Policy Text
GO 501.10 Mass Arrests Page 1 of 4 Rev.
GENERAL ORDER
501.10 MASS ARRESTS
REVISION DATE: 11/09/2022
BY ORDER OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE
SUNNY ISLES BEACH
POLICE DEPARTMENT ORIGINAL EFFECTIVE DATE: 11/09/22
PREVIOUS REVISIONS:
RESCINDS: All previously issued directives REFERENCE : FSS 870.04; 901.15
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. PURPOSE .......................................................................................................................... 1
C. RESPONSIBILITIES ....................................................................................................... 2
D. WARNINGS ...................................................................................................................... 3
E. ARRESTS .......................................................................................................................... 3
F. POST OCCURRENCE DUTIES ..................................................................................... 4
A. PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines for affecting and processing mass arrests (arrests of a large
number of persons).
B. POLICY
It is the policy of the Sunny Isles Beach Police Department to continue to enforce state laws and city ordinances
during civil disturbances, in which mass arrests are anticipated. When mass violations occur, discretionary
enforcement may be necessary due to the number of violators and law enforcement personnel present. Decisions
concerning this issue shall be made only by the Chief of Police or designee, after consultation with the State
Attorney’s Office, when practical.
Supervisors shall attempt to communicate directly with demonstration leaders in order to facilitate negotiations and
maintain the peace. If demonstration leaders refuse to communicate and they violate the law, they shall be the first
to be arrested.
Officers shall not engage in demonstration related discussion with participants. They shall conduct themselves in a
manner that conveys an attitude of neutrality and shall be courteous and professional in their actions.
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C. RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Incident Commander:
a. The Incident Commander, defined as the highest-ranking supervisor on scene, who has complete authority
for conducting the overall operation, shall:
Establish a command post and staging area as needed;
Prepare/obtain situational maps;
Solicit assistance from other agencies per mutual aid agreements, as needed;
Notify Miami-Dade County jail facilities;
Compile and disseminate tactical and intelligence information to include:
(a) Estimated number of disturbance participants;
(b) Weapons involved; and
(c) Hostages involved, if any.
Arrange for security at public facilities, as needed;
Arrange for traffic to be diverted from the area and prevent entry by the public;
Formulate arrest squads;
Arrange for a large transport vehicle (i.e. bus);
Establish the primary perimeter, secondary perimeter and media staging area; and
Communicate with the Miami-Dade Police Department Communications in reference to radio
communications needs/concerns.
2. Administrative Officer:
a. The Administrative Officer, designated by the Incident Commander, shall:
Facilitate the acquisition of specialized equipment;
Maintain mass arrest kits in a state of operational readiness. The kits shall contain:
(a) Flex cuffs/Rubber gloves;
(b) Wire cutters or snips;
(c) Digital camera or video camera;
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(d) Evidence packaging;
(e) Sharps containers;
(f) Incident log and associated materials including: forms, evidence sheets, PTA forms, etc.
Provide assistance, as directed.
3. Public Information Officer:
a. The Public Information Officer (PIO) shall respond to the field command post to establish media relations.
Media representatives shall not be authorized access into a disturbance area until order has been restored.
4. Other Law Enforcement and Military Support:
a. Law enforcement and military support shall be obtained as provided by statute and interagency agreement,
as needed.
D. WARNINGS
1. When the Incident Commander determines that the participants are unlawfully, riotously or tumultuously
assembled in violation of FSS 870.04, the following proclamation shall be issued before an arrest for unlawful
assembly is made: “In the name of the State of Florida, I command you to immediately and peacefully leave
this area and disperse.”
a. Warnings shall be made from stationary vantage points that are observable by the crowd or to a large
number of participants. Additional warnings shall be given via public address systems in police vehicles.
The warnings shall be given at amplitude to be heard by the entire assemblage.
b. If it can be determined that the predominant language of crowd is a language other than English, the
warnings shall be given in that language in addition to English, if at all possible.
c. The number of warnings given, the methods used, the intervals between warnings, the language(s) used and
the interval between the final warning, and any order to arrest, shall be documented in the incident log.
E. ARRESTS
1. The Incident Commander shall direct that violators be arrested if the crowd refuses to disperse after a reasonable
time following the final warning.
2. The squad supervisor(s) shall inform members of the appropriate charge(s) and direct the arrest of selected
participants who are in violation of the law.
3. Processing officers are responsible for completing the arrest paperwork. They shall process the arrest, maintain
the paperwork, and be responsible for the overall processing of prisoners .
4. Juveniles taken into custody shall be processed according to Department policy.
5. Evidence: The processing officer shall be responsible for collecting and placing evidence into the evidence
section.
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6.