16.13 Responding to Civil Disturbance
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This document is Centreville Police Department Directive 16.13, “Responding to Civil Disturbance,” issued and revised on October 1, 2016 and approved by Chief Charles M. Rhodes, Jr. It requires the department to quickly and decisively manage unlawful civil disturbances, provides definitions (civil disturbance, crowd control, demonstration), and establishes steps for general conduct, patrol response, incident command, and use of force. Procedures require officers to determine the legality of assemblies (consult the State’s Attorney if uncertain), observe from a distance, protect non‑participating bystanders, establish staging areas and an incident command post, and have the patrol supervisor assume incident command to evaluate the situation, contact group leadership, set perimeters, request additional units or allied agencies, and ensure officers are briefed and equipped (including riot gear) before enforcement. Use of force is governed by OPS 10.03, arrests or force generally require command authorization unless exigent circumstances exist, allied assisting officers must be briefed on protocols prior to deployment, and all uses of force must be reported.
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Centreville Police Department Title: Responding to Civil Disturbance Directive #: 16.13 Issued: 10.1.2016 Revised: 10.1.2016 Approved by: Charles M. Rhodes, Jr. Chief of Police A. Policy The CPD will quickly and decisively manage any unlawful civil disturbance. B. Definitions CIVIL DISTURBANCE: • an unlawful assembly that constitutes a breach of the peace or any assembly of persons where there is a threat of collective violence, destruction of property or other unlawful acts. CROWD CONTROL: • techniques used to address unlawful public assemblies, to include a show of force, crowd containment and dispersal equipment and strategies and preparations for multiple arrests. DEMONSTRATION: • a legal assembly of persons organized primarily to express particular views that are typically scheduled events that allow for police planning. C. Procedures 1. General Procedures a. In the absence of violence, it is essential to determine the legality of the demonstration or gathering prior to taking enforcement action; the State’s Attorney should be consulted if there is any question about the legality of the event prior to taking enforcement action. Page 1 of 3 b. Officers will not act alone unless exigent circumstances exist. c. Officers encountering civil disturbances will abide by the use of force policy in Directive XXXOPS 10.03. d. If possible, officers will order the unlawful crowd to disperse prior to using force. e. Determinations whether to arrest or not will be based on the availability of resources and the circumstances of the disturbance. f. Only those units dispatched to the incident will respond. g. Generally, officers should formulate a plan (e.g., type of response, procedures, tactics, authorized force) prior to acting. 2. Patrol Response a. Upon arrival, officers will observe the situation from a distance and evaluate it. b. Officers will only take immediate action to protect innocent civilian bystanders who are not participating in the disturbance. c. Initially, officers will: (1) determine the exact location and nature of the incident; (2) determine the lawfulness of the demonstration; (3) perform a scene size-up and notify the Lieutenant and Chief of the situation; (4) request a patrol supervisor and additional units, as necessary; (5) establish a staging area and incident command post that provides a tactical advantage for law enforcement including safe routes for ingress and egress; and (6) implement the Incident Command System, if necessary. d. Once on scene, the patrol supervisor will assume the role of IC and will: (1) continually evaluate the situation; (2) attempt to establish contact with the group and identify the group leader; (3) identify the intent and likely duration of the incident; Page 2 of 3 (4) determine the need for additional resources including: (a) additional patrol units; (b) allied law enforcement agencies (5) ensure that all units initially respond to the staging area; (6) ensure that on-scene officers have proper equipment, including riot gear; (7) coordinate requests for additional equipment as needed; (8) establish an inner and outer perimeter and, if necessary, formulate and implement a plan to disperse the crowd; and (9) ensure that all officers are briefed prior to taking enforcement action. 3. Use of Force a. Officers at civil disturbances are bound by the use of force policies found in OPS 10.03. b. Unless exigent circumstances require immediate action, officers will not independently make arrests or employ force without command authorization. c. All allied law enforcement officers providing assistance to CPD will be briefed on use of force and protocols for crowd control prior to deployment. d. All uses of force will be reported as required. Page 3 of 3