I03 (Revised)

I.3 HOSTAGE POLICY Page 1 of 2 #13//07 San Diego County Sheriff’s Department Detention Services Bureau – Manual of Policies and Procedures PURPOSE To provide guidelines for detention personnel involved in a hostage incident; and the protection of human life, including the hostage, i nnocent bystanders, law enforcement officers, and the suspect. POLICY : To effectively control and terminate a hostage situation predicated upon a logical evaluation of the totality of circumstances involved in the incident and appropriate handling by detentions security staff. Demands: Demands by the hostage- taker(s) should be carefully considered and evaluated as to the impact upon the immediate and subsequent circumstances, or the overall situation, before agreement to, or denial of, such demands. Use of Deadly Force: In addition to the Department’s policy on the use of deadly f orce, the application of deadly force in a hostage situation must be considered when all reasonable negotiating alternatives have been presented and the immediate threat to human life has not diminished or, when a human life has been taken by the hostage- taker(s). Once the deputy, who is ultimately responsible for the incident, announces his decision to neutralize the hostage-taker(s) by deadly force, special weapons personnel will be utilized. The selected marksman shall be fully briefed concerning the incident and specifically instructed as to their mission. Thereafter, and until advised otherwise, they shall have the sole authority to utilize approved tactics and proced ures to accomplish their mission. PROCEDURE: I. The hostage situation is a most difficult problem. The successful resolution of such incidents requires great moral courage, sound judgment, discipline and determination on the part of all personnel involved. Experience has proven that the successful termination of hostage situations is predicated upon adherence to the following general guidelines: DATE: OCTOBER 4, 2013 NUMBER: I.3 SUBJECT: HOSTAGE POLICY RELATED SECTIONS: I.32, SDSD P&P ADDENDUM F, 6.38, 8.1, 9.3, 9.4 I.3 HOSTAGE POLICY Page 2 of 2 #13//07 II. C ontact the Communications C enter for the assistance of the Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) or Special Enforcement Detail (SED) . III. Unless directed by the facility commander, or a representative of the Office of the Sheriff, inmate hostage- taker(s) must not be set at liberty. To gain time and to establish interim communication with hostage- taker(s), the on -duty w atch c ommander shall designate an appropriate spoke sperson to initiate communication with the inmate hostage -taker(s) in an effort to secure the safety and/or release of hostages, and the capture or surrender of inmates who have seized hostages. IV. The primary objective of a negotiator is to change the attitude of the hostage- taker(s) from hostility to trust. Time is on the side of the negotiator and is the principal tactic used in the negotiating process. During the negotiations, the negotiator should command the respect of all personnel involved, but should not portray himself as the ultimate decision -maker. The hostage- taker(s) should be made to understand that there is another authority over the negotiator. The technique will allow the negotiator to employ further delaying tactics. V. When , and /or if , trained hostage negotiators are dispatched to the facility, they will be immediately briefed by the interim spokesperson that initiated communication with inmate hostage- taker(s). Any further negotiations with hostage-taker(s) will be conducted by those negotiators dispatched to the facility, unless otherwise directed by the s cene commander.