Seattle Police Manual

14.080 – Task Force Mobilization

Effective Date: 3/26/2010

PURPOSE

To describe and detail the process for full Operations Bureau Task Force Mobilization. This plan may be partially implemented at the direction of a Field Commander. In the event of a partial mobilization, the Field Commander must explicitly identify required resources to the Communications Section. Unless explicit direction regarding partial mobilization is received, it shall be assumed a full Task Force Mobilization is authorized.

I. Definitions

A. Field Commander: For purposes of Task Force Mobilization, a Field Commander shall hold the minimum permanent rank of Sergeant.

1. Field Commanders shall explicitly identify themselves to the Communications Section.

2. All personnel detailed to a Task Force Response operation shall be subordinate to the Field Commander, regardless of Precinct of origin or pre-existing chain-of-command.

3. A partial Task Force Mobilization may be authorized by a Field Commander holding the rank of Sergeant; A full Mobilization may be authorized by a field Commander holding the minimum rank of Lieutenant.

4. In the event of a partial Task Force Mobilization, an on-duty Lieutenant from any Precinct shall be notified immediately, respond to the scene to assess the need for a full Mobilization, and to assume Field Command.

II. Task Force Personnel

A. Patrol Sergeant(s) and Officers.

1. The Patrol Squad and Sergeant from each Watch, in each Precinct, for the first two working days upon returning from regularly scheduled furloughs.

a. Shall maintain helmets and long batons in their vehicles.

b. Sergeants shall be prepared to present a completed roster of their resources to the Field Commander upon arrival at the mustering location.

c. Sergeants and officers qualified to carry chemical agents shall be prepared to respond with issued chemical agents e.g., OC spray

B. All on-duty Anti-Crime Team (ACT) and Community Police Team (CPT) officers and sergeants.

1. Helmets and long batons shall be maintained and ready at all times.

2. Response shall be in Departmental issued vehicles.

3. BDU's are authorized.

4. Sergeants shall be prepared to present a completed roster of their resources to the Field Commander.

5. CPTs shall bring their prisoner processing kits. (See subsection IV - Prisoner Processing Protocol of this manual section.)

C. All on-duty SWAT Personnel.

1. Response shall be in riot gear, and arrangements shall be made to deliver necessary logistical equipment (specifically chemical agents) as soon as possible.

D. All on-duty K-9 personnel.

E. All on-duty Traffic personnel, including Sergeants and above.

F. All Precinct Prisoner Wagons (D10, N10, S10, C10) and assigned officers (see subsection IV - Prisoner Processing Protocol - of this manual section.)

G. Other on-duty units as directed by the Field Commander through the Communications Section.

1. This may include additional command and supervisory staff, Criminal Intelligence Section personnel, etc.

III. Mobilization Procedures

A. Officers

1. Patrol

a. Patrol officers on priority calls shall remain on those calls unless directed by Radio.

b. Sergeants will document as soon as practical the officers who have responded to join the Task Force.

2. Task Force personnel shall immediately respond to the staging area identified by the Field Commander. Response shall be in Department assigned vehicles. In addition to specialized equipment requirements, each officer shall be equipped according to Manual specifications, which includes, but is not limited to, body armor, flashlight, issued radio, and name tag.

3. It is critical to maintain order at the staging area. Remain with your sergeant, and in position to deploy as a Squad. Cooperate with the Deployment Officer - generally the Assistant Field Commander - and await instructions.

B. Communications Section

1. Shall attempt to reassign priority calls to non-Task Force personnel as soon as possible and shall begin screening calls at each zone dispatch console.

2. Shall be prepared to staff a radio channel dedicated to the event if requested by the Field Commander.

IV. Prisoner Processing Protocol

A. A crucial element of mobilization in response to a large-scale disturbance, riot, or demonstration is prisoner processing. The two personnel groups assigned to the prisoner processing function are the Department Community Police Teams (CPT) and all on-duty Prisoner Wagon Officers.

B. If the Field Commander determines that the prisoner processing function is required as part of the Task Force mobilization, the following protocol will be followed:

1. Prisoner Wagon Officers

a. Immediately upon mobilization, all prisoner wagon officers shall report to the Field Commander. If a prisoner wagon is not assigned during a Watch at any Precinct, the Watch Lieutenant, Senior Sergeant, or Field Commander shall ensure that all prisoner wagons are deployed. The officer assigned to the prisoner wagon shall ensure that the prisoner processing kits are on board.

b. The Field Commander shall assign a second officer to each prisoner wagon. The prisoner wagon team shall process prisoners in the field, and remain in the field until each wagon is at capacity. Then, and only then, shall prisoners be delivered to the holding cells at the Precinct of occurrence (or other Precinct as designated by the Field Commander).

2. The minimum requirements for arrest processing in the field shall be: suspect identification, date/time/location, arresting officer identification, and two printed digital photos of the arresting officer and the suspect.

Note: Officers making arrests remain responsible for reports, statements, etc. at the conclusion of their Task Force assignment.

3. The Field Commander shall establish and staff a processing operation at the Precinct to complete the booking (or citation) process.

4. Community Police Teams

a. All Community Police Team personnel shall respond to the Precinct of occurrence (or other Precinct as designated by the Field Commander).

(1) If the Department CPT Officers are off-duty, they shall be activated via the Communications Section, unless otherwise directed by the Field Commander.

(2) CPT Sergeants shall maintain current CPT mobilization rosters and must forward a copy to the Communications Section.

(a) The mobilization roster shall be titled “Task Force Prisoner Processing Team Call-out Roster.”

b. Upon arrival at the Precinct, the CPTs shall organize the prisoner processing operation and respond to the field.