NCJ Number
116349
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 16 Issue: 3 Dated: (March 1989) Pages: 20-21,69
Date Published
1989
Length
3 pages
Annotation
High-risk incident management is a complex task that requires effective strategies evolved from experience, evaluation, and careful study of successes and tragedies.
Abstract
Agency self-evaluation should begin with the development of a clearly worded policy statement that specifies the agency's intent to peaceably resolve the incident, contains qualifiers that allow field personnel operational flexibility to fashion incident-specific responses, outlines the response plan, and is disseminated to all affected personnel. An excellent source for identifying the industry policy standard is the Commission for the Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies publication, Chapter 47 on special operations. For instance, the standard for handling a barricaded person situation includes notification of SWAT personnel, if such a function exists; notification of other appropriate personnel inside and outside the agency; establishment of inside and outside perimeters; evacuation of injured victims and bystanders; establishment of a central command post and chain of command; request for rescue equipment; authorization for media access and for use of force against the suspect; communication with suspect; and interaction between SWAT and hostage negotiation personnel. Policy reviews should be conducted regularly, shortfalls should be identified, and guidelines for mutual aid should be established.