Policy Text
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DEPARTMENTAL GENERAL ORDER
I-27: LONG -RANGE ACOUSTICAL DEVICE (LRAD)
Effective Date: 8 Feb 23
Coordinator: Hostage Negotiating Team, Special Operations Division
I. VALUE STATEMENT
It shall be the policy by the Oakland P olice D epartment to deploy the LRAD to
maximize the safety of all individuals involved in an incident. LRAD is not
utilized as an “ area of denial” device, but rather as a tool to assist in
communication from safe distances, which ultimately provides more time for interact ion and de- escalation . Regardless of deployment, the LRAD will be
utilized in accordance with OPD Core Values and our Mission.
II. DESCRIPTION OF THE TECHNOLOGY
A. LRAD Components
A Long-Range Acoustical Device (LRAD) is an acoustic hailing device used
for emitting amplified public announcements or establishing communication.
Generally, an LRAD consists of:
● An LRAD s peaker with warning tone capability and volume
control;
● Wireless transmitter and receiver ;
● Operator -utilized wireless headset or microphone MP3 player to
transmit live or recorded voice announcements;
● Weather resistant microphone to transmit live messages; and
● Magnetic roof mount
B. Purpose
An LRAD is an acoustic hailing device used for emitting amplified public announcements and establishing communication during search warrant services, barricaded suspect incidents, and other tactical operations .
An LRAD shall not be used as an “area of denial” device
1. It should only be
1 A device designed to prevent a person or group of people from occupying or traversing an area of land, sea,
or air.
DEPARTMENTAL GENERAL ORDER
Effective Date _ 8 Feb 23 ______
OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT
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used as an effective broadcasting system for instructions, messaging, and
warning tones. The speaker effectively broadcast s messages through inclement
weather and other external noise and can be clearly heard indoors. The loud
audibl e technology ensures broadcasted announcements are loud and clear
while offering advantages over less amplified patrol car public address ( PA)
systems.
An LRAD is beneficial for broadcasting public announcements or safety
advisements during natural disast ers and evacuations , and to establish
communication with subjects . The speaker can be utilized to convey water
locations, bathrooms , or best evacuation routes during First Amendment
demonstrations and other events.
An LRAD is portable and can be used during events involving criminal unrest
and rioting, and illegal sideshow activities , to provide clear dispersal orders for
unlawful assembl ies.
An LRAD may not always be ideal for deployment and alternatives should
always be cons idered prior to deployment.
III. GENERAL GUIDELINES
A. Authorized Use
1. Any use of an LRAD shall be in strict accordance with
constitutional law and department policy.
2. Only authorized operators who have completed the required training shall be permitted to operate an LRAD.
3. Operators should be aware of and shall adhere to LRAD operational guidelines and identified “zones ,” or danger zones,
for each LRAD. Proper measures should be taken to ensure officer and public safety, to include the usage of hearing protection for operators in required areas.
4. LRAD may only be used to establish communications for the following specified situations:
a. Disaster or city-wide emergency management;
b. Rescue operations to include missing or lost persons;
c. Sideshow events where many vehicles and reckless driving is present;
d. Crowd m anagement operations (see TB III- G Crowd
Control) ;
e. Search w arrants ;
DEPARTMENTAL GENERAL ORDER
Effective Date _ 8 Feb 23______
OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT
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f. Barricaded2 suspects;
g. Yard searches of suspected armed subjects;
h. Training; and
i. Exigent circumstances3.
5. Deployment Authorization
a. Deployment of an LRAD shall require the authorization of
the incident commander, who shall be of the rank of
Lieutenant of Police or above.
b. Pre-planned operations, and or events, should include the
prior approval of an LRAD and its permitted usage in
accordance with this policy.
c. Incident commanders of a lower rank may authorize the use of an LRAD during exigent circumstances, as defined in this policy . In these cases, authorization from a
command -level officer shall be sought as soon as is
reasonably practical.
d. If deployment will consist of attaching an LRAD to a
vehicle, operators should take the necessary safety precautions to ensure the LRAD is safely secured. Furthermore, operators should be cognizant of safe operating speeds. Operators should also consider securing the LRAD in their vehicle if traveling at high speeds, such
as on an interstate highway (freeway).
6. Warning Tone
a. When deployed properly, an LRAD warning tone is a tool for
gaining an individual ’s attention to voice messages.
b. The warning tone shall only be used when authorized by an
Incident Commander at the rank of Lieutenant or above.
c. When authorized for use in the field, the warning tone shall only be used for the following situations:
i. To alert a person or group of an impending message;
ii. To gain the immediate attention of persons , whether
they are in public or the occupants of a vehicle, vessel,
or building;
2 A barricaded subject incident is an incident in which a person armed with a weapon, explosive,
or other dangerous device seizes control of a location and refuses to surrender