Policy Text
Policy
347Santa Monica Police Department
Santa Monica Police Department Policy Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/02/09, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Santa Monica Police
DepartmentMobile Field Force - 1Mobile Field Force
347.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The Santa Monica Police Department has established the Mobile Field Force (MFF) Cadre for
the purpose of utilizing specially trained and equipped personnel to provide an organized and
disciplined response to facilitate First Amendment assemblies, demonstrations and/or
address civil disturbance, or protests.
347.2 POLICY
The MFF Cadre aims to facilitate a publicly safe environment for people to engage in their
constitutional rights to assemble, voice their opinion, rally, demonstrate or otherwise express
their views.s The MFF cadre will monitor public gatherings or demonstrations to ensure the
event remains peaceful and nonviolent while balancing the need for public safety and the welfare
of the public at large. If any volatile situations arise, the MFF will attempt to deescalate the
situation; however, the principal goal of the MFF is to safeguard lives and property; meanwhile,
maintaining public order.
The MFF Cadre will adhere to the guidelines set forth in this policy in addition to the First
Amendment Assemblies policy, Use of Force policy, and the Control Devices and Techniques
Policy.
347.3 ORGANIZATION
The Mobile Field Force Cadre is assigned to the Special Operations Division and is under
the supervision of the Special Operations Division Commander or his/her designee.
347.4 SELECTION AND QUALIFICATIONS
Interested sworn personnel shall submit a memorandum of interest through their chain of
command to their Division Commander. MFF Cadre will be selected at the discretion of the Chief
of Police and Special Operations Division (SOD) Commander. MFF members may be assigned
from any division, unit, or detail within the Department except for personnel from SWAT, Motor or
K-9 Units. The cadre will fall within the command structure of the SOD.
A Mobile Field Force Cadre member shall be:
(a)Be a full time sworn officer who has completed probation.
(b)Meet overall standards or higher on their his/her most recent performance evaluation .
(c)Agree and understand work hours are subject to change in accordance with the
Department’s mission and request for mutual aid assistance.
347.5 ACTIVATION
The Mobile Field Force Cadre may be activated at the approval of the Chief of Police, Deputy
Chief of Police, or Special Operations Division Captain. An activation may also result from
Santa Monica Police Department
Santa Monica Police Department Policy Manual
Mobile Field Force
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/02/09, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Santa Monica Police
DepartmentMobile Field Force - 2a request by the SMPD Watch Commander to assist with any potential situations in which the use
of MFF team will be best utilized.
The Mobile Field Force Cadre may be activated to the following situations:
•Planned Protest
•Unplanned Protest
•Civil Disturbance
•Crowd Management/Intervention/Control
•Outside Agency / Mutual Aid Request
•Any other mission designated by the Chief of Police, Deputy Chief of Police or SOD
Division Commander
347.6 EQUIPMENT
MFF personnel should be equipped with the following when activated:
•Helmet
•Face Shield
•Gas mask
•Baton (not ASP or collapsible)
•Flexible handcuffs
•Medical type shears
They may also be equipped with the following specialized items (not limited to):
•Less-Lethal Launchers/Munitions
•Shields
•Pepper-ball munitions
•Sting-ball munitions
•Oleoresin Capsicum Spray Fogger
•36" Baton
•
•
347.7 USE OF FORCE GUIDELINES
In order to control persons who are violent or who demonstrate the intent to be violent, the
Santa Monica Police Department authorizes officers to use control devices in accordance with
the guidelines in the Control Devices and Techniques policy, Use of Force policy, and First
Amendment Assemblies policy.
Santa Monica Police Department
Santa Monica Police Department Policy Manual
Mobile Field Force
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2023/02/09, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Santa Monica Police
DepartmentMobile Field Force - 3When using force or control devices and techniques, including oleoresin capsicum (OC), the
action should be directed toward individuals engaged in violent acts and not toward groups or
crowds, unless specific individuals cannot reasonably be targeted due to extreme circumstances.
Any use of force by a member of this Department shall be reported to a MFF
supervisor, documented promptly, completely, and accurately in the appropriate report. The type
of report required may depend on the nature of the incident.
Any MFF Supervisor made aware of any use of force by a team member must adhere to the
reporting requirements per the Use of Force Policy (300.8 - Supervisor Responsibility).
347.7.1 DEPLOYMENT LESS LETHAL
MFF members authorized and approved to deploy less lethal munitions shall obey all rules
governing the deployment of these launchers/munitions in accordance with existing law, policy and
less lethal training guidelines.
MFF members trained and certified to utilize certain less lethal launchers/munitions may deploy
less lethal munitions. The less lethal munitions may only be deployed at the direction; if practical,
of the MFF Commander or their designee.
MFF members trained and certified to deploy 37/40mm weapons/munitions containing 2-
Chloroacetophenone (CN), o-chlorobenzyl