Policy Text
Policy
421Fremont Police Department
Rapid Response and Deployment
421.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
Violence that is committed in schools, workplaces and other locations by individuals or a group of
individuals who are determined to target and kill persons and to create mass casualties presents
a difficult situation for law enforcement. The purpose of this policy is to identify guidelines and
factors that will assist responding officers in situations that call for rapid response and deployment.
421.2 POLICY
The Fremont Police Department will endeavor to plan for rapid response to crisis situations, and
to coordinate response planning with other emergency services as well as with those that are
responsible for operating sites that may be the target of a critical incident.
Nothing in this policy shall preclude the use of reasonable force, deadly or otherwise, by members
of the department in protecting themselves or others from death or serious injury.
421.3 FIRST RESPONSE
If there is a reasonable belief that acts or threats by a suspect are placing lives in imminent danger,
first responding officers should consider reasonable options to reduce, prevent or eliminate the
threat. Officers must decide, often under a multitude of difficult and rapidly evolving circumstances,
whether to advance on the suspect, take other actions to deal with the threat or wait for additional
resources.
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.
Officers should remain aware of the possibility that an incident may be part of a coordinated multi-
location attack that may require some capacity to respond to other incidents at other locations.
When deciding on a course of action officers should consider:
(a)Whether to advance on or engage a suspect who is still a possible or perceived threat
to others. Any advance or engagement should be based on information known or
received at the time.
(b)Whether to wait for additional resources or personnel. This does not preclude an
individual officer from taking immediate action.
(c)Whether individuals who are under imminent threat can be moved or evacuated with
reasonable safety.
(d)Whether the suspect can be contained or denied access to victims.
(e)Whether the officers have the ability to effectively communicate with other personnel
or resources.
(f)Whether planned tactics can be effectively deployed.
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(g)The availability of rifles, shotguns, shields, breaching tools, control devices and any
other appropriate tools, and whether the deployment of these tools will provide a
tactical advantage.
In a case of a barricaded suspect with no hostages and no immediate threat to others, officers
should consider summoning and waiting for additional assistance (special tactics and/or hostage
negotiation team response).
421.3.1 RESPONSE TO SCHOOL THREATS
Upon receiving a threat or perceived threat from a school official that involves grades 6 to 12,
officers shall immediately investigate and conduct a threat assessment. The investigation shall
include a review of the firearm registry of the California Department of Justice. A reasonable search
of the school at issue shall be conducted when the search is justified by reasonable suspicion that
it would produce evidence related to the threat or perceived threat (Education Code § 49394).
For purposes of this subsection a "threat" or "perceived threat" means any writing or action of a
pupil that creates a reasonable suspicion that the pupil is preparing to commit a homicidal act
related to school or a school activity. This may include possession, use, or depictions of firearms,
ammunition, shootings, or targets in association with infliction of physical harm, destruction, or
death in a social media post, journal, class note, or other media associated with the pupil. It may
also include a warning by a parent, pupil, or other individual (Education Code § 49390).
421.4 CONSIDERATIONS
When dealing with a crisis situation members should:
(a)Assess the immediate situation and take reasonable steps to maintain operative
control of the incident.
(b)Obtain, explore and analyze sources of intelligence and known information regarding
the circumstances, location and suspect involved in the incident.
(c)Attempt to attain a tactical advantage over the suspect by reducing, preventing or
eliminating any known or perceived threat.
(d)Attempt, if feasible and based upon the suspect’s actions and danger to others, a
negotiated surrender of the suspect and release of the hostages.
421.5 PLANNING
The Patrol Division Commander should coordinate critical incident planning. Planning efforts
should consider:
(a)Identification of likely critical incident target sites, such as schools, shopping centers,
entertainment and sporting event venues.
(b)Availability of building plans and venue schematics of likely critical incident target sites.
(c)Communications interoperability with other law enforcement and emergency service
agencies.
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(d)Training opportunities in critical incident target sites, including joint training with site
occupants.
(e)Evacuation routes in critical incident target sites.
(f)Patrol first-response training.
(g)Response coordination and resources of emergency medical and fire services.
(h)Equipment needs.
(i)Mutual aid agreements with other agencies.
(j)Coordination with private security providers in critical incident target sites.
421.6 TRAINING
The Training Sergeant should include rapid response to critical incidents in the training plan. This
training should address:
(a)