Policy Text
Policy
615Mountain View Police Department
Mountain View PD Policy Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2021/04/07, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Mountain View Police
DepartmentOperations Planning and De-confliction - 1Operations Planning and De-confliction
615.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This policy provides guidelines for planning, de-confliction and execution of high-risk operations.
Additional guidance on planning and serving high-risk warrants is provided in the Warrant Service
Policy.
615.1.1 DEFINITIONS
Definitions related to this policy include:
High-risk operations - Operations, including service of search and arrest warrants and sting
operations, that are likely to present higher risks than are commonly faced by officers on a daily
basis, including suspected fortified locations, reasonable risk of violence or confrontation with
multiple persons, or reason to suspect that persons anticipate the operation.
615.2 POLICY
It is the policy of the Mountain View Police Department to properly plan and carry out high-
risk operations, including participation in a regional de-confliction system, in order to provide
coordination, enhance the safety of members and the public, decrease the risk of compromising
investigations and prevent duplicating efforts.
615.3 OPERATIONAL OVERSIGHT
The Police Chief will designate members of this department to provide operational oversight.
Operational oversight will depend on the division that has management of the particular case
or event and will be maintained by the Investigative Services Division Lieutenant or the Field
Operations Lieutenant. In some circumstances, the SWAT Tactical Commander could have
operational oversight.
The SWAT Tactical Commander will develop and maintain a risk assessment form to assess, plan
and coordinate operations. This form should provide a process to identify high-risk operations.
The lieutenant in charge or the SWAT Tactical Commander will review risk assessment forms with
involved supervisors to determine whether a particular incident qualifies as a high-risk operation.
They will also have the responsibility for coordinating operations that are categorized as high risk.
615.4 RISK ASSESSMENT
615.4.1 RISK ASSESSMENT FORM PREPARATION
Officers assigned as operational leads for any operation that may qualify as a high-risk operation
shall complete a risk assessment form.
When preparing the form, the officer should query all relevant and reasonably available intelligence
resources for information about the subject of investigation, others who may be present and the
involved location. These sources may include regional intelligence and criminal justice databases,
Mountain View Police Department
Mountain View PD Policy Manual
Operations Planning and De-confliction
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2021/04/07, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Mountain View Police
DepartmentOperations Planning and De-confliction - 2target de-confliction systems, firearm records, commercial databases and property records.
Where appropriate, the officer should also submit information to these resources.
The officer should gather available information that includes, but is not limited to:
(a)Photographs, including aerial photographs, if available, of the involved location,
neighboring yards and obstacles.
(b)Maps of the location.
(c)Diagrams of any property and the interior of any buildings that are involved.
(d)Historical information about the subject of investigation (e.g., history of weapon
possession or use, known mental illness, known drug use, threats against police, gang
affiliation, criminal history).
(e)Historical information about others who may be present at the location (e.g., other
criminals, innocent third parties, dependent adults, children, animals).
(f)Obstacles associated with the location (e.g., fortification, booby traps, reinforced
doors/windows, surveillance measures, number and type of buildings, geographic and
perimeter barriers, the number and types of weapons likely to be present, information
that suggests the presence of explosives, chemicals or other hazardous materials, the
potential for multiple dwellings or living spaces, availability of keys/door combinations).
(g)Other environmental factors (e.g., nearby venues such as schools and day care
centers, proximity of adjacent homes or other occupied buildings, anticipated
pedestrian and vehicle traffic at the time of service).
(h)Other available options that may minimize the risk to officers and others (e.g., making
an off-site arrest or detention of the subject of investigation).
615.4.2 RISK ASSESSMENT REVIEW
Officers will present the risk assessment form and other relevant documents (such as copies of
search warrants and affidavits and arrest warrants) to their supervisor and the lieutenant in charge.
The supervisor and lieutenant shall confer and determine the level of risk. Supervisors should
take reasonable actions if there is a change in circumstances that elevates the risks associated
with the operation.
615.4.3 HIGH-RISK OPERATIONS
If the lieutenant, after consultation with the involved supervisor, determines that the operation is
high risk, the lieutenant should:
(a)Determine what resources will be needed at the location, and contact and/or place on
standby any of the following appropriate and available resources:
(a)(SWAT)/CNT
(b)Additional personnel
(c)Outside agency assistance
(d)Special equipment
Mountain View Police Department
Mountain View PD Policy Manual
Operations Planning and De-confliction
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2021/04/07, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Mountain View Police
DepartmentOperations Planning and De-confliction - 3(e)Medical personnel
(f)Persons trained in negotiation including CNT, CIT and/or Mobile Crisis
Response Team (MCRT)
(g)Additional surveillance
(h)Canines
(i)Property and Evidence SectionCrime Scene Investigations personnel to assist
with cataloguing seizures
(j)Forensic specialists
(k)Specialized mapping for larger or complex