3.510 Hostage Plan

Question 1

What is the general policy in regards to a Hostage Plan?

Answer 1

In hostage situations, it is the policy of this department to prioritize life safety through de-escalation tactics or alternative approaches and to make every reasonable effort to affect the safe release of the hostages should communications fail.

Question 2

A patrol supervisor, during a Hostage Plan, will do the following:?

Answer 2

Patrol supervisor will:

1. Upon arrival, assess the situationa and take commande by prioritizing and communicating objectives.
2. Reinforce the inner perimeter and establish a secondary perimeter based on the nature of the incident.
3. Direct units to stop any inbound foot or vehicle traffic.
4. Assign officers as an immediate-action team (designating roles such as verbal communication, low lethality options, hands on, etc.) to control the subject should the subject surrender, release the hostage, or exit the structure.
5. Evacuate or shelter-in-place bystanders and injured persons from the vicinity around the suspect’s location.
6. Designate an officer with strong verbal skills to make contact with the hostage taker to determine their intent and solict information on the well-being of hostage(s). If contact is made with the subject, ensure officers remain in a tactically sound position, using effective cover and concealment. Efforts should be made to persuade the suspect to voluntarily surrender,
   a. Prior to the arrival of SWAT/CNT, there will be no negotiations for the supply of weapons, ammunition, drugs, alcohol, or exchange of hostages.
7. Request a dedicated radio channel with a dispatcher, if required.
8. Communicate with and direct susequent arriving supervisors to perform other tasks which require handling.
   a. Any subsequent arriving supervisor will assess and determine where they are needed and establish communications with the first arriving supervisor to provide support. All supervisors on-scene have a responsibility in the command and control process.
9. Designate an officer to record names and addresses of persons and residences evacuted.

Question 3

At the conclusion of a Hostage Plan, what will a patrol supervisor ensure?

Answer 3

Ensure all reports are completed and copies sent to the SWAT section for completion of the after-action report.