Purpose
This policy establishes procedures for responding to changes in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s national terrorism threat levels. These procedures ensure a consistent and coordinated approach to preparedness, operational readiness, and the safety of personnel and the community during heightened security conditions.
Policy
The U.S. Homeland Security Department maintains national terrorism alert levels. The levels indicate the level of threat nationwide of a terrorist attack. The current threat level is updated real time on the MPD Net. The MPD will respond as indicated below for the listed threat levels. The steps listed build upon each level meaning that when a threat level is raised, all of the steps taken in lower threat levels are to be continued as well as taking additional steps indicated for the higher threat level.
Green- Low Condition
Normal business practices- Maintain existing protective measures including call back lists, sound security practices and awareness.
Blue- Guarded Condition
- Check communications and response plans for accuracy and completeness.
- Provide the public with information as necessary.
- Report any unusual or suspicious activity at or near potential target sites.
Yellow-Elevated Condition
- All sworn personnel shall have full uniform available at work.
- All sworn and Crime Lab personnel should have their PPE equipment in their squad.
- Riot helmets/batons should be carried in each marked squad.
- Increase surveillance and patrols should be conducted around potential target sites.
Orange- High Condition
- All sworn personnel shall wear full uniform unless otherwise directed by a Bureau Head.
- Non-sworn will wear and have their ID visible at all times.
- All sworn and Crime Lab personnel shall have their PPE equipment in their squad.
- Riot helmets/batons shall be carried in each marked squad.
- Schedule and assignment changes for sworn and non-sworn will be announced as needed.
- Personnel shall make contact with potential target sites in their area and verify contact information.
- Personnel shall conduct proactive surveillance for suspicious activity at or near potential target sites on each shift.
- Precincts and Units shall verify location and number of chemical protective gear available assigned to Precinct or Unit.
- Precincts should have plans in place for immediate distribution of chemical protective gear to members.
- Precincts should pre-plan for response to emergencies/crowd control situations.
- Commanders should review the City of Minneapolis Emergency Plan.
Red- Severe Condition
- MPD Administration will pre-designate Incident Commanders (separate from Watch Commanders) to be available for EOC or Field Operations.
- All police facilities shall be locked down and entry limited to police personnel only.
- Parking and traffic restrictions will be imposed and strictly enforced around city hall and potential target sites throughout the city.
- MPD may post uniformed security within city hall.
- MPD may staff a 24-hour ERU response team for immediate tactical response needs.
- Supervisors shall review emergency response procedures and related MPD policies and procedures with members at roll calls.
- Minimum sworn staffing levels shall be raised, and vacations/off days will be limited, and staffing of non-sworn personnel will be in compliance with current applicable labor contracts.
- Watch commanders will go on an alternate schedule, which will provide for 24 hour/ 7 day coverage.
- All callback lists shall be checked and verified for accuracy.
- Precincts shall pre-plan for response to emergencies/crowd control situations.
- Precincts shall have plans in place for immediate distribution of chemical protective gear to members.
- Traditional response plans should be altered when responding to suspicious calls or to calls at potential target sites.
- MPD Administration will pre-plan for EOC activation and incident command procedures.
- Commanders shall review the City of Minneapolis Emergency Plan.
- Based upon staffing and security needs, commanders of non-patrol units shall be prepared to establish skeleton staffing assignments for their units and advise their bureau head of personnel who would be available for emergency re-assignment.
- In the event that 12-hour shifts become necessary, commanders shall pre-designate and notify all personnel what shift and hours (0600-1800 or 1800-0600) they will be expected to work keeping in mind that this may be subject to change depending on MPD staffing needs.
- Schedule/assignment changes for sworn/non-sworn will be announced as needed.
Definitions
Refer to the Commonly Used Terms page for general definitions.
- Baton: A handheld, rigid, stick-like intermediate weapon. Batons are typically made of materials such as wood and metal, and come in various lengths and styles. (See the specifications section in P&P 5-310 for authorized types)
- Crowd Control: Techniques used to address unlawful public assemblies.
- Incident Commander:
The Incident Commander (IC) is the first officer or supervisor to arrive on the scene of a call for service where multiple units, scenes, or assisting agencies are dispatched. The Incident Commander has overall command of the incident, until properly relieved by a supervisor of higher rank if necessary, and will be based at the incident command post. The priorities of the Incident Commander include:
- Assess incident priorities.
- Determine strategic goals and tactical objectives, not related to the operations of SWAT or ESU personnel.
- Identify a staging area, if needed.
- Develop and implement incident action plan.
- Develop appropriate incident management structure.
- Assess resource needs.
- Coordinate overall on-scene emergency activities.
- Authorize information to be released to the media.
- PPE: Personal Protective Equipment is specialized clothing or equipment used by workers to protect themselves from direct exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials. It includes, but is not limited to, protective disposable gloves, masks, goggles, boots, gowns and resuscitation masks.