Civil Demonstrations Or Civil Unrest Flashcards
This phase of civil unrest is a legal public assembly of persons exhibiting sympathy with or opposition to a political, legal economic or social condition or movement. This may become illegal and dangerous when it includes active resistance and civil disobedience as a deliberate violation of law.
Demonstration/Protest
This phase of civil unrest is any breach of the peace by a significant number of people, assembled in one area or the gathering of an unruly mob. This may include any situation which, in the opinion of the on-site law-enforcement commander, could develop into a riot.
Civil disturbance
This phase of civil unrest is wherein crowds display propensity for violence by setting fires, vandalizing, looting, attacking civilians, firefighters, or law enforcement or engaging in other violent acts. Frequently such actions will not stop without the intervention of law-enforcement personnel
Civil Unrest/Riot
Responsibilities for companies responding to Demonstrations
- Avoid the area as much as possible
- Ensure the scene is secure by contacting SAPD supervisor on radio
- Shut off lights and sirens three blocks from scene
- Use normal precautions
- Meet with LE supervisor on scene or if railing point LE
- Assess need for additional assistance
- Leave promptly after service is rendered
When company officers are ordered to abandon their station, they will carry out the following actions
Take
- Portable radios and chargers
- Cell phones and battery chargers
- SCBA cylinders
- Commanding officers journal,
Company logbook, Company run
book
- Bunker Gear of all on duty members
- Lock doors, windows, lockers, gate
- Vehicle stored in locked parking
area. If no secure parking, vehicles
moved to apparatus floor.
An ESSENTIAL element when responding to civil unrest is the ____ . ____ are usually dynamic in nature, which personnel looting and rioting seldom stay in the same place for a prolonged amount of time.
- establishment of safety zones
- Safety zones
Safety zones are implemented for the safety of our first responders and the public and should specify the following: (3) WTD
- WHO is authorized to work in the
zone? - The TYPE of operations will occur in
the zone - The DEGREE of hazard at each zone
This is the area of civil unrest or riot as designated by the on scene law-enforcement commander in which civilian vehicle access is denied and fire department vehicles will not enter, unless accompanied by law-enforcement escorts. When possible, this zone will be designated by perimeter streets.
Hot zone
The Fusion Center is the point where representatives from the emergency response agencies involved will establish a ____. and personnel reporting to the Fusion center from the fire department will be:
- Unified Area Command Post
- On-duty FSC
- On-duty MSC
- Fire communications personnel
- Arson/Fusion Division Chief
Commanding officers/acting officers confronted with a demonstration in their first due area will immediately notify _____, so that other units may avoid the area of the demonstration. This notification should include (3) :
- Communications
- Exact location
- Crowd size
- General conditions observed
Companies responding to assignments at the location of a demonstration are to shut off lights and sirens ______ from the scene
- At least 3 blocks
FSC/MSC during civil disturbance/civil unrest/riot is responsible for the following items:
- Assign a battalion chief AND a MOF
to proceed to any law-enforcement
assembly/organization locations
(branches) and meet with law
enforcement supervisor - Assess the needs for MSOU for SAPD
operations - Gather RTF equipment for use on
task force units - Make appropriate notifications to
stations in and around the affected
area - Relocation of personnel, and
apparatus from a station near
immediate area of the civil
disturbance to another station of
necessary
Battalion chiefs/Medical officers responsibilities during civil disturbances and civil unrest/riot
- ensure companies on radio and NOT engaged in emergency activities, returned to their respective stations
- notify officers of all companies under command of the location of the disturbance area, as well as nature and conditions, and periodic updates
- If assigned by unified command, respond to law-enforcement command post OUT OF SERVICE
- meet with on-scene LE commander and determine assistance required from FD, including the need to assign a medic unit to the Command post
Company officers and EMS personnel responsibilities during civil disturbance and civil unrest/riot
- if the station is in the area of the disturbance, fire station doors will be closed and members will remain inside
- Keep communications informed of any witnessed changes and conditions
- warning lights, sirens and airhorns will not be used in the affected area
- if conditions present an unreasonable risk to safety, leave area immediately and notify Comms
- unit should not be left unattended, however, if Officer determines necessary to abandon unit, try and turn the in-service switch and engine off prior to abandonment
Response considerations for civil disturbance and civil unrest/riot
- SAFD units responding around the affected area will follow the route instructions on the MDT
- SAFD units will be dispatched as a task force, and this communication may happen by phone
- all patients inside the hotzone will be considered a “load and go”. At NO TIME should SAFD personnel enter a hostile crowd
