Procedure 807-Terrorism Preparedness

Question 1

.01 INTRODUCTION
A. This procedure establishes the San Antonio Police Department’s levels of preparedness for possible terrorist
activities within the City of San Antonio and to Department personnel or facilities. Possible terrorist activities range
from rumors of terrorism to actual acts of terrorism being carried out.
B. The Emergency Operations Center of the City of San Antonio is the primary conduit for all Homeland Security
alerts. The Emergency Operations Coordinator is responsible for providing notification to the Mayor, Council
Members, City Manager, and department heads regarding any changes in the alert level.
C. The Commander of the Homeland Security Section serves as the Law Enforcement Liaison to the Emergency
Operations Center of the City of San Antonio.
D. Once the City of San Antonio has implemented the Emergency Management–Basic Plan or the Department has
implemented GM Procedure 806, Mobilization, this procedure will supplement that plan and procedure.
.02 PURPOSE
This procedure is designed to ensure all Department personnel, from Headquarters Building, Substations, and all other
police facilities are aware of possible terrorist activities and are on an appropriate level of alert.
.03 TERMINOLOGY (For specific use within this procedure, see Glossary)
High Readiness Increased Readiness-Watch Conditions Maximum Readiness Normal Conditions
.04 READINESS LEVELS AND MEASURES OF PREPAREDNESS
A. Normal Conditions
1. The member assigned to security at Headquarters Building will implement appropriate security measures in
accordance with the Service and Support Division standard operating procedures.
2. Patrol Division Station Commanders will implement appropriate security measures at substations and instruct
patrol officers to do the following:
a. Patrol their assigned districts and be available for calls or special assignments.
b. Monitor areas close to large buildings, giving special attention to abandoned vehicles or suspicious
packages left unattended.
3. The officers assigned to security at all other police facilities will implement appropriate security measures in
accordance with the standard operating procedures at their respective police facilities.
4. The Tactical Support Division Commander will implement security measures to include the following:
a. Details of the Special Operation Unit will shift their training focus to such items as chemical/biological
response, search and rescue, bomb training, and negotiation issues involving extremist groups.General Manual Procedures – Section 800Emergency Operations Page 2 of 5 Effective Date:July 31, 2010
San Antonio Police Department
GENERAL MANUAL
Procedure 807 – Terrorism Preparedness
b. Traffic Shift officers will monitor all expressway systems and immediately report any unusual contacts.
Special attention should be given to abandoned vehicles on the roadways. Hazardous material routes will
be strictly enforced.
B. Increased Readiness - Watch Conditions
1. The officer assigned to security at Headquarters Building will increase security measures to include:
a. Strictly enforce entry into Headquarters Building.
b. Start patrols around Headquarters Building.
2. Patrol Division Station Commanders will increase security measures at substations to include the following:
a. Assign officers at substations to prevent unauthorized entry.
b. All officers will receive briefings at roll-calls of any terrorist threats or changes in threat levels.
c. Officers will be instructed to report any suspicious activity in their districts.
d. Unit/shift directors will review and update all personnel information and maintain a hard copy of employee
addresses and telephone numbers.
e. Consumable supplies will be inventoried, and if needed, replenished.
3. The officers assigned to security at all other police facilities will increase security measures in accordance with
the standard operating procedures at their respective police facilities.
4. The Tactical Support Division Commander will increase security measures to include the following
a. All officers will receive briefings at roll-calls of any terrorist threats or changes in threat levels.
b. All SWAT and Bomb Squad personnel will be placed on a higher state of readiness. Chemical/biological
equipment will be checked and carried during normal duty hours.
c. Traffic officers will start patrolling around areas of specific interests, such as large crowded locations,
government buildings, and airports.
d. All emergency response equipment will be re-inventoried and checked for readiness.
e. Contact will be made with the Texas Department of Transportation, TransGuide Office, to review any
anticipated road closures, detours, or construction activities.
f. Unit/Shift Directors will review and update all personnel information and maintain a hard copy of
employee addresses and telephone numbers.
g. Consumable supplies will be inventoried, and if needed, replenished.
C. High Readiness - Warning Conditions
1. The officer assigned to security at Headquarters Building will increase security measures to include:
a. Keep access to Headquarters Building to authorized personnel only.
b. Increase patrols around Headquarters Building.General Manual Procedures – Section 800Emergency Operations Page 3 of 5 Effective Date:July 31, 2010
San Antonio Police Department
GENERAL MANUAL
Procedure 807 – Terrorism Preparedness
c. Check/search all deliveries and personal items entering Headquarters Building.
d. Allow no parking around Headquarters Building.
2. Patrol Division Station Commanders will increase security measures at substations to include the following:
a. No vehicles will be allowed close to the substation building.
b. Officers will stop and detain any suspicious vehicles or persons.
c. Any other security measures deemed necessary by the Patrol Section Commanders.
3. The officers assigned to security at all other police facilities will increase security measures in accordance with
the standard operating procedures at their respective police facilities.
4. The Tactical Support Division Commander will increase security measures to include the following:
a. SWAT Detail personnel will begin providing twenty-four (24) hour security for specific locations to
include, but not limited to the S. A. International Airport and federal buildings.
b. Bomb Squad personnel and alternates will begin working the same shift.
c. Traffic Shift personnel will be given assignments based on directions from the Tactical Support Division
Commander.
D. Maximum Readiness - The Event
1. GM Procedure 802, Unusual Occurrences and Critical Incidents, will be implemented and the Incident
Commander will be in charge of overall operations and direction of officers and units assigned to the terrorist
act.
2. Depending on the scope of the terrorist act, the Incident Commander may implement Phase I of GM Procedure
806.
3. The Chief of Police, if not already on the scene, will be notified and take command of all Departmental
operations.
4. If a higher phase than Phase I of GM Procedure 806 is required to handle the terrorist act, the Chief of Police
will implement Phase II and notify the City Manager, Mayor, and Emergency Management Coordinator.
5. If and/or when the City Emergency Operations Center (EOC) opens, all commanders will coordinate their
activities through the EOC.
.05 PERSONNEL DEPLOYMENT/RE-DEPLOYMENT PLANS
Division Commanders will maintain deployment/re-deployment plans for their respective divisions to address each
level of readiness an act of terrorism might require.
.06 IMPLEMENTATION OF THREAT LEVELS
A. Any information received by any member, from other agencies or contacts, concerning possible terrorist activities or
changes in threat levels shall immediately be relayed to the Commander of the Homeland Security Section, or his
designee.General Manual Procedures – Section 800Emergency Operations Page 4 of 5 Effective Date:July 31, 2010
San Antonio Police Department
GENERAL MANUAL
Procedure 807 – Terrorism Preparedness
B. The Commander of the Homeland Security Section, or his designee, will determine the validity of the information
received and any action necessary, based on the information.
C. The Chief of Police, or his designee, will implement the appropriate threat levels during normal business hours.
D. The Night Commander or Deputy Chief designated as the Duty Officer in accordance with GM Procedure 314,
Command Notification, will implement the appropriate threat levels after normal business hours, on weekends and
holidays. The Night Commander or the Duty Officer will notify the Chief of Police, or his designee, when a threat
level is implemented and of any changes in threat levels.
.07 ASSIGNMENT OF CALLS
A. The Chief of Police, or his designee, will designate the unit or units that will respond to calls related to acts of
terrorism.
B. Tactical Support Division officers who have been trained and supplied with the proper protective equipment will
normally be the primary or first responders to calls involving acts of terrorism.
C. Patrol Division officers will be assigned to calls involving acts of terrorism, if necessary.
.08 TRAINING
A. The Department will provide training to all officers responsible for making calls involving acts of terrorism.
B. The level and degree of training provided will depend on an officer’s assignment and/or the probability of the officer
being assigned to calls involving acts of terrorism.
.09 RESPONSE FOR A SUSPICIOUS LETTER OR PACKAGE
A. Communications Unit call takers, upon receiving a call for a suspicious letter or package, will obtain as much
information as possible, including the complainant’s name and telephone number.
B. When Special Operations Unit or Traffic Shift officers are on-duty, they will be dispatched to make an initial
assessment.
1. If the suspicious item is an unopened letter, the officer will interview the complainant. If the officer determines
there is nothing to indicate the letter contains hazardous materials, the officer will instruct the complainant to
place the unopened letter into a plastic baggie, seal the baggie and dispose of the item in their trash receptacle.
2. If the suspicious item is an opened letter, or an unopened letter with some indication the letter might contain
hazardous materials, the San Antonio Fire Department Hazardous Materials Response Team will be called to
process the letter.
3. If the suspicious item is a package, the Bomb Squad and the Fire Department Arson Unit will be called to
process the package.
4. If the suspicious item is an opened package, or there is visible residue from a closed package, the Fire
Department Hazardous Materials Response Team, Bomb Squad, and Fire Department Arson Unit will be called
to process the package.
C. When Special Operations Unit or Traffic Shift officers are not available, a Patrol Division officer and supervisor
will be dispatched to make an initial assessment.General Manual Procedures – Section 800Emergency Operations Page 5 of 5 Effective Date:July 31, 2010
San Antonio Police Department
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Procedure 807 – Terrorism Preparedness
1. If the suspicious item is an unopened letter, the officer and supervisor will interview the complainant. If the officer
and supervisor determine there is nothing to indicate the letter contains hazardous materials, the officer will instruct
the complainant to place the unopened letter into a plastic baggie, seal the baggie and dispose of the item in their
trash.
2. If the suspicious item is an opened letter, or an unopened letter with some indication the letter might contain
hazardous materials, the San Antonio Fire Department Hazardous Materials Response Team will be called to process
the letter.
3. If the suspicious item is a package, the Bomb Squad and Fire Department Arson Unit will be call to process the
package.
4. If the suspicious item is an opened package, or there is visible residue from a closed package, the Fire Department
Hazardous Materials Response Team, Bomb Squad, and Fire Department Arson Unit will be called to process the
package.
D. When an officer responds to a call for a suspicious letter or package, if there is a suspicion the letter or package contains a
hazardous material or there is visible residue, the officer will secure the scene and hold all persons at the scene for possible
decontamination.
.10 INTERDEPARTMENT/INTEROFFICE MAIL
A. Due to concerns regarding suspicious letters and packages, the Police Department has formalized the process for routing
correspondence within the Police Department and between the Police Department and other City Departments.
B. Any member needing to send interdepartmental or interoffice correspondence shall adhere to the following guidelines:
1. Use E-mail and Faxes as much as possible (Faxes require a cover sheet);
2. Interdepartmental and interoffice correspondence requires a routing slip. The routing slip must be completed, clearly
and legibly identifying the sender, receiver, department, subject, etc.
3. Minimize the use of envelopes. Most correspondence can be folded and the routing slip attached to the folded
correspondence.
.11 INCOMING MAIL
A. The use of the Department’s address is restricted to “Official Business Only.”
B. Members being asked for the Department’s address in order for a letter or parcel to be sent shall give the following
addresses:
1. Letters shall be sent to the Department’s Post Office Box address.
The address is:
San Antonio Police Department,
P.O. Box 839948,
San Antonio, Texas 78283.
2. Parcels shall be sent to the Department’s street address.
The address is:
San Antonio Police Department,
214 W. Nueva,
San Antonio, Texas 78207.

Answer 1

General Manual Procedures – Section 800Emergency Operations Page 1 of 5 Effective Date:July 31, 2010
San Antonio Police Department
GENERAL MANUAL
Procedure 807 – Terrorism Preparedness
Office with Primary
Responsibility:
TSC Effective Date:
Prior Revision Date:
July 31, 2010
October 01, 2009
Office(s) with Secondary
Responsibilities: PSC, PNC, FTC, IDC, SSO Number of Pages: 5
Forms Referenced in Procedure: None Related Procedures: 314, 802, 806