Policy Text
Policy
423Mountain View Police Department
Mountain View PD Policy Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2021/04/07, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Mountain View Police
DepartmentRapid Response And Deployment Policy - 1Rapid Response And Deployment Policy
423.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
Violence in schools, workplaces and other locations by any individual or group of individuals
presents a difficult situation for law enforcement. The purpose of this policy is to identify guidelines
and factors that will assist responding officers as they make decisions in these rapidly unfolding
and tense situations.
423.2 POLICY
The policy of this department in dealing with the crisis situation shall be:
(a)To obtain and maintain complete operative control of the incident.
(b)To explore every reasonably available source of intelligence regarding the
circumstances, location, and suspect(s) in the incident.
(c)To attempt, by every means available, to attain any tactical advantage over the
responsible individual(s).
(d)To attempt, whenever feasible, a negotiated surrender of the suspect(s) and release
of the hostages through the expertise of the members of this department and others.
(e)When an emergency situation exists, neutralize the threat as rapidly as reasonably
possible to minimize injury and loss of life.
Nothing in this policy shall preclude the use of necessary force, deadly or otherwise, by members
of this department in protecting themselves or others from death or serious injury.
423.3 PROCEDURE
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 immediately 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.
When deciding on a course of action officers should consider:
(a)Whether sufficient personnel are available on-scene to advance on the suspect. Any
advance on a suspect should be made using teams of two or more officers whenever
reasonably possible.
(b)Whether individuals who are under imminent threat can be moved out of danger with
reasonable safety.
(c)Whether the officers have the ability to effectively communicate with others in the field.
(d)Whether planned tactics can be effectively deployed.
Mountain View Police Department
Mountain View PD Policy Manual
Rapid Response And Deployment Policy
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2021/04/07, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Mountain View Police
DepartmentRapid Response And Deployment Policy - 2(e)The availability of rifles, shotguns, shields, control devices and any other appropriate
tools, and whether the deployment of these tools will provide a tactical advantage.
(f)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).
(g)If a suspect is actively engaged in the infliction of serious bodily harm or other
life-threatening activity toward others, the officer should take immediate action, if
reasonably possible, to stop the threat presented by the suspect while calling for
additional assistance.