Policy Text
Procedure
202Garden Grove Police Department
Procedures Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2024/02/27, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Garden Grove Police
DepartmentCritical Incident Response Plan - 1Critical Incident Response Plan
202.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This procedure is to provide guidance to Department staff regarding use of the Incident
Command System (ICS) during field response to critical incidents. This procedure augments and
provides specific field response considerations regarding natural and manmade disasters, civil
disturbances, and pandemics to the City's Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and Annexes not
previously discussed in other Department orders, policies, or procedures.
This Department will respond to planned and unplanned events, disasters or emergencies that
occur within the City of Garden Grove, or when requested in a professional and informed manner
utilizing ICS as incorporated in both California's Standardized Emergency Management System
(SEMS) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS). The Department's objective will
be the restoration of pre-incident law enforcement status to the affected area(s) and to provide for
the protection of life and property during a disaster.
202.1.1 DEFINITIONS
Emergency Situation - An actual or potential condition that poses an immediate threat to life or
property.
Critical Incidents - Situations, generally of an emergency nature, that result from disaster,
both natural and man-made, that includes civil disturbances, earthquakes, floods, pandemics,
explosions, riots, disorders, violence from dissident gatherings and marches, rock concerts,
political conventions, labor disputes, and terrorist activities.
Incident Commander - The most experienced or senior Department member in-charge at a
field command post during an emergency or critical incident. Incident Commanders may also be
referred to as the Officer-in-Charge.
The Incident Command Post (ICP) - is the primary location for on-scene incident command and
management. Staffing at the ICP typically includes the Incident Commander, Command Staff and
General Staff, while, some roles may be assigned at other posts if necessary (e.g. Liaison Officer,
Public Information Officer, and Finance could be located in the Department Operation Center).
The ICP is located at or near the incident site and is the center of on-scene tactical operations.
The Department Operations Center (DOC) and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) – is
the coordination point for the Department emergency response activities during major incidents
and planned events. It provides direct support to any field level command post(s), established
Department Incident Management Teams (IMTs), and provides situational updates to key
Department members and elected officials when the EOC is not activated.
The Emergency Operation Center (EOC) - is the centralized location which supports emergency
response and recovery efforts throughout incidents. While tactical on-scene operations are
conducted from the ICP, the EOC supports and assists in coordination with ICP operations and
any other field operations.
Garden Grove Police Department
Procedures Manual
Critical Incident Response Plan
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2024/02/27, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Garden Grove Police
DepartmentCritical Incident Response Plan - 2The Emergency Operation Plan (EOP) - provides an overview of a jurisdiction's approach
to emergency operations. It identifies emergency response policies, describes the response
organization, and assigns tasks. It establishes the framework for effective coordination and
integration of emergency responses and initial recovery actions within the City of Garden Grove.
Incident Command System (ICS) - A system for command, control, and coordination of a
response that provides a means to coordinate the efforts of individual persons and agencies as
they work toward the common goal of stabilizing an incident while protecting life, property, and
environment. There are five major components: command, operation, planning, logistics, and
finance & administration.
National Incident Management System (NIMS) - A comprehensive, national approach to
incident management that is applicable at all jurisdictional levels and across all functional
disciplines.
Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS) - An organizational framework and
guidance for emergency operations at each level of the State's emergency management
system. Provides the umbrella under which all response agencies may function in an integrated
fashion. Required by the State of CA for managing response to multi-agency and multi-jurisdiction
emergencies.
Incident Action Plan (IAP) - formal document which outlines incident goals, operational period
objectives, and the response strategy defined by incident command during response planning. It
contains general tactics to achieve goals and objectives within the overall strategy, dissemination
of critical information about the status of response assets while providing important information
on event and response parameters.
After Action Report (AAR) - is a post-event report that analyzes the management and response
of an incident or event by identifying strengths to be maintained and built upon, as well as
identifying potential areas of improvement. An AAR provides analysis for lessons learned, best
practices and recommendations for future planning, training, and exercise development. As
improvement actions are identified and addressed relevant plans, policies and procedures should
be updated accordingly.
Unified Command - A procedure used at incidents that allows all agencies with geographical,
legal or functional responsibility to establish a common set of incident objectives and strategies
while working under a single Incident Action Plan. Unified Command structure allows agencies to
optimized efforts as they perform their respective assignments while maintaining legal authority
and accountability.
202.2 CHAIN OF COMMAND
The Chain of Command is established through the normal course of business within the
Department. At the scene of a critical incident, the Incident Commander will be the most senior
officer or supervisor on