her assumption of command. The ‘superior officer shall remain in an                         evaluating capacity unless he/she specifically assumes command.

 

 

 

Publication

 

Effective Date

Page Number

General Order 309.01

 

November 07, 1986

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            2.         An official of higher rank may assume field command at any time; however, the official then                                acting as the field commander must be specifically in­formed that he/she has been relieved of                               command. This shall not be interpreted as preventing or excusing senior officials from assuming                          command in dry situation  On the contrary, ranking officials from any element of the department                                     are required to assume command of the forces on the scene whenever the circumstances indicate                                   a need for such action on their part. The purpose is simply to clearly establish one field                                       commander and fix that responsibility.

 

NOTE: Higher ranking officials, however, should not assume control of the barricade site after control of that scene has been assumed by the senior SOD official. (PT personnel are specifically trained to handle these types of situations and in­terference by anyone other than an ERT official should always be avoided. Such action would be warranted only if flagrant violations of departmental policy or safe operating proce­dures were occurring.

 

            3.         The field commander shall be responsible for the following:

 

                        a.         Establishing a radio vehicle as a field command post from which the operation can be                                         directed in relative safety. This command post must be out of the line of fire.

 

                        b.         Advising the Communications Division of the location of the field command post and                                          ordering all non-SOD officers report­ing to the scene to respond to that location and to                                       report to the official in charge.

 

                        c.         Providing the Communications Division with situation reports as significant events                                               occur.

 

                        d.         Assuming command and control of all members presently on the scene and all members                                                 reporting to the field command post.

 

                        e.         As appropriate, ensuring that traffic is diverted, spectators are kept at a safe distance, and                                             residents in these danger zones Should be evacuated with due regard for their safety.

                                    They should not be evacuated immediately if they will be exposed to hostile gunfire or                                        other possible danger.

 

                        f.          Requiring reporting officers to park their vehicles in such a manner as not to obstruct                                          access to the area by other emergency vehicles.

 

                        g.         Authoritative supervision over uniformed forces.

 

                        h.         Functional supervision over plainclothes forces.

 

                        i.          Returning to service those units not actively engaged or re­quired as a reserve force.

 

            4.         In addition to the duties outlined in the previous paragraph, the field commander shall be                                                responsible for the following whenever a barricade situation  develops:

 

                        a.         Evaluating tie situation and requesting ERT as soon as it is determined that a barricade                                       situation exists.

 

                       

Publication

 

Effective Date

Page Number

General Order 309.01

 

November 07, 1986

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                        b.         Advising officers presently deployed that he/she is the field commander an.1 that further                                                 action shall only be taken on his/ her direction

 

                        c.         Establishing police lines, as stipulated in DCMR 24 (Public Space and Safety), Chapter                                                 21, beyond which only police per­ will be permitted to operate. As time and opportunity                                                 permits, provisions may be made for the press consistent with their safety.

           

                        d.         Deploying units of armed officers in the vicinity of the site occupied by the subject.                                             Utilizing plainclothes officers on the outer perimeter of the incident, consistent with their

                                    safety, and establishing a visible identification (e.g., coveralls, badges pinned to outer                                          garment or the yellow/orange MPD arm bands.)

 

                        e.         Relinquishing responsibility for the containment and appre­hension of the subject to the                                        senior SOD official immediately upon his/her arrival on the scene. Briefing the senior                                          SOD official and directing his/her attention to any nearby building  having a floor plan                                         similar to the building occupied by the barricade subject.

                        f.          Coordinating the activities of personnel under his/her com­mand with those of ERT as                                         requested or required by the Senior SOD official.

 

                        g.         Designate an outer perimeter control official who will re­strict access to the middle                                              perimeter and totally restrict, the entry of all civilians and police personnel, with the                                             exception of ERT, to the immediate area of the barricade situa­tion (inner perimeter). This                                   restriction shall be maintained unless the senior SOD official requests specific personnel                                      or relinquishes control of the scene.

 

                        h.         All actions of the senior SOD official and the senior Traffic Enforcement Branch official                                      shall be relayed to the field commander for coordination.

 

            5.         Nothing in this order shall be construed to prohibit the use of weapons or equipment                                          contained in the CDU boxes at the various districts in emergency situations. It shall be                                        noted, however, that there is usually time to organize and embark on a planned course of                                               action with trained officers; therefore, the use of these weapons or equipment shall be                                        limited to those incidents of such critical and extreme emergency that immediate action                                       must be taken and ERT personnel are not available because of some other emergency.

 

B.         Senior SOD Official.on the scene shall:

 

            1.         Immediately designate a staging area for the purpose of equipping, organizing, and instructing                             the members of the units responding. This location should be Other than the field command post,                        yet in the immediate vicinity so as to ensure unity of action.

 

            2.         Establish and direct the operations plan for the removal of the barricaded subject(s).

 

            3.         Direct the withdrawal of all non-SOD personnel from their holding positions around the site                                occupied by  the subject in every case where the following  conditions prevail:

 

                       

                       

Publication

 

Effective Date

Page Number

General Order 309.01

 

November 07, 1986

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                        a.         The position has been relieved by an ERT officer or continued coverage from that                                              position is deemed unnecessary.

 

                        b.         The assistance of the non-SOD officer is not required; and

 

                        c.         The official shall - withdrawal to the field command post for

                                    further assignment and relative safety.

            4.         Be responsible for coordinating the preliminary report and cause it to be forwarded through                               channels to the Chief of Police not later than the following business day. A full report shall be                              forwarded as soon as practicable, but not later than five business days after the incident.

 

            5.         The SOD watch commander shall respond to the scene and designate a staging area when (PT                          personnel are not immediately available. The watch commander shall request Cruiser 646 to                              respond to the scene and equip CDU personnel. The SOD watch commander shall also take                             command of the situation until the arrival of ERT.

 

C.        Senior Traffic Enforcement Branch Official. shall:

 

            1.         Report to the field command post for a briefing by the field commander.

 

            2.         Determine the area affected and assume responsibility for outer perimeter traffic control.

 

            3.         Assemble Traffic Branch personnel at a designated staging area and proceed with assignment of                                     personnel to specific locations, if there is an in­sufficient number of Traffic Branch personnel                                available, request assistance from the field commander or reQuest a detail through the                                        Communications Division.

 

            4.         Ensure that traffic detours are efficiently and expeditiously established and that district officers                            are promptly relieved from traffic control and, when appropriate, that barricades are positioned                          and the critical area roped off.

 

D.        Director, Communications Division. shall:

 

            1.         Upon request from the senior ranking district official for services of ERT, notify the                                            commanders of SOD, Special Tactics Branch (ERT), Traffic Branch and the SOD watch                                              commander. Also, immediately notify the Field Operations  Officer and if the Field Operations                           Officer is not on duty, notify the night supervisor.

 

            2.         Contact the Fire Department and request an ambulance and fire equipment to be dispatched to a                                   safe location immediately adjacent to the scene in the event their services are needed.

 

            3.         Determine if there is a telephone listing at the location of the barricade and relay this information                         to the senior SOD official by telephone. The police radio shall not be used for this purpose.

 

 

 

 

 

Publication

 

Effective Date

Page Number

General Order 309.01

 

November 07, 1986

7 of 7

 

 

                        a.         Only the negotiator shall speak to the subject(s). With more than one person                                                      talking/negotiating, the situation can only become more confused. In addition, the                                                           negotiator is on the scene and, therefore, better able to adapt his/her conversa­tion to                                          changing conditions.

 

                        b.         The telephone number Should be relayed by telephone only in order to avoid unnecessary                                  publication of this listing.

 

            4.         Upon being informed of activity involving picketers, strikers, or demonstrators, notify the Office                                     of the Chief of Police; the Field Operations Officer and if he/she is not on duty, notify the night                           supervisor; the commander of SOD and/or SOD watch commander; and the official in command                                   of the district in which the activity is occurring, provided that he/she is unaware of the activity.

 

E. Commanding Officers.

 

            1.         Commanding Officers shall ensure that a copy this is placed in a protective folder and made a                            part of the required equipment in every supervisor’s

 

            2.         The official in command of the organizational element in which a strike, demonstration, or                                   picketing occurs shall notify an official of the Communications Division.

Attachment

 

MTT:RMD:jtw

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FIRST OFFICER(S) ON SCENE

0    1.   Contain subject(s)

0    2.   Summon district official

0    3.   Alert Emergency Response Team (ERT) via dispatcher.

0    4.   Take protected position (Fire only at a visible target                  which is presenting an immediate danger to human life )

0    5.   Evacuate danger area, it practicable

0    6.   Brief district official upon his arrival

 

INITIAL FIELD COMMANDER (At scene of major crime or unusual incident)

0    1.   Assume command and establish control of situation

0    2.   Establish field command post ( radio vehicle )

0    3.   Advise dispatcher of command post location and direct all                   officers reporting to scene to respond to that location

0    4.   Provide situation report to dispatcher

0    5.   Divert pedestrian and vehicular traffic from danger

0   6.   Maintain control over all officers on scene and return unneeded               units to service.

 

COMMANDER (At scene of barricaded criminal)

Perform   duties of field commander as listed above

 

0   1.   Request ERT as soon need arises

0    2.   Advise officers deployed     at scene that you are the field                 commander and that further action is to be taken only upon your               orders

0    3.   Establish police lines around scene

0   4.  Deploy reporting officers as needed and ensure that plainclothes               officers have visible identification

              (Plainclothes officers normally should be utilized on the                    outer perimeter in order to ensure their safety.)

0    5.   Upon arrival SOD official relinquish responsibility for                 containment and apprehension of suspect - Brief SOD official on               situation.

0    6.   Maintain control of initial forces after they have been replaced           by SOD officers. Coordinating their efforts with those of ERT.

0    7.   Totally restrict entry of all personnel into area of barricade               except upon direction of the senior SOD official.

0    8.   Coordinate the of the senior SOD official with those of the             senior Traffic Branch official.

0   9.   Designate members to brief ERT informing Communications                 Division  of same

0    10.  Prepare operations for removal of suspect(s)

0   11.  Replace non-SOD personnel at the scene with SOD or other CDU           personnel as the situation permits.

0    12.  Direct the operation of ERT until the incident is resolved.

0    13.  At incident relinquish control of scene to the appropriate                  official as soon as practical.

 

SENIOR TRAFFIC BRANCH OFFICIAL

0    1.   Consult with field commander and the field command post

0    2.   Assume responsibility for outer perimeter traffic control.

0    3.   Coordinate efforts with field commander.

    

 

 

 

General Order 309.01                                      Attachment "A"