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207 Strategic Response Team (SRT) (Issued 10-06-2021)FRIDLEY POLICE DATE OF ISSUE NUMBER: GENERAL ORDER October 6, 2021 207 SUBJECT: REVISION DATE SECTION: Strategic Response Team New Orange I. PURPOSE The purpose of this General Order is to establish guidelines and procedures for Fridley Police Department’s Strategic Response Team while responding to High-Risk Warrant Services, special security details, surveillance, apprehension of high threat individuals, or other crisis type situations that pose imminent danger to human life. II. POLICY It is a fundamental policy of the Fridley Police Department (“department”) to preserve human life, including the lives of our officers. For this reason, the Strategic Response Team (SRT) has been established to respond to high-risk planned incidents. It is the policy of the department that tactical response situations shall be dealt with on an individual basis. The type and magnitude of police response to the threat shall be based upon reasonable actions commensurate with all facts and evidence available. The SRT has access to resources to safely handle high-risk enforcement situations. These situations require teamwork, proficiency in entry and search techniques, and equipment to ensure the safest resolution possible. III. DEFINITIONS Barricaded Suspect: A criminal suspect who has taken a position in a physical location, most often a structure or vehicle, that does not allow immediate police access—whether fortified or not—and who is refusing police orders to exit. A barricaded suspect may be known to be armed, thought to be armed, have access to weapons in the location, or be in an unknown weapons status. Crisis Situation: Any incident involving violence or potential act of violence in which law enforcement officers are at a disadvantage and subject to extreme danger; and/or, any situation where an individual(s) poses a danger to themselves or others. High-Risk Arrest: An arrest where the suspect(s) are expected to be armed, have demonstrated a propensity for violence, have fortified their location, or have threatened resistance through deadly force or require the use of specialized equipment and/or personnel. Hostage Situation: An incident involving a person being held by a suspect who is reasonably believed to be armed, as a means of forcing compliance with some demand. PepperBall Launching System: A unique less lethal chemical agent delivery system that uses high pressure air launchers to deliver projectiles from a distance. PepperBall projectiles are plastic, frangible spheres that are filled with PAVA powder. The projectiles, when delivered by an air powered launching device, burst on impact and release the PAVA powder. The PepperBall can deliver the projectiles with enough kinetic energy to produce temporary abrasions, bruises, and/or welts. PAVA: A combination of Pelargonic Acid and Vanillylamine which are naturally occurring compounds found in pepper plants. PAVA is nonflammable and non-oil based. Warrant Service: An arrest warrant, search warrant, or any other court-ordered service. IV. PROCEDURE A. Strategic Response Team Purpose 1. The Fridley Police Department’s Strategic Response Team (SRT) is not an Emergency Response Team and therefore, not intended to be a rapid response to active and hostile threats creating a crisis situation. 2. SRT is a specialty, part-time assignment made up of officers throughout the department. 3. SRT responds to planned events. 4. The SRT generally responds to the following: a. High-risk arrest/search warrants without an active, hostile threat b. Apprehension of high-threat individuals c. Surveillance details d. Dignitary protection B. Team Structure The team will include the following: 1. Commander 2. Team supervisor—Sergeant 3. Sergeant operators (other sergeants if assigned to the team) 4. Two appointed team leaders 5. Team operators based on the needs of the department as determined by the Public Safety Director. 6. Team medic/operators (if the medic is an officer of the agency) based on the needs of the department as determined by the Public Safety Director. 7. Team medic/non-operators (tactical medics of the Fridley Fire Department) based on the needs of the department as determined by the Public Safety Director C. Hostage Situation and Barricaded Suspects 1. A barricade incident is indicated when the following criteria are met: a. The suspect(s) is believed to be armed, and b. Has committed a crime or threatened suicide, and c. Presents a significant threat to the safety of citizens and officers, and d. Has a tactical or strategic advantage, and e. Refuses to submit to lawful police orders. If all the elements of a barricaded suspect are met, the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team shall be contacted. 2. A hostage-taking incident is indicated when the suspect, in addition to the conditions above, retains another person(s) unlawfully in an attempt to gain an advantage or further an unlawful activity through the threat of violence. 3. All barricaded suspects and hostage situations require notification to the shift supervisor, or the senior officer on duty, to determine if the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team is warranted. If the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team determines their response criteria is met and they will be responding, the on-duty or on-call commander shall be notified. 4. Patrol’s initial response should include the following: a. Notify dispatch of the incident. b. Request clear radio channel. c. Request that a supervisor and/or command officer respond, if available, or the senior officer to respond. d. Provide the supervisor with an estimate of back-up support requirements. e. Establish containment on the location. f. Establish a location for a Command Post. g. Gather the following information if possible: 1) What crime(s), if any, have been committed? 2) Have any shots been fired? 3) Has anyone been injured? 4) Has there been any contact with the suspect by any means? 5) Has the suspect been asked to surrender? 6) Is the area cordoned off? 7) What is the recommended location for the Command Post? 8) What is a good staging area for the media? 9) What is the safest approach route? 10) What is the exact address, phone number, and physical description and orientation of the location? 11) What are the names and positions of the suspect(s) and/or hostage(s), how many of each are there, and what do they look like? 12) What weapons and equipment are available to the suspect? 13) What is the suspect’s field of view and fire? 14) What is the suspect’s mental state and background? 15) Are there any special circumstances or known hazards, such as unusual obstacles to approach or dangerous animals, substances or the like? 5. Once these preliminary steps have been taken, no further independent action will be taken by First Responders. All further actions will be coordinated with the Anoka County Sheriff’s SWAT Team. D. Search/Arrest Warrant Service 1. Prior to a planned search warrant, arrest warrant service or a tactical apprehension, a Risk Assessment (Appendix A) and an Operations Plan (Appendix B) should be completed by the case officer or detective and reviewed by the SRT supervisor. Operations should have a pre-operations briefing. 2. Pre-Event Planning a. Gather intelligence about the location and persons associated with the location as needed. This may include: 1) Structure design and layout. 2) Points of entry and exit. 3) Number of residents. 4) Known associates of the location and their criminal history, particularly as it relates to violence. b. Identification of suspect(s), including complete physical description, mental state, and physical condition. c. If applicable, de-conflict whether other agencies have active investigations related to the suspect and/or the location d. Obtain aerial views, ground photographs, and video of the location to use in planning the warrant service. e. Utilize reconnaissance and surveillance techniques to establish a tactically advantageous time to serve the warrant and determine resources needed. f. Determine breach point(s). g. Establish containment strategies and number of assets required to accomplish adequate containment. h. Determine and assign less lethal tools and ensure adequate lethal cover options. i. Clearly communicate the warrant announcement procedure that will be used. j. Cover arrest and control tactics/techniques to be used while arresting /detaining subjects in the location. k. Obtain canine support, if available. l. Determine less lethal options for aggressive animals. 3. Post-Incident Requirements a. Immediately following a search warrant, arrest warrant service or a tactical apprehension, all officers shall complete an incident report. b. Conduct a post-operations team debriefing. c. The supervisor shall file an after-action report and assure a copy of the report is forwarded to the Public Safety Director. The report shall include the following: 1) All reports relating to the incident. 2) Copies of written logs relating to the incident. 3) Photographs of the incident scene, if available. 4) Diagram of the incident scene if there was a critical use of force or property damage. 5) Critique of operational tactics. 6) Any suggestions for correction of operational errors or procedural deficiencies. E. Apprehension of High Threat Individuals 1. Pre-Event Planning a. Gather intelligence about the locations and vehicles associated with the suspect to determine if the apprehension would be best handled in a residence, in a vehicle, or open-air environment. This may include: 1) Residential location, ease to access, number of entry and exit points, high risk persons associated with the location, and potential for becoming a barricade situation. 2) Number of vehicles associated or registered to the suspect, additional persons associated with the vehicle, and propensity to elude officers. 3) Establish places the suspect frequents to determine a location that minimizes the risk to the public and maximizes safe apprehension b. If apprehension will occur within a structure, apply the guidelines in section D above. c. Identification of suspect, including complete physical description, mental state, and physical condition. d. Utilize reconnaissance and surveillance techniques to establish a tactically advantageous time to make contact. e. Establish containment strategies and number of assets required to accomplish adequate containment, including canine support. f. Determine and assign less lethal tools and ensure adequate lethal cover options. g. Cover arrest and control tactics/techniques to be used while making the arrest. 2. Vehicle Takedowns a. Vehicle takedowns can be a tactically advantageous technique to apprehend high threat individuals because their position of advantage can be reduced compared to being inside a residence and the ability to observe behavior in the vehicle can be increased. Vehicles do bring increased risk to officers and the public when they travel at high speeds and when the driver loses control of the vehicle. b. Vehicle Tactics and Equipment 1) Boxing: a) Occurs at lows speeds requiring two or more police units to position themselves around the violator to form a box (See General Order 102 Vehicle Pursuits) b) The technique is highly effective when the target vehicle is stopped in a contained location. Prior to the vehicle moving the vehicle is boxed in reducing the likelihood of escape. c) Officers need to be aware of the possibility of the violator intentionally colliding with vehicles to move out of the box. 2) PepperBall: a) PepperBall Launching System can be used in accordance with General Order 101 Use of Force General and its relevant subsets. b) Vehicles must be stationary and contained prior to using the PepperBall Launching System to reduce the likelihood of the vehicle fleeing after the chemical agent has been deployed. c) Communication between officers and with the occupants of the vehicle is critical prior to using the PepperBall Launching System. This includes verbal warning, time to comply, and warning officers before PepperBall rounds are fired. 3) Tire Deflation Device: Tire Deflation Devices can be used on a stationary or moving vehicle in accordance with General Order 102 3. Post-Incident Requirements a. Immediately following the arrest or detention all officers shall complete an incident report. b. In cases where force was used, officers and supervisors shall follow the reporting procedures outlined in General Order 101 Use of Force. c. It is recommended that a tactical debrief take place to ensure all safety protocols had been met and areas of improvement can be discussed. F. Surveillance Details Surveillance may be used in the investigation of a crime when it is necessary to observe suspects or conditions in an unobtrusive manner. Surveillance may create additional information involving the investigated crime, gather additional intelligence information, or observe new crimes being committed. G. Dignitary Protection The Public Safety Director may assign SRT to coordinate a security detail of civilian and/or commercial vehicles to include funeral escorts, medical emergencies, parades, dignitaries, VIPs, and other persons who, by their notoriety, will need extra police protection for themselves and the public while in the City of Fridley. H. Uniform 1. SRT members will wear the MFF/SRT uniform or a patrol uniform for warrant service operations. 2. The MFF/SRT uniform will use silver/gray embroidering, decals and/or patches on a primary black or blue uniform. 3. Plainclothes may be used for surveillance details, apprehensions or other details that require members to be surreptitious. I. SRT Training Requirements SRT personnel shall attend a 2-Day basic training program consisting of surveillance techniques, high-threat suspect apprehension, and searching/room clearing techniques prior to deploying with the team and training as prescribed by the unit annually thereafter.