RM 532.0820 - Hostage Manual Redacted

SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT HOSTAGE MANUAL RM 532.08 SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT HOSTAGE MANUAL REVISED: 02-95 POLICY STATEMENT It is the policy of the Sacramento Police Department to maintain training, policy, and procedure to ensure hostage incidents are handled in a safe and professional manner. Our goal is to save the lives of officers, citizens and suspects involved in these incidents. Additionally, our goal is to minimize the impact these incidents have on the community. With periodic training and reference to this manual, hostage incidents should be easier to control. However, we are aware that there are no guarantees of success while dealing with this type of incident. SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT HOSTAGE MANUAL HOSTAGE MANUAL 1 OF 17CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION TO THE MANUAL I. APPLICATION A. The policies/procedures contained in this manual are designed for critical incidents which include, but are not limited to: 1. hostage situations 2. armed, barricaded suspect(s)3. sniper situations, and 4. armed suicidal subjects (not necessarily barricaded). B. Definitions 1. Hostage Situation - A situation in which suspects take hostages to: a. protect themselves and/or b. attempt to force some action on the part of the police. 2. Types of Hostages a. Citizens b. Police. 3. Types of Hostage Situations a. Crimes in progress gone bad b. Kidnappingsc. Political extremists d. Individual actions (psychotics). II. LIMITATIONS A. This manual is the basis for training. B. Training must be continuous and practiced to ensure efficient, effective and safe operations. C. This manual and proper training cannot guarantee success, but will enhance success. III. GOALS A. To establish clear, safe, practical, and effective policy and procedures, and to insure continuity and accountability before during and after a hostage situation. B. To prepare officers to handle hostage situations as safely as possible for all concerned persons. C. To teach specific operational procedures and negotiation skills for hostage situations. IV. PHILOSOPHY F. To gain knowledge from each situation. V. ELEMENTS OF POLICY A. General Principles B. General Operational IssuesC. Command Responsibility D. Personnel DeploymentE. Negotiables and Non-negotiablesF. Use of Force G. Use of Outside Agencies H. Public Information and Press RelationsI. Training. CHAPTER II GENERAL PRINCIPLES SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT HOSTAGE MANUAL HOSTAGE MANUAL 4 OF 171. The Fire Department and an ambulance should be requested immediately. Remember, the possibility of a situation deteriorating is highest before stabilization. 2. Their response should be to a safe location immediately outside the danger zone. This location can be changed after the situation is stabilized. F. Once containment has been affected, further action should wait for adequate personnel and equipment resources. II. INITIAL AUTHORITY A. Initial authority rests with the first officer on the scene, regardless of assignment. If several officers arrive at the same time, the senior officer shall assume initial authority. B. If the initial officer(s) on the scene are not assigned to the Office of Operations (OOO), every effort shall be made to turn operational control over to the OOO at the earliest possible moment. C. The sector sergeant must be among those officers initially dispatched so as to assume the initial authority whenever possible. D. Initial authority includes the responsibility to order the response of a SWAT Team and a Negotiations Team. Their response is mandatory. I Initial authority, ideally vested in the sector sergeant, is necessary to provide adequate responses to individual circumstances. However, when properly executed, initial authority generally extends into the containment stage and allows command level staff to assume authority during the containment stage. While nothing in this manual, expressed or implied, is intended to limit the authority of any initial officer, neither is anything in this manual intended to circumvent or diminish the requirement that command level staff assume command of a hostage situation. See Chapter IV. III. STABILIZING HOSTAGE SITUATIONS--LOGISTICAL CONCERNS Once containment is achieved and sufficient personnel have arrived, the situation can be stabilized and preparations made to begin the negotiation process. The following logistical concerns are: A. Communications among Police Personnel 1. All personnel shall be in radio communication. 2. One (1) radio channel and one (1) dispatcher shall be dedicated to the operation.3. B. General Personnel Considerations 1. While it is necessary to have sufficient personnel on hand to deal with the situation, it is critical that the number be limited to those necessary. 2. All personnel must be under supervision and have definite assignments. 3. The identity, location, and movement of all personnel must be strictly monitored by the IC and the dispatcher to enable the IC to deploy personnel as needed. 4. Relief may be required during prolonged situations. Remember, this is an advantage usually not afforded to the hostage takers. C. General Personnel Deployment 1. The Outer Perimeter Group - usually officers and Community service officers (CSOs). They:a. establish, and maintain safe, a perimeter outside and away from the danger zone. SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT HOSTAGE MANUAL HOSTAGE MANUAL 6 OF 174. The SWAT Commander. V. COMMUNICATIONS WITH HOSTAGE TAKERS A. Whenever possible, communication with hostage takers shall be made only by trained Department negotiators. B.