Policy Text
1 GENERAL ORDER #13.07
ARMORED RESCUE VEHICLE (ARV)
GENERAL ORDER #13.07
Adopted: 8/1/2022 Updated: 7/30/2022 Replaces: None Reviewed: 7/30/2022
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POLICY
The purpose and scope of this policy is to set guide lines for approved use, training, care and storage
of the Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff’s armored rescue vehicles, a Lenco Bearcat and an
armored Chevrolet Suburban. In this policy, these ve hicles will be referred to as the Armored Rescue
Vehicle (ARV’s). The Sheriff’s Office ARV’s are defined as “mil itary equipment” pursuant to
Assembly Bill 481 and are also under the oversight of General Order #10.08 [Military Equipment
Funding, Acquisition and Use Policy]. This policy was created to ensure co mpliance with statutory
requirements and established Sheriff’s Office procedures.
The purpose and intent of the ARV’ s are to enhance and sustain local and regional preparedness for
the first responders in the region by allowing for the delivery of emer gency services into on-going or
planned hazardous situations. This will allow law en forcement, fire and medi cal personnel the ability
to have some level of protecti on when entering unsecu red and unstable areas (warm and hot zones).
These vehicles will enhance the ability of first res ponders to rescue persons in need and help protect
first responders at th e scene of an emergency. The ARV’s are al so designated to me et tactical needs
of law enforcement agencies tasked with responding to acts of violence and/or terrorism. The purpose
is to enhance law enforcement’s ability to serve and protect the community.
The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office Lenc o Bearcat was obtained through State Homeland
Security Grant Funding in 2010. The Bearcat is a Santa Clara County Fleet Ma nagement vehicle that
adheres to all Fleet licensing, insurance, main tenance, and repair requirements. The Chevrolet
Suburban was a standard county vehi cle outfitted with ballistic glas s and door panels through Fleet
Management in 1998. The Suburban is a Santa Clar a County Fleet Management vehicle that adheres
to all Fleet licensing, in surance, maintenance, and repair requirements.
PROCEDURE
A. USE OF THE ARV
1. The use of the ARV’s assist with the preservati on of life and enhance the safety of citizens
and deputies. The ARV’s should be deployed in situations where its use would enhance
the tactical advantage of deputies, aid in th e rescue of injured pe rsons, protect life and
2 GENERAL ORDER #13.07
property, or improve the likeli hood that an incident would be resolved without the use of
deadly force or other force options.
2. The ARV’s are primarily used for Sherif f’s Emergency Response Team (S.E.R.T.)
incidents, safe transport of S.E.R.T. personne l to and from critical incidents, high risk
warrant service operations, trai ning, delivery of em ergency medical staf f and/or Tactical
Emergency Medicine Support (TEM S) personnel, delivery of equipment, and other rescue
capabilities.
3. The ARV’s will not be used in the public for community engagement events, unless
specifically authorized by the Sheriff.
B. DEPLOYMENT
1. The ARV’s will only be deployed in a manner consistent with the guidelines in this policy.
Approval to deploy the ARV’s will be the re sponsibility of the Special Enforcement
Captain or his/her designee.
2. A Watch Commander may authorize the depl oyment of an ARV(s) if there is an
immediate need to prevent loss of life or serious bodily injury . Upon deployment, the
Watch Commander shall notify the Special Enfo rcement Captain as soon as practical. In
cases where the Watch Commander authorized the deployment of an ARV(s), the S.E.R.T. Lieutenant(s) will assign two (2) S.E. R.T. members to relieve the patrol deputies
in charge of the ARV’s at the scene of the deployment. Should events dictate a lack of
available S.E.R.T. members to operate the ARV, the Watch Commander shall seek out
former S.E.R.T. members or other deputies that have received advanced training to fill
that role.
3. Nothing in this policy is meant to preclude the immediate deployment of the ARV’s to
perform a deputy or citizen resc ue, to save lives that are in immediate danger of serious
bodily injury or death, to assist in the safe de-escalation or contai nment of barricaded or
suicidal subjects, or to deliver an ARV(s) to the scene of a S.E.R.T. callout.
C. TACTICAL OPERATIONS AND ENFORCEMENT
1. Deployment of an ARV(s) should be cons idered in the following circumstances:
a. During incidents involvi ng violent felonies.
b. Responding to persons with a history of extreme violence involving firearms,
explosives, or other dangerous weapons.
c. When information is present that the suspec t has used, intends to use or is likely
to use extreme violence against citiz ens or law enforcement personnel.
2. An ARV should not be deployed in incidents that do not invol ve actual, threatened, or
suspected violence or investig ations of misdemeanor crimes, unless the crime involves a
weapon. In the absence of actual, threaten ed, or suspected violence, an ARV may be
deployed during natural disasters,