3.535 Protests: Peaceful Demostrations, Civil Disobedience, and Riots Flashcards
What is the overall policy in regards to Protests?
It is the policy of this department to protect people, their property, and rights while providing the best in public safety and service. This is to include those individuals exercising their First Amendment right to peaceably assemble. It is neither the intention nor the desire of the department to suppress or restrain lawful activity. First Amendment rights do not safeguard violations of established laws.
What tool does the department utilize for a response to protests?
The department utilizes the Incident Command Structure (ICS) as a standard tool for command and control, response coordination, and overall management of complex incidents, planned events, or emergencies (for further guidelines and tasks, see LVMPD 3.500, Major Incident and All Hazard Plan). ICS will be implemented in LVMPDs response to protests.
What are some general rules for supervisors in regards to protests?
Department supervisors are responsible for attempting communication with protest organizers or leaders.
Department supervisors will attempt to communicate with professional members of the media and legal observers (or their liaison).
Officers and supervisors will be properly equipped, including department-issued protective gear such as helmets with the attached face shield, gas masks, and carriers (see LVMPD 8.500, Appearance Standards)
What is the response of a supervisor for an Unplanned or Spontaneous Event?
The initial assessment will be promptly communicated through Dispatch, and a supervisor will be assigned to the call.
If the event requires continuous oversight or monitoring by a supervisor, the supervisor will assign themselves as the incident commander (IC). Upon responding to a protest, the supervisor or IC will evaluate the current and evolving conditions. in addition to the conditions noted by the first-responding officer(s), the supervisor or IC will assess:
- Any evolving threat to public safety.
- Protection and preservation of citizens’ civil rights.
- Unlawful actions or violations of laws or ordinances, if any, of protesters.
- Movement of vehicular traffic and pedestrian safety concerns.
- Impact of protest on business and commerce.
- Level of communication and cooperation with event organizers, legal observers, and professional members of the media
- Anticipated duration of the event.
- Positioning of officers and crowd management tactics, including the need to designate units for overwatch.
- Need for the authorization of police protective gear.
- Need for additional units or resources (e.g., in-the-box squads, Traffic, Emergency Management, SWAT)
- Need for a scribe to record operational decisions and actions (including logging use of force by officers).
- Need to video record protest activities (either by BWCs or handheld recorder).
- Necessity for medical assistance to be staged nearby.
- Environmental factors (e.g., weather and street conditions).
At minimum, the area command captain will be made aware of the protest which requires continuous oversight.
What should supervisors use for communicating with the public during a protest?
A loudspeaker or public address system should be used to increase the likelihood all crowd members can hear police instructions. The IC and supervisors are responsible to ensure all orders given to a crowd are consistent, lawful, and appropriate for the circumstances.
