49067090.pdf

\n\n--- Page 1 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDER TITLE Suspicious Mail, ACCREDITATION Destructive Devices/Threats at N/A the Police Building PRIOR REVISIONS PROPONENT UNIT 07/01/1998, Patrol Support Bureau 07/23/2020 ATTACHMENT: None NUMBER ISSUE DATE REVISION DATE TOTAL PAGES 40.17 07/01/1998 07/27/2022 7 I. PURPOSE: This Order provides procedural information in the event of suspicious devices, packages, or destructive devices/threats at the police administration building. II. POLICY: The Gainesville Police Department shall provide maximum safety and security for its members and facilities while minimizing any disruptions to the operations of the Department in the event of a destructive device/threat or suspicious package/device. III. DEFINITIONS: A. Destructive Device: Destructive device” means any bomb, grenade, mine, rocket, missile, pipebomb, or similar device containing an explosive, incendiary, or poison gas and includes any frangible container filled with an explosive, incendiary, explosive gas, or expanding gas, which is designed or so constructed as to explode by such filler and is capable of causing bodily harm or property damage; any combination of parts either designed or intended for use in converting any device into a destructive device and from which a destructive device may be readily assembled; any device declared a destructive device by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; any type of weapon which will, is designed to, or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of any explosive and which has a barrel with a bore of one-half inch or more in diameter; and ammunition for such destructive devices, but not including shotgun shells or any other ammunition designed for use in a firearm other than a destructive device, Florida State Statute 790.001 (4) B. Bomb Disposal Unit: A specially trained, specially equipped unit which locates, disarms, and/or disposes of known or suspected explosive devices. NOTE: The Department utilizes the Bomb Disposal Unit from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. IV. PROCEDURE:\n\n--- Page 2 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT_____________________ A. General Responsibilities: Any member who, while at any of the Department facilities, receives a destructive device threat, suspicious package, explosive device (including those turned in by a citizen) or similar item directed at the Gainesville Police Department or any of its members shall: 1. Immediately notify the on-duty shift commander / designee and the CCC. i. The shift commander/ designee will assume incident command (IC). a) For occurrences during business hours, the CCC shall send out a Command Staff page. The IC will be responsible for notifying the Chief/ Designee and PIO. ii. For occurrences after business hours, the CCC will send out a Command Staff page. The IC will be responsible for notifying the Chief/ Designee and PIO. Gather all information which can potentially identify the source and consequences of the threat/device: 2. Threat Receipt: Members receiving explosive-device threats shall obtain the following information, when available: i. How threat was received (letter, phone call, social media, etc.); ii. As much investigatory information as possible, including: a) Location, type, size, composition and description of device b) Time/date of detonation; c) Offender’s motive and/or group association. iii. Members receiving phoned-in or social media threats should additionally gather the following (if discernible): a)Gender, race, age, attitude of the caller, the social media used, b)Speech / voice characteristics (accents, impediments, attitude, volume, computer synthetization, etc.) writing characteristics, c)Background and distinguishing sounds, noises, and other call source/ location indicators. Social media account pictures, the reason(s) the device was placed. d)The phone number, including the extension e)Email addresses, social media account, or any other relevant information. iv. Specificity (of the threat): a) Members who receive explosive device threats shall pay particular attention to the specificity of the threat. 2\n\n--- Page 3 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT b) Threats made with specific information (e.g. 5 sticks of dynamite in the south end of the building set to detonate in 45 minutes) and emotionality (‘please get everyone out’) may be considered a higher threat than someone casually saying ‘a bomb in the building is set to go off in an hour’. 3. Suspicious Packages / Dangerous Device Receipt: For maximum member safety, suspicious packages and known dangerous devices should be treated as though they will explode. The receiving member shall: i. In the case of an item delivered to the station (by mail, citizen, etc.), cease handling the item(s) to ensure minimal disruption. ii. Notify a supervisor immediately. The supervisor, if not also the shift commander, shall ensure that the shift commander/ designee is notified. iii. Inspect the device (usually visually only) for source or identifying information; iv. Preserve the item as well as possible for evidence, if applicable. v. Question the person who delivered the device (where/how did they get it, etc.). B. Incident Commander / Designee Responsibilities: The responding incident commander shall ensure that the following is accomplished: 1. Threat Assessment: Based upon available information, determine the credibility of the threat and the extent of police action / response necessary. 2. Explosive Device Threats: When indicated, immediately organize and conduct an area-wide, or building-wide search for suspicious packages. Member Assistance: Department members familiar with their areas will assist in looking for suspicious or out-of-place items or packages. 3. No Verified Hazard: If an item delivered to the Department is found to be inert (or is otherwise verified as not being a threat), OR no suspicious package / item is found during a search, the shift commander / designee will: i. Decide if the threat has been neutralized. ii. Decide if an evacuation may still be ordered (in unusual situations). iii. Notify the Chief and in-house command staff of the status/outcome; iv. Assign a sworn member to complete a report; v. Contact CID for investigative follow-up of the incident. 4. Actual Device: Whether a device was located through a search or delivered to the Department, the incident commander shall: 3\n\n--- Page 4 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT i. Identify the location of the device /suspicious package; ii. Isolate the area; iii. Ensure that the device is neither handled nor moved; iv. Order an immediate evacuation of the facility. Sworn personnel shall be assigned for perimeter security, as needed a) Personnel using portable radios will be notified to shut down their radios when in the perimeter of the incident. b) No equipment will be reactivated until the all-clear is given at the conclusion of the incident NOTE: Communications during the incident will be restricted to land telephone lines. v. Request the Bomb Disposal Unit from ACSO, ATF, and Gainesville Fire Rescue. To assist them in assessing the situation, the ACSO Bomb Unit will be supplied with all requested information. vi. Designate that a command post be established and staffed at a safe distance. vii. Ensure that appropriate command notifications occur. C. Evacuations: Evacuations, when ordered, should proceed quickly and orderly. 1. Emergency Evacuations: Imminent threats may require that personnel immediately depart the building via the nearest exit. 2. Evacuation Site: Evacuate to a minimum safe distance of 800 feet from the building (the more distance between the scene and the evacuation site, the better). 3. Employee / Visitor Responsibilities: i. Personal property (purses, briefcases, lunchboxes, etc.), may be removed by each employee/evacuee upon departure. However, employees evacuating an area in which a potential or actual device is found may be order