Policy Text
POLICY
192.0MASS ARRESTS
REVISED: 11/2011
REVISED: 5/ 2019RELATED POLICIES:
Reviewed and Revised by Chief David
Magnusson 5/2019
A.PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines and to outline procedures for the arrest
and processing of a large number of persons.
B.POLICY
Mass arrests will be accomplished according to law and this order.
C.PROCEDURE
1.GENERAL
a.During civil disturbance incidents, in which mass arrests are anticipated,
the El Portal Police Department will continue to enforce Florida law and
city ordinances. When mass violations occur, discretionary enforcement
may be necessary due to the number of violators and law enforcement
personnel present. Decisions concerning this issue will be made only by
the Police Chief, or a designee, after consultation with the State Attorney's
Office when practical. Note: Due to the size of the Department, any civil
disturbance would undoubtedly require the assistance of the Miami-Dade
County Police Department.
b.Officers will not engage in demonstration related discussion with
participants. They will conduct themselves in a manner that conveys an
attitude of neutrality and will be courteous and professional in their
actions.
c.Supervisors will 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 will be the first to be arrested.
2.When mass arrests are anticipated:
a.Incident Commander: The incident commander, defined as the highest-
ranking supervisor on scene, who has complete authority for conducting
the overall operation, will:
(1).Establish a command post and staging area as needed;
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(2).Prepare/obtain situational maps;
(3).Notify the Miami-Dade County jail facilities;
(4).Compile and disseminate tactical and intelligence information to
include:
(a).Estimated number of disturbance participants;
(b).Weapons involved; and
(c).Hostages involved, if any.
(5).Arrange for security at public facilities, as needed;
(6).Arrange for traffic to be diverted from the area and prevent entry
by the public;
(7).Formulate arrest squads;
(8).Arrange for a large transport vehicle (i.e. bus); and
(9).Establish a media command center.
b.Administrative Officer: The Administrative Officer will be selected by,
and report to, the incident commander and provide assistance as directed.
The executive officer will facilitate the acquisition of specialized
equipment and maintain mass arrest kits in a state of operational readiness.
The kits will contain:
(1).Probable Cause Affidavits;
(2).Primary Arrest Sheets;
(3).Flexcuffs/Rubber gloves;
(4).Wire cutters or snips;
(5).Camera and 35mm film and/or Polaroid Film;
(6).Large manila envelops envelopes and appropriate containers for
evidence;
(7).Incident log and associated materials including: forms, evidence
sheets, NTAs, etc.
c.Public Information: The Public Information Officer (P.I.O.) will respond
to the field command post to establish media relations. Media
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representatives will not be authorized access into a disturbance area until
order has been restored.
d.Other Law Enforcement and Military Support: Law enforcement and
military support will be obtained as provided by statute and interagency
agreement, as needed.
e.Warnings: When the incident commander determines that the participants
are unlawfully, riotously, or tumultuously assembled in violation of F.S.
870.04, the following proclamation must 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."
(1).Warnings will be made from stationary vantage points that are
observable by the crowd, or to a large number of participants.
Additional warnings will be given via public address systems in
police vehicles. The warning will be given at amplitude to be
heard by the entire assemblage.
(2).The number of warnings given, the methods used, the intervals
between warnings, and the interval between the final warning,
and any order to arrest, will be documented in the incident log
by the executive officer.
3.ARRESTS: The incident commander will direct that violators be arrested if the
crowd refuses to disperse after a reasonable time following the final warning.
a.Additional law enforcement personnel should be assembled within the
outer perimeter area, out of sight of the crowd, and brought into the
critical area at the direction of the incident commander.
b.The squad supervisor(s) will inform members of the appropriate charge(s),
and direct the arrest of selected participants who are in violation of the
law.
4.IDENTIFICATION AND BOOKING: Jail personnel will be notified of
anticipated mass arrests and will ensure enough personnel are on hand throughout
the operation.
a.Arresting officers are responsible for completing Probable Cause
Affidavits and will process the affidavits, maintain the paperwork, and be
responsible for booking until all arrestees