Hostage_and_Barricade_Incidents

Policy 406CSU Police Department Policy Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/05/05, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by CSU Police DepartmentHostage and Barricade Incidents - 1Hostage and Barricade Incidents 406.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE The_purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for situations where officers have legal cause to contact, detain or arrest a person, and the person refuses to submit to the lawful requests of the officers by remaining in a structure or vehicle and/or by taking a hostage. The scope of this policy is not intended to address all variables that officers encounter during their initial response or when a hostage or barricade situation has developed. This policy does not require or purport to recommend specific strategies or tactics for resolution as each incident is a dynamic and rapidly evolving event. 406.1.1 DEFINITIONS Definitions related to this policy include: Active Shooter situation - If a suspect is actively engaged in the infliction of serious bodily harm or other life-threatening activity toward others, officers should take immediate action, if reasonably practicable, while requesting additional assistance; reference Rapid Response and Deployment policy. Barricade situation - An incident where a person maintains a position of cover or concealment and ignores or resists law enforcement personnel, and it is reasonable to believe the subject is armed with a dangerous or deadly weapon. Hostage situation - An incident where it is reasonable to believe a person is: (a)Unlawfully held by a hostage-taker as security so that specified terms or conditions will be met. (b)Unlawfully held against their will under threat or actual use of force. 406.2 POLICY It is the policy of the CSU Police Department to address hostage and barricade situations with due regard for the preservation of life and balancing the risk of injury, while obtaining the safe release of hostages, apprehending offenders and securing available evidence. 406.3 COMMUNICATION When circumstances permit, initial responding officers should try to establish and maintain lines of communication with a barricaded person or hostage-taker. Officers should attempt to identify any additional subjects, inquire about victims and injuries, seek the release of hostages, gather intelligence information, identify time-sensitive demands or conditions and obtain the suspect’s surrender. When available, department-authorized negotiators should respond to the scene as soon as practicable and assume communication responsibilities. Negotiators are permitted to exercise CSU Police Department Policy Manual Hostage and Barricade Incidents Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/05/05, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by CSU Police DepartmentHostage and Barricade Incidents - 2flexibility in each situation based upon their training, the circumstances presented, suspect actions or demands and the available resources. 406.3.1 EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS Only an officer who has been designated by the District Attorney or Attorney General may use or authorize the use of an electronic amplifying or recording device to eavesdrop on or record, or both, oral communication in response to an emergency situation involving a hostage or the barricading of a location, and only when (Penal Code § 633.8(b)): (a)The officer reasonably determines an emergency situation exists that involves the immediate danger of death or serious physical injury to any person within the meaning of 18 USC § 2518(7)(a)(i), (b)The officer reasonably determines that the emergency situation requires that eavesdropping on oral communication occur immediately, and (c)There are grounds upon which an order could be obtained pursuant to 18 USC § 2516(2). (d)An application for an order approving the eavesdropping and complying with the requirements of Penal Code § 629.50 is made within 48 hours of the beginning of the eavesdropping. (e)The contents of any oral communications overheard are recorded on tape or other comparable device. 406.4 FIRST RESPONDER CONSIDERATIONS First responding officers should promptly and carefully evaluate all available information to determine whether an incident involves, or may later develop into, a hostage or barricade situation. If a suspect is actively engaged in the infliction of serious bodily harm or other life-threatening activity toward others, officers should take immediate action, if reasonably practicable, while requesting additional assistance. The first responding officer should immediately request a supervisor's response as soon as it is determined that a hostage or barricade situation exists. The first responding officer shall assume the duties of the supervisor until relieved by a supervisor or a more qualified responder. The officer shall continually evaluate the situation, including the level of risk to officers, to the persons involved and to bystanders, and the resources currently available. The handling officer should brief the arriving supervisor of the incident, including information about suspects and victims, the extent of any injuries, additional resources or equipment that may be needed, and current perimeters and evacuation areas. 406.4.1 BARRICADE SITUATION Unless circumstances require otherwise, officers handling a barricade situation should attempt to avoid a forceful confrontation in favor of stabilizing the incident by establishing and maintaining lines of communication while awaiting the arrival of specialized personnel and trained negotiators. CSU Police Department Policy Manual Hostage and Barricade Incidents Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/05/05, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by CSU Police DepartmentHostage and Barricade Incidents - 3During the interim the following options, while not all-inclusive or in any particular order,