Policy Text
Policy
408San Luis Obispo Police Department
San Luis Obispo PD CA Policy Manual
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Published with permission by San Luis Obispo Police
DepartmentHostage and Barricade Incidents - 1Hostage and Barricade Incidents
408.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for situations where officers have legal cause
to
contact, detain or arrest a person, and the person refuses to submit to the lawful requests of
the officers by remaining in a structure or vehicle and/or by taking a hostage.
The scope of this policy is not intended to address all variables that officers encounter during
their initial response or when a hostage or barricade situation has developed. This policy does
not require or purport to recommend specific strategies or tactics for resolution as each incident
is a dynamic and rapidly evolving event.
408.1.1 DEFINITIONS
Definitions related to this policy include:
Barricade situation - An incident where a person maintains a position of cover or concealment
and ignores or resists law enforcement personnel, and it is reasonable to believe the subject is
armed with a dangerous or deadly weapon.
Hostage situation - An incident where it is reasonable to believe a person is:
(a) Unlawfully held by a hostage-taker as security so that specified terms or conditions
will be met.
(b) Unlawfully held against his/her will under threat or actual use of force.
408.2 POLICY
It is the policy of the San Luis Obispo Police Department to address hostage and barricade
situations with due regard for the preservation of life and balancing the risk of injury, while obtaining
the safe release of hostages, apprehending offenders and securing available evidence.
408.3 COMMUNICATION
When circumstances permit, initial responding officers should try to establish and maintain lines
of communication with a barricaded person or hostage-taker. Officers should attempt to identify
any additional subjects, inquire about victims and injuries, seek the release of hostages, gather
intelligence information, identify time-sensitive demands or conditions and obtain the suspect’s
surrender.
When available, department-authorized negotiators should respond to the scene as soon as
practicable and assume communication responsibilities. Negotiators are permitted to exercise
flexibility in each situation based upon their training, the circumstances presented, suspect actions
or demands and the available resources.
408.3.1 EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
Only an officer who has been designated by the District Attorney or Attorney General may use
or authorize the use of an electronic amplifying or recording device to eavesdrop on or record,
San Luis Obispo Police Department
San Luis Obispo PD CA Policy Manual
Hostage and Barricade Incidents
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2024/10/31, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by San Luis Obispo Police
DepartmentHostage and Barricade Incidents - 2or both, oral communication in response to an emergency situation involving a hostage or the
barricading of a location, and only when (Penal Code § 633.8(b)):
(a)The officer reasonably determines an emergency situation exists that involves the
immediate danger of death or serious physical injury to any person within the meaning
of 18 USC § 2518(7)(a)(i),
(b)The officer reasonably determines that the emergency situation requires that
eavesdropping on oral communication occur immediately, and
(c)There are grounds upon which an order could be obtained pursuant to 18 USC
§ 2516(2).
(d)An application for an order approving the eavesdropping and complying with the
requirements of Penal Code § 629.50 is made within 48 hours of the beginning of the
eavesdropping.
(e)The contents of any oral communications overheard are recorded on tape or other
comparable device.
408.4 FIRST RESPONDER CONSIDERATIONS
First responding officers should promptly and carefully evaluate all available information to
determine whether an incident involves, or may later develop into, a hostage or barricade situation.
The first responding officer should immediately request a supervisor’s response as soon as it is
determined that a hostage or barricade situation exists. The first responding officer shall assume
the duties of the supervisor until relieved by a supervisor or a more qualified responder. The officer
shall continually evaluate the situation, including the level of risk to officers, to the persons involved
and to bystanders, and the resources currently available.
The handling officer should brief the arriving supervisor of the incident, including information about
suspects and victims, the extent of any injuries, additional resources or equipment that may be
needed, and current perimeters and evacuation areas.
408.4.1 BARRICADE SITUATION
.
San Luis Obispo Police Department
San Luis Obispo PD CA Policy Manual
Hostage and Barricade Incidents
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2024/10/31, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by San Luis Obispo Police
DepartmentHostage and Barricade Incidents - 4408.5 SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES
Upon being notified that a hostage or barricade situation exists, the supervisor should immediately
respond to the scene, assess the risk level of the situation, establish a proper chain of command
and assume the role of Incident Commander until properly relieved. This includes requesting a
Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) response if appropriate and apprising the SWAT
Commander of the circumstances. :
San Luis Obispo Police Department
San Luis Obispo PD CA Policy Manual
Hostage and Barric