Policy Text
Court Security Division P age 1 of 5 5/05 (REV 6/11)
Critical Incidents: Bom b Threats and Explosions
The purpose of this Operations Or der is to outline policies and procedures to follow in
the event a bomb threat is rece ived, a suspected bomb is discov ered, or a bomb
explodes at a Sacramento C ounty Superior Court facility.
I. Policy
A. Court Security personnel will respond to bomb threats or exp losions in a
manner that will maintain the secu rity of the facility and ensu re the safety
of the public, court staff, and inmates.
II. Authority
A. Any person who reports that a bomb or other explosive has be en or will be
placed or secreted in any public o r private place knowing that the
information is false is guilty of a felony.
1. California P enal Code §148.1
B. Every person who possesses, e xplodes, ignites, or attempts t o explode or
ignite any destructive device ( bomb) with the intent to injure any persons
or destroy any property is guilty of a felony.
1. California P enal Code §12303.3
III. Telephone Bomb Threats
A. Any employee who receives a b omb threat by telephone shall a ttempt to
obtain the following information:
1. Location of device 2. Time of expected detonation 3. Type and description of the device, including:
a. Approximate size
b. Shape c. How the device i s wrapped or covered
Court Security Division P age 2 of 5 5/05 (REV 6/11) 4. Reason for placing the device
5. Identity of the ca ller and/or the pers on/group responsible.
6. Caller’s sex 7. Any accent or unusual speech pattern 8. Caller’s exact words 9. Any distinguishable background noises
B. Keep the caller on the li ne as long as possible.
C. Let a co-worker know what is happening. D. Notify a supervisor immediatel y with all the available infor mation.
E. Complete a crime report.
IV. Written Bomb Threats
A. Any employee who receives a written bomb threat shall do the following:
1. Treat the document as evi dence and prevent unnecessary handl ing
of the item.
a. Item to be booked for crime lab follow-up
2. Notify Court Control and a facility sergeant.
3. Complete a crime report detailing the receipt of the documen t.
a. Note all persons that may have handled the document.
V. Response to a Bomb Threat
A. Facility sergeant receiving in formation of a verbal or writt en bomb threat
shall notify the Commander, Assi stant Commander, and/or Satelli te
Facility Commander.
B. The Commander, Assistant Comm ander and/or Sate llite Facility
Commander shall notify Court Administration of the affected fac ility.
1. Unless there is insistence by Court Administration or other
mitigating facts, the court fac ility should not be evacuated.
C. Facility sergeant shall inst ruct available SSD personnel to perform a
preliminary search of the facility.
Court Security Division P age 3 of 5 5/05 (REV 6/11) 1. Search should be made discr etely so as not to draw undue
attention.
2. Search should include the a ssistance of court staff to help identify
unattended, unfamiliar it ems in their area.
D. Upon completion of the facilit y search, the facility sergean t shall notify the
Commander, Assistant Commander and/ or Satellite Facility Comman der
of the outcome.
E. If there are known suspects o r immediate follow up is requir ed, the EOD
Supervisor should be contacted vi a the Communications Center.
VI. Locating a Suspected Bomb
A. If a suspected bomb is located:
1. The officer shall:
a. Not touch or attemp t to move the object
b. Secure the area as a crime scene. c. Not transmit over the radi o or use a cell phone in the
immediate area.
d. Notify Court Control via l and line telephone with the follow ing
information:
(1) Location (2) Description (3) Size (4) Additional officers needed to secure the scene
2. The Court Control Operator shall:
a. Notify a facility sergeant. b. Dispatch additional offi cers to secure the scene.
c. Remind responding officers not to transmit in the immediate
area.
3. The facility sergeant shall:
a. Notify the Commander, A ssistant Commander and/or the
Satellite Facility Commander.
Court Security Division P age 4 of 5 5/05 (REV 6/11) b. Begin a systematic evacuat ion of the immediate area
including adjacent rooms.
c. Request additional resources, as necessary.
(1) Patrol (2) EOD (3) Outside agencies
4. The Commander, Assistant Comm ander and/or Sate llite Facility
Commander shall:
a. Notify Court Administrati on of the affected facility.
b. Determine the need to evacuat e and close the entire facility .
c. Begin the Notification Requi rement per General Order 7/04.
B. Upon conclusion of the incide nt, the facility sergeant shall be responsible
for the completion of a crime or incident report.
VII. Bomb Explosion
A. In the event of an actual e xplosion, first responders must b e cautious of
secondary devices.
B. The first officer on the scene shall:
1. Report the exact location wher e