Policy
409
Alameda Police Department
Alameda Police Department Policy Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2022/02/06, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Alameda Police Department ***DRAFT*** Emergency Response Vehicle - 1 Emergency Response Vehicle
409.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The purpose of this policy is to provide direction for the usage, training, and storage of the Alameda Police Department Emergency Response Vehicle.
409.2 USE OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLE
The Emergency Response Vehicle shall be used as an armored vehicle resource to safely resolve incidents where there is an objective risk to civilians and/or officers' safety from a person or persons who may be considered armed and dangerous.
The use of the Emergency Response Vehicle will be authorized by the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) Commander or Team Leader unless exigent circumstances exist. If the Emergency Response Vehicle is needed during an in-progress emergency, the vehicle may be authorized by the Watch Commander or, in their absence, a Patrol Sergeant. The Emergency Response Vehicle will only be utilized with supervisory approval for purposes including, but not limited to, incidents involving potentially armed subjects, CIRT callouts, high-risk search warrants, officer or civilian rescues, or authorized training.
The Emergency Response Vehicle shall not be deployed during non-violent demonstrations, including crowd control and crowd management, absent specific articulable objective facts demonstrating a risk of injury or death to police officers and/or the public. The Emergency Response Vehicle may be staged at pre-designated locations, away from protest sites, to allow for a timely response. The vehicle may be used in cases of a declared unlawful assembly and after a lawful dispersal order, where persons are engaged in criminal behavior that presents an objective risk of injury or death.
The Emergency Response Vehicle may be used for static displays at community events, for engagement and educational purposes.
The CIRT Commander will maintain a vehicle usage log.
409.3 NOTIFICATIONS
The Chief of Police, or their designee, will notify the City Manager when the use of the Emergency Response Vehicle has been authorized. Notification to the City Manager will occur prior to pre- planned events, or as soon as practical in emergency situations. At the conclusion of an event where the Emergency Response Vehicle has been utilized, the Alameda Police Department will complete a Significant Information Report and distribute via the City's email system. 409.4 EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLE OPERATION TRAINING
Training will be conducted on the operation and deployment of the Emergency Response Vehicle.
All SWAT Team members shall receive formal training prior to deployment of the Emergency Alameda Police Department
Alameda Police Department Policy Manual
Emergency Response Vehicle
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2022/02/06, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Alameda Police Department ***DRAFT*** Emergency Response Vehicle - 2 Response Vehicle. A valid class "C" California driver's license is required to drive the Emergency Response Vehicle. Training will be documented on SWAT team post training reports. 409.5 EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLE DEPLOYMENT CONSIDERATIONS Staff has the discretion to deploy the Emergency Response Vehicle in those circumstances where there is an objective risk of injury or death to civilians and/or officers, and use of the vehicle may reduce or mitigate said risks by facilitating safe police management of the critical situation and the rescue of injured or endangered persons. When considering deployment of the Emergency Response Vehicle, the authorizing Commander or Supervisor should:
(a) Assess the situation and based on the objective facts, determine that the discretionary use of the Emergency Response Vehicle may contribute to the safe resolution of a critical incident where there is a risk of injury or death to civilians or officers. (b) Whenever practical, create an operational plan for deployment of the vehicle consistent with this policy, current law and the department's Use of Force Policy. (c) The vehicle may be used to locate and contain a threat by providing cover for officers, facilitating a rescue of an injured or endangered persons, or as a tactical resource to allow officers to take into custody a person who presents an objective risk of injury or death to civilians or officers.
(d) When selecting a rescue team, the supervisor should consider experienced personnel, such as current or former SWAT Team Members, Crisis Negotiators and officers who have received Crisis Intervention Training (CIT). In addition, the rescue team should, when available, include a Medic or TEMS officer (Tactical Emergency Medical Support), rescue carriers, cover officers and officers equipped with less lethal force equipment. When available, fire and ambulance personnel should be ready to accept injured persons at the end point of the rescue.
409.6 EMERGENCY AND NON-EMERGENCY REQUESTS OF THE RESPONSE VEHICLE
BY OUTSIDE AGENCIES
In the event of an emergency request for the Emergency Response Vehicle, the Watch Commander, or in their absence, a patrol sergeant, may approve the request for the Emergency Response Vehicle to assist outside agencies for emergency purposes. If time allows, at least two on-duty SWAT Team members shall deploy with the Emergency Response Vehicle to assist outside agency requests. This may include additional officers who have received training in advanced first aid. The request for APD response with the Emergency Response Vehicle by outside agencies, for purposes other than emergencies, shall be authorized by the Chief of Police or their designee.
The Emergency Response Vehicle will be deployed in accordance with Alameda Police Department policies. All Alameda Police Department personnel will follow Alameda Police Department policies when assisting outside agencies. The Emergency Response Vehicle will remain in the possession and control of Alameda Police Department personnel and will not be loaned to other agencies.
Alameda Police Department
Alameda Police Department Policy Manual
Emergency Response Vehicle
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2022/02/06, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Alameda Police Department ***DRAFT*** Emergency Response Vehicle - 3 409.7 EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLE STORAGE
The Emergency Response Vehicle will be stored at the Alameda Police Department. 409.8 EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
Maintenance of the Emergency Response Vehicle is the responsibility of the City of Alameda Fleet Services Center Manager. The Fleet Manager should coordinate with the SWAT Team Leader and the Materials and Acquisitions Unit when scheduling vehicle maintenance or repairs.
Officers from the SWAT Team will routinely check the Emergency Response Vehicle and its equipment, including but not limited to, ensuring the battery is charged, the trickle charger is attached, the engine will turn over, and that the vehicle is in general working order. When reasonable, the vehicle should be fueled after each use. The City of Alameda Fleet Services Center will perform repairs on the vehicle and keep a preventative maintenance schedule.