Policy Text
Policy
302Fremont Police Department
Calls for Service Involving Firearms
302.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The purpose of this policy is to establish a systematic response to calls for service involving
firearms that will provide the greatest degree of protection and safety to all persons involved.
Responses to calls for service involving firearms will be with sufficient staffing and handled in
a planned fashion to ensure the safety of all persons. This policy is not intended to constrain
personnel to specific tactical actions.
302.2 PROCEDURES
Upon receiving a call for service involving a firearm or suspected firearm the following procedure
will be employed for response.
302.2.1 COMMUNICATIONS PERSONNEL RESPONSIBILITY
(a)Communications personnel, upon receiving such a call, will initiate the tone alert,
assign a minimum of three (3) units to the scene, and notify a supervisor.
1.The minimum three unit response applies to reported violations of Fremont
Municipal Code (FMC) 3-3106, and/or promiscuous shootings; however,
activation of the tone alert is not required in these incidents unless deemed
necessary by the Communications Dispatcher.
(b)Officers will not cancel or advise on their cover unless they are on scene and have
clearly determined the circumstances surrounding the incident.
(c)Additional pertinent information will be ascertained by Communications personnel and
broadcast to responding units as soon as practical.
302.2.2 INITIAL STEPS
The first officer or supervisor arriving at the scene should:
(a)Establish a separate communications channel for operations.
(b)Approach the scene as safely possible.
(c)Implement the Incident Command System, which includes gathering, within safe time
constraints, information relative to the crime or type of incident involved, suspect(s)
location, weaponry, presence of hostages, entrances and exits (if suspect is in a
building), personal and background information on suspect(s), a staging area, and
possible avenues of approach.
(d)Consider the possibility that firearm incidents may be situations of legal firearm
possession (e.g. "open carry").
(e)Direct assisting officers to:
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1.Establish containment with an inner perimeter to limit the suspect's movements
and take steps to protect citizens in the area.
2.Establish an arrest/react team to take the suspect into custody or a hasty
intervention to protect lives.
3.Maintain crowd and traffic control.
4.Evacuate nearby citizens when necessary and possible.
5.Establish fields of fire and perimeter defense.
302.2.3 ADDITIONAL ACTIONS
Responding personnel should:
(a)Establish a simple and clear plan for apprehension of the suspect(s), keeping in mind
that immediate apprehension is not always a primary consideration unless the lives
of officers or citizens are at risk.
(b)Request additional personnel if necessary.
(c)If appropriate and if time permits, request that emergency medical personnel stand by
a short distance from the scene, out of the probable line of fire.
(d)Prior to physically approaching the suspect(s) and when tactically appropriate, attempt
to establish communications in an effort to dissuade the suspect(s) from violence and
to surrender.
(e)Evaluate the situation before requesting and/or using special equipment, e.g., gas,
specialized weapons, etc.
(f)Consider the use of less lethal options (e.g. canine, kinetic energy projectile) in
accordance with Control Devices and Techniques policy.
(g)When a decision is made to use chemical agents, request the Fire Department to
stand by a short distance from the scene.
(h)Consider the need for a lockdown of any affected schools.
302.2.4 PHYSICAL APPROACH TO THE SUSPECT(S)
When physically approaching the suspect(s), officers should consider the following:
(a)When approaching the suspect(s), or while in view of the suspect(s), officers should
not group together any more than absolutely necessary.
(b)Using all existing cover available (e.g., terrain, automobiles, large trees, etc.), keeping
in mind the distinction between concealment and cover, i.e. objects that obscure or
block the suspect's view (e.g., shrubs, standard redwood yard fences, etc.) may not
stop or hamper a bullet.
(c)Avoiding, when possible, exposure to doors, windows, or crossing fields of fire.
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(d)Entry to a building containing the suspect(s) should, whenever possible, be through a
portion of the building away from the actual location of the suspect.
1.All units at the scene should be advised of the point of entry and the number
of officers entering.
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