 |
| LONE STAR POLICE DEPARTMENT |
| Policy 8.3 Special Response Team |
| Effective Date: 25-SEP-2024 |
| _______________________________________________________ Ernest Hastings, Chief of Police |
I. POLICY
The presence of a highly trained and skilled police tactical unit has been shown to substantially reduce the risk of injury or loss of life to the public, police officers, and suspects. A well-managed team response to critical incidents usually results in a successful resolution of these situations. It is the intent of this department to provide for a highly trained and skilled special response team (SRT) as a resource for the handling of critical or unusual police incidents.
II. PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to establish the governing regulations in the selection, training, equipping, and use of the special response team.
III. DEFINITIONS
A. Hostage Situations: the holding of any person(s) against their will by an armed or potentially armed suspect.
B. Barricade Situations: a standoff created by an armed or potentially armed suspect in any location, whether fortified or not, who is refusing to comply with police demands for surrender.
C. Sniper Situations: the firing upon individuals, including police, by an armed suspect, whether stationary or mobile.
D. High-Risk Apprehension: the arrest or apprehension of armed or potentially armed suspects where the likelihood of armed resistance is high.
E. High-Risk Warrant Service: the service of search or arrest warrants where the warrant service matrix or policy recommends or requires the use of the special response team.
F. Personal Protection: the security of special persons, such as VIP's, witnesses, or suspects, based on threat or potential threat to the well being of those persons.
G. Special Assignments: any assignment approved by the SRT Commander, based on a high level of threat.
IV. COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE
- The special response team is comprised of the following:
- One commander
- Seven officers of any rank
- Two hostage negotiators
- One tactical medic.
- The SRT Commander, appointed by the Chief of Police, will be responsible for the overall operations of the team.
- The SRT will also have SRT alternates available for deployment. The Chief of Police will determine the number of SRT alternates. These officers are not permanently assigned to the SRT but are available for activation.
- The alternates will be chosen from the same selection process as full-time SRT members.
- They will attend and participate in the training programs and monthly training.
- Alternates will re-certify on all individual skills and must maintain acceptable standards of performance as delineated in SRT qualification.
V. OPERATIONS
- When the team is activated for an operation, the SRT Commander, or the acting supervisor, reports directly to the Chief of Police or to the incident commander where one has been designated.
- The SRT Commander is responsible for deployment of the SRT, tactical decision-making, and tactical resolution of the incident.
- The SRT Commander is subordinate to the incident commander in terms of when and if a tactical option will be initiated, but not how it will be performed.
- Unless the SRT Commander relinquishes control to a person outside the SRT, only someone in a leadership position within the SRT will attempt to direct, supervise, or control any element of the operation or any member of the SRT.
- The primary negotiator will manage the negotiations process.
- The negotiations unit will work under the direction of the SRT Commander.
- Requests or demands received from the suspect through the negotiator may be approved or denied by the SRT Commander.
- It is the policy of this department not to allow face-to-face negotiations with a subject suspected of posing a danger to others. A negotiator who must work on the inner perimeter will be armed at all times and shall wear the appropriate body armor. Negotiators will not enter the inner perimeter without specific instructions from the SRT Commander.
- The tactical medics will train with SRT and provide medical support during operations. At least one (1) tactical medic will be deployed for each operation.
- Tactical medics will be provided protective armor and other uniform accessories but will not be armed unless they are also a commissioned peace officer.
- Tactical Medics will not enter a structure with the entry team but will maintain availability near the entry point and shall enter only on the orders of the entry team after a structure is secure or when an injured officer is in a position of safety.
- During deployment, the tactical medics will report to the SRT Commander.
VI. ACTIVATION PROCESS
A. Each agency administrator has the authority to immediately activate the team for any critical or unusual police incident within the jurisdictional boundaries.
B. Shift commanders will advise communications of the situation and the need for the SRT. Communications will contact the SRT Commander and provide the contact number for the shift supervisor.
C. Any division or unit within the department may request the assistance of the SRT in planning or conducting appropriate operations. The unit commander will contact the SRT Commander with the request. If the SRT commander approves the request, the team will be activated.
VII. SELECTION PROCESS
A. SRT Members
1. Assignment to the SRT will be on a voluntary basis and will consist of sworn personnel with the exception of tactical medics, who are members of the fire department. SRT members will be selected from a roster created through applicant testing. The Chief of Police, the SRT Commander, and existing team members may designate special requirements for selection of personnel.
2. All SRT members must exhibit a sound mental and physical condition.
3. Criteria for applications will consist of the following:
a. A minimum of two years of active law-enforcement experience with the department.
b. A physical agility test consisting of the following:
i. A minimum score of 85% on the firearms qualification course (FQC).
ii. Completion of the SRT obstacle course in a maximum of 3.5 minutes.
iii. Running 1.5 miles in a maximum time of 15 minutes.
iv. Bench press 85% of the applicant's body weight.
v. Pass a comprehensive background investigation that assesses the applicant's potential performance and mental suitability for SRT assignment.
c. Participate in a verbal interview conducted by the SRT Commander and a board appointed by the Chief of Police.
d. Pass a psychological test taken after completion of the interview.
4. Once accepted and assigned to the SRT, all operational team members and alternates, regardless of rank or position, must maintain acceptable standards of performance as delineated in SRT qualification. All agencies should make sure that the qualifications identified in this policy are directly related to the job duties of an SRT member and that this policy (as with all policies) are approved by your local attorney.
B. Hostage Negotiators:
1. Hostage negotiators are a part of the SRT but perform only hostage negotiation duties. The negotiation team members will be on call, and will perform negotiator duties in addition to their regular duty assignments.
2. Minimum qualifications:
a. TCOLE Intermediate Peace Officer Proficiency Certificate
b. TCOLE Mental Health Peace Officer Proficiency Certificate
d. Basic hostage negotiator school
e. Bi-lingual preferred
3. When an opening for a negotiator occurs, the SRT Commander will announce that there is an opening for a member of the negotiation team. The announcement will include an explanation of the minimum qualifications.
4. Hostage negotiators will meet the same physical requirements as SRT members and will re-qualify with the SRT.
5. Officers interested in the position will submit a letter of interest along with their qualifications. The Chief of Police will then select an officer(s) to fill the vacancy.
6. Upon selection, the new hostage negotiator must pass a psychological screening for the position.
C. Tactical Medic
Selected paramedics from the fire department will be assigned to the (SRT). The Fire Chief will submit candidates to the SRT Commander for consideration and selection.
VIII. RE-QUALIFICATION AND REMOVAL FROM THE TEAM
A. SRT officers must pass a re-qualification physical agility test annually.
B. Failure to pass the re-qualification will result in the team member being placed in a temporary, non-deployment status. Time requirements of non-deployment status will be determined on an individual basis by the SRT Commander.
C. Failure to meet the minimum acceptable standard within the designated period of time will result in removal from the team.
D. A team member may be removed from the team, without cause, when that is deemed necessary for the good of the team by a consensus of the team with approval by the Chief of Police.
E. Being placed in a temporary, non-deployment status three times may result in removal from the team.
IX. RESIGNATIONS AND FILLING VACANCIES
A. A team member may voluntarily withdraw from the team at any time, for any reason.
B. Team members leaving SRT will not be eligible to reapply to SRT for a period of one year.
C. With the permission of the Chief of Police, a member who leaves SRT may be allowed to remain as an alternate.
D. When a vacancy on the team occurs, any officer meeting the above qualifications may apply. SRT alternates will be considered to have preferred qualifications, but will not automatically be chosen above other qualified candidates.
E. Vacancies on the alternate team will be filled from the list of all other qualified applicants. This list will be in effect for one year from the date of testing.
X. TRAINING STANDARDS
A. SRT Team Training
1. The SRT and alternates will conduct training a minimum of 16 hours per month. They will train on appropriate subjects related to the mission of the SRT.
2. All training will be documented, and training records will be maintained on file in the training office.
3. All training will be performance oriented and SRT task specific.
4. The SRT will maintain a current task manual that lists the standards of performance for each task, for each individual, and for the team level.
5. Individual team members will be re-certified once per year on all individual skills, and the team will be re-certified once per year on all team-level skills.
6. Failure to re-certify will result in immediate focus on re-mediation of basic skills.
7. Continued failure to re-certify, after appropriate remediation, will be dealt with as "failure to meet minimum standards."
8. The training program will include regular updates on legal issues facing SRT operations, warrant service, deadly force policy, and legal issues.
B. Hostage Negotiation Training
1. Training is essential to the success of hostage negotiates. It is necessary for the successful conclusion to incidents that threaten the public as well as law-enforcement officers, and it limits the agency's liability exposure. Hostage negotiators are required to comply with the following additional training requirements:
a. Prior to assignment, a hostage negotiator must receive specialized training as a negotiator in crisis interactions. Negotiation team members must have attended and passed the basic 40-hour hostage negotiation school. Within the first two years, hostage negotiators should attend the Advanced Hostage Negotiation School.
b. Every year, negotiators should complete at least 16 hours of in-service training related to hostage negotiations to enhance their communication skills and negotiation strategies.
c. Failure to attend training requirements may result in removal from the hostage negotiation Team.
XI. EQUIPMENT STANDARDS
A. The SRT will supply their team members with the following safety equipment:
1. Ballistic helmet
2. Safety glasses and goggles
3. Hearing protection
4. Complete coverage ballistic entry vest, complete with Threat Level IV insSRT
5. Load-bearing vest or duty belt for tactical equipment
6. Special weapons as authorized
7. Appropriate amount of ammunition for weapons training and qualification
8. Portable hand held radio with earpiece or microphone
9. Chemical agent mask
10. Utility uniform of color and pattern consistent with the area of operation
11. Self-aid / buddy aid kit
B. SRT members will wear appropriate utility type uniforms and footwear of an approved color/pattern.
C. Uniforms will have clearly visible and identifiable placards, patches, badges, or lettering that identifies the wearer of the uniform as a law-enforcement officer. The SRT Commander must approve all other items of personal wear or equipment.
D. Team members are responsible for the care and maintenance of all equipment issued to them. Members must take appropriate care to maintain the equipment in full mission readiness. Quarterly, the SRT Commander will conduct a documented inspection of all SRT members' assigned equipment for operational readiness.
XII. SPECIAL EQUIPMENT
A. The SRT may utilize special equipment, as listed below, in an attempt to lessen the risk of injury or death to all persons concerned during an SRT operation. However, the SRT recognizes that the use of the special equipment in no way implies or guarantees that injury or death will not occur during an SRT operation.
1. Primary entry weapons -- submachine guns, entry shotguns, and short-barreled weapons -- enable team members to acquire rapid target acquisition, and high levels of accuracy. They also provide maneuverability, reliability, stopping power, and the ability to sustain fire.
2. High-caliber rifles, also called counter-sniper rifles, allow the team member to place highly accurate rounds where needed to help resolve life-threatening incidents.
3. Authorized officers must successfully complete a TCOLE approved training course on the specified weapon and re-qualify with the weapon at least annually.
4. SRT members are authorized to carry assigned weapons in their vehicle on a daily basis at the discretion of the SRT Commander. The weapon will be secured in the trunk of the vehicle with a locking device. Such a weapon is never left in the interior space of a vehicle.
5. Less lethal weapons and ammunition are those that propel a round or device that is not intended to be lethal. These are designed to offer an alternative to the use of deadly force when that is appropriate.
6. Flash/noise diversionary devices are designed to save lives and reduce the potential for shooting situations by providing a diversion for the entry of SRT members into a hazardous area. These utilize a bright flash of light followed immediately by a loud noise.
7. Breaching tools and ammunition, such as rams, pry bars, hydraulic or electronic machines, special frangible shotgun rounds, etc., are designed to force entry into barricaded or secured areas.
8. The SRT Commander will ensure that only team members properly trained and certified in the use of the special equipment will utilize the equipment.
9. The SRT Commander will be responsible for establishing the certification standards and criteria for the team.
B. SRT Van
1. The purpose of the SRT van is to transport equipment and personnel to the scene of an SRT incident. The SRT van may also be used as a mobile command post.
2. The SRT van may be driven on out-of-town SRT calls, training, or demonstrations as approved by the Chief.
3. The SRT van may only be used by SRT members.
4. Use of the SRT van must be approved by the SRT Commander. Use is automatically approved during an SRT call-up.
5. The SRT Commander will designate one or more members of the SRT as drivers, and provide documented training in the operation of the SRT van. Only designated SRT members may drive the SRT van.
6. The SRT Commander will designate one driver to be responsible for the maintenance of the SRT van. This driver is responsible for documenting, in writing, monthly inspections of the SRT van and equipment stored in the SRT van.
7. The SRT Commander will post in the SRT van a list of equipment stored in the SRT van.
8. The SRT Commander will post in the SRT van a list of SRT officers who are authorized to drive the SRT van.
XIII. AFTER ACTION CRITIQUE
- At the completion of all operations and significant training events the SRT Commander will conduct an after-action review.
- The purpose of this review will be to create a forum for team members to offer information for the improvement of the team.
- After-action report requirements are discussed in Policy 8.1 Unusual Occurrences and Special Events.
Previous page: Department Policies