072 - MASS ARRESTS

MASS ARRESTS EFFECTIVE DATE: 06/01/05 STANDARD NO. 072 REVISED: 05/29/18 REPLACES: SOP Mass Arrests – Rev. 06/01/05; Rev. 02/19/14 OBJECTIVE: To establish policies and procedures for carrying out mass arrests and the deployment and operation of Filed Processing Teams. POLICY: It is the policy of the Homestead Police Department (HPD) to be well organized and prepared for searching, photographing, fingerprinting, transporting, and filing of proper paperwork for any incident involving mass arrests. SCOPE: All sworn personnel of this Department shall be governed by the procedures set forth below. I. MASS ARREST PROCEDURES: A. When unlawful incidents arise out of a situation such as a mass demonstration, and mass arrests can reasonably be expected, the designated supervisor, after receiving the approval of the Chief of Police, will issue verbal orders to organize Field Processing Teams and initiate Field Processing procedures. B. Field Processing Teams: 1. When mass arrests can reasonably be anticipated, a half or full squad will be assigned to the field processing and transportation operation. 2. The Squad Leader of the selected squad will be responsible for organizing the Field Processing Teams, designated team leaders, ensuring that each team is equipped with the necessary equipment and supplies, and supervising the operation of all Field Processing teams created within his squad. 3. Teams are comprised of two Corrections Officers and two officers selected from Field Forces. When Field Processing 4. Teams will be utilized to process mass arrestees in the field. Field processing will consist of accepting prisoners, affidavits, property, and evidence from Field force arrest officers, photographing prisoners and arresting officers together, and fingerprinting prisoners. 5. Field Force officers assigned to a Field Processing team will be utilized to provide protection to the processing area, notarize affidavits, transport prisoners, and assist with the processing operation when necessary. 6. Prior to being relieved of duty, the processing team leader will write a supplement to the incident report. The supplement will reflect the names of all arrestees processed by the team, the time and location of arrests, arresting officers, charges, Mass Arrests – SOP# 072 property or evidence seized, and the detention facility to which an arrestee was transported. C. Field Processing Procedures: 1. When practical, Field Processing teams will set up a field processing and detention site behind a police line in the area of field force activity. If the activities causing the mass arrest situation are violent, the field processing unit may be set up well removed from the activity but within short transport distance from the scene. 2. When arrests are made, arresting officers will move arrestees to the field processing site. Members of the field processing team will assist arresting officers, conduct a physical search of arrestees for weapons, illegal contraband, and drug paraphernalia. 3. Arresting officers and team technicians shall attempt to ascertain the identification of arrestees in the field in order to complete field reports accurately. 4. Affidavits: a. Will be utilized in mass arrest situations as the arresting instrument for adults and juveniles charged with non-traffic felony or misdemeanor law violations or a violation of a municipal ordinance. b. Processing teams will retain the officer's copy of the mass arrest affidavit until such time as the team is relieved of field processing responsibilities. At that time, all officers' copies will be forwarded to the Records Section. c. Arresting officers will obtain their copy of a mass arrest affidavit, as needed, from the Patrol division. 5. Processing: a. Photographs of the head and shoulders of arresting officers and arrestees standing together will be taken. Arresting officers will complete mass arrest affidavits furnished by a field processing team member. Arrestees will be fingerprinted and a single fingerprint will be placed on, and a photograph attached to, the officer’s copy of the mass arrest affidavit.