Policy Text
Revisions or additions are highlighted 1 (03/12/ 2019 ) ST. PETERSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
Subject: INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM (ICS)
Index as:
Agency Representatives COOP Information Officer (IO)
Area Command Function IO
Assisting Agency General Staff Liaison Officer (LO)
Base IAP LO
Branch Incident Action Plan (IAP) Managers
Casualty Collection Point (CCP) IC Operation Period
CCP Incident Commander (IC) Safety Officer (SO)
Chief ICP SO
Clear Text Incident Command Post (ICP) Staging Area
Command Post ICS Unified Command
Command Staff Incident Command System
Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) Incident Management Team
Accreditation Standards: 46.1.1, 46.1.2, 46.1.3, 46.1.4, 46.1.5, 46.1.6, 46.1.7, 46.1.9, 81.2.4
Cross Reference: G.O. II -3, Release of Information to the Public and the News Media
G.O. III -3, Mutual Aid Agreement
G.O. III -15, High -Risk Situations
G.O. III -18, Civil Disturbances
G.O. III -22, Emergency Mobilization Plan
G.O. III -24, Disaster Operations
St. Petersburg Police Department Civil Disturbance and Tactical Plan
St. Petersburg Police Department Disaster Operations Plan
City of St. Petersburg Disaster Operations Plan
Florida Incident Field Operations Guide
Replaces : G.O. III -26, Incident Command System (ICS) (A ugust 28, 2017)
This Order describes the Incident Command System (ICS) and explains the activation and function of the Incident Command
process. It consists of the following sections:
I. Policy
II. Concept of Operations
III. Definitions
IV. Incident Command Structure
V. Activation of the Incident Command System
VI. Unified Command
VII. Documentation and Training
DATE OF
ISSUE EFFECTIVE DATE NUMBER
August 2017 Immediately III-26
Distribution: All Employees
General Order III-26
Revisions or additions are highlighted 2 (03/12 /2019) I. POLICY
A. In the interest of a common scheme of operational procedures among emergency service providers within the City
and across municipal and county boundaries, the Department shall implement the Incident Command System (ICS)
procedures during activation of the policies related but not limited to:
1. J:\Research \GeneralOrders \III Operational General Orders \III-15 High -Risk Situation s.pdf
2. J:\Research \GeneralOrders \III Operational General Orders \III-18 Civil Disturbances.pdf
3. J:\Research \GeneralOrders \III Operational General Orders \III-24 Disaster Operations Plan.pdf
B. In addition, the St. Petersburg Police Department shall utilize the Incident Command System during all police
operations when:
1. The event may have an effect upon contiguous communities; or
2. There is a high likelihood the Department will seek resources from other police and/or public safety agencies
outside the City; or
3. The event is of such a scale or duration that it goes beyond one work shift for assigned personnel, and/or it
may result in mobilization of additional Department personnel and resources as a first step in a larger mobi lization.
C. This policy does not eliminate the need to carry out the policies, procedures and activities set forth in Office of
Professional Standards (OPS) Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs); it does provide a framework for more efficient
management of the situation.
II. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
A. “Incident Comm and” is practiced routinely by P olice Officer s and supervisors as they respond to citizen calls for
service.
1. A small incident may be satisfactorily re solved by the on -scene, senior Officer effectively serving as the “Incident
Commander,” handling all the elements of the ICS process.
2. A larger or more serious incident may result in many police units, functioning under the command of a
designated “Incident Commander,” wh o may elect to handle all elements of the ICS or may appoint one or more persons to
assist them.
B. ICS is a management tool used to ensure command, control and coordination of resources during an emergency,
whether the incident is handled by one agency or many agencies.
C. Incidents such as natural disasters, a terrorist act or a civil disorder may spread beyond the boundary of a
governmental jurisdiction or exceed the ability of one agency to resolve it. At such times, the utmost level of coordination is
required by responding agencies to best serve the public. The ICS provides a framework for more efficient and effective
interagency coordination in such situations.
D. ICS operations are predicated upon the principles of:
1. Protecting life and providing for the safety of emergency responders and the public;
2. Stabilizing the incident by developing a strategy that will minimize the effect it has on the surrounding area; and
3. Conserving property by minimizing the effect on the environment, while accomplishing the ac tion plan
developed to bring closure to the incident.
General Order III-26
Revisions or additions are highlighted 3 (03/12 /2019) E. ICS provides:
1. Unity of Command - a common organizational structure across all agencies that can expand and contract as
dictated by the situation, including:
a. A modular organization.
b. A unified command