7-905 - Incident Command System

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that MPD employees respond to potentially large-scale threats to life and property in accordance with Incident Command System principles and priorities, and to ensure the response is done in an effective, comprehensive and appropriate manner in coordination with other responding agencies.

Incident Commander (I.C.): 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:

1. Assess incident priorities.
2. Determine strategic goals and tactical objectives, not related to the operations of SWAT or ESU personnel.
3. Identify a staging area, if needed.
4. Develop and implement incident action plan.
5. Develop appropriate incident management structure.
6. Assess resource needs.
7. Coordinate overall on-scene emergency activities.
8. Authorize information to be released to the media.

Public Information Officer: disseminates information to the public and media.

Staging Officer: responsible for identifying a single location or multiple locations, as needed, for resources to gather in preparation to respond to the emergency. Also keeps track of the availability of various resources for the incident.

Safety Officer: responsible for evaluating the overall incident scene for potential hazards, and makes recommendations to the incident commander during the incident operations.

Planning: group or individual responsible for planning and prioritizing the direction of the incident in order to accomplish the current mission of the operation.

Logistics: group or individual responsible for securing resources in order to support operations during the incident.

Finance: tracks and records costs (via logs) for the operation.

Incident Command System Model

The Incident Command System is a model for the management of critical incidents and other emergencies that provides a common, uniform approach to the command and management of emergencies at the local, county and state levels. The incident command system will be used for single-agency responses, single-jurisdiction/multi-agency responses, and multi-jurisdiction/multi-agency emergency and disaster responses.

Command types

Some critical incidents involve only a police tactical response (Single Command) while other emergencies or disasters will require a planned, coordinated response from several departments, agencies or jurisdictions (Unified Command). A small-scale police incident may also escalate into an emergency requiring county, state and federal assistance.

ICS priorities

All emergencies or critical incident management plans must have the same incident priorities:

• Life safety;
• Incident stabilization;
• Property conservation.

ICS situation examples

Examples of critical incidents and emergencies are described as, but not limited to, public safety incidents that escalate beyond existing resources (large shooting scene; multiple shooting scenes, multiple emergency events); civil disturbances, riots, barricaded suspects, snipers, terrorist activities, hostage situations, hazardous materials accidents, major fires and explosions, aircraft crashes, weather disasters and nuclear, chemical and biological emergencies. This is not an all-inclusive list. The incident command system is designed to be used in any such situation.

Adhere to ICS Principles

MPD employees shall adhere to Incident Command System principles in an emergency or crisis.

As a major emergency is reported, or a small incident escalates beyond existing resources, the following incident command responses will be observed.

Incident Commander responsibilities

When arriving at the scene of an emergency event, the on-scene Incident Commander shall:

1. On the radio, identify yourself as the Incident Commander.

2. Rapidly assess:

• What is the problem?
• What are the objectives needed to bring this to a positive resolution?
• What resources will be needed?
• Will responding personnel need Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?

3. Quickly determine or identify:

• Perimeter locations….cold zone, warm zone, hot zone
• Do people need to be evacuated or sheltered-in-place?
• Is there a need for a separate radio frequency for the event?
• Will weather conditions affect response plans? What is the wind direction?

4. Systematically:

• Identify a Command Post location.
• Identify Staging Area and Evacuation Area.
• Request necessary personnel and resources to handle the event.
• Insure that perimeters are adequate and held to prevent escalating the event.

5. Delegate:

• Perimeter Control Officer
• Staging Officer
• Safety Officer
• Any other functions necessary for incident command or unified command operations.

Police Supervisor (Sergeant or Lieutenant) Response

1. The Supervisor will announce on the radio that they have arrived, and if the Supervisor will be taking over as Incident Commander.

2. The Supervisor will assess the situation and any potential for escalation of the incident.
3. The Supervisor will provide MECC with a description and assessment of the situation and request additional resources as needed, such as Precinct response cars, additional supervisors, SWAT or other specialized units, or Fire/EMS services to respond.
4. The Supervisor should consider the need for a designated radio channel for incident management.
5. The Supervisor in charge will then notify the on-duty Watch Commander or a Deputy Chief of Field Services.

Watch Commander / Deputy Chief Response

1. The on-duty Watch Commander or Deputy Chief will announce on the radio that they have arrived and if the Watch Commander or Deputy Chief will be taking over as Incident Commander.

2. The Watch Commander or Deputy Chief will again make an assessment of the incident, and advise MECC of any changes in the situation.
3. The Watch Commander or Deputy Chief should consider the need for a designated radio channel for incident management.
4. If additional police personnel are needed for life safety or containment of the incident, the Watch Commander or Deputy Chief should consider the use of Police Reserves and the Emergency Response Unit (ERU).

MPD-SWAT (ERU) Activation

1. When activated through MECC by the Watch Commander, Precinct Supervisor or Deputy Chief, the MPD SWAT (ERU) will provide a mobile command vehicle, and the SWAT Commander will assume command of tactical police operations involving SWAT personnel.

2. The Watch Commander or Deputy Chief will assist as necessary, but will retain citywide supervisory responsibility.
3. Incident command responsibilities include:

1. Assessments of incident priorities;
2. Determination of the strategic objectives for the incident;
3. Directing the activities of police personnel;
4. Developing an appropriate incident management structure;
5. Deployment of resources to specific objectives;
6. Coordination of all incident activity;
7. Providing for personal safety of responding personnel; and
8. Authorization of information to be released to the media.

Unified Incident Command / Multi-Agency Incident Command

Police and Fire Department Response (with Public Works or other emergency agencies)

Fire Department

At most multi-agency/department emergencies, the Fire Department will assume the on-scene incident command with a designated on-scene Incident Commander, under a Unified Command System.

Police Department responsibilities

At this time the Police Department responsibilities will include traffic control, incident/area security, and evacuation assistance when required.

Single command post and IC

Although separate departments or agencies may use mobile communications vans and operations centers, there will be only one incident command post under the direction of one single Incident Commander.

Command of police personnel

1. The Police Field Commander will maintain command of all police personnel and will use police communications as necessary, but will coordinate all police activity under the direction of the Fire Department on-scene Unified Incident Commander.
2. Police personnel will receive direction and orders from police supervisors only, to insure unity of command and the police chain of command.
3. When activated and assembled at a designated staging area, Police Reserve officers will receive assignments through the Police Reserve Coordinator for traffic control, security or evacuation assistance. The Police Reserve unit may utilize their own mobile communications van with a separate radio net, but will coordinate with established police and fire channels used.

Activation of an EOC

The on-scene Incident Commander may request the activation of an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) when field responsibilities exceed the capabilities of on-scene personnel. When established, the EOC will be staffed with City officials and department heads to assume the overall incident command. The on-scene Incident Commander will then report directly to the EOC Commander.