BUILDING SEARCH

Identify the minimum number of officers necessary to conduct a building search

• Minimum of two officers, additional officers for large complex, utilization of special units, and designated lead.

Explain the importance of labeling a building an officer is planning to search

• Number the building clock-wise from the front. Officers take opposite corners to optimize visual containment.

List the key elements involved in searching a building

1. Response- Source of activity- Dispatched, Officer observed, citizen contacts officer, responding to assist another officer (the first element). Officer responsibility- Acknowledge call, listen for other responses, follow policy, begin planning. Vehicle approach- noise (limit it), lights (turn off as you arrive), Warning: you must be able to justify your decision to respond without lights. Parking the patrol vehicle (Invisible and silent deployment), out of sight from involved building, and do not slam car doors. Approach the location on foot, keep your equipment quiet, vehicle radar, and mobile radios, etc. 2. Containment- Maximum containment/ minimum exposure, awareness on approach (suspicious vehicle, suspicious persons), Visual appraisal of building/ perimeter (roof line, points of entry/ escape, locations of doors/ windows, and additional cover/ concealment options.) 3. Planning: From cover, establish teams, equipment needs, gather intel, contact responsible party, methodical/tactical mindset. 4. Execution of search

Explain and demonstrate two movement techniques for searching a building

Leap frog/ Bounding over-watch- one officer moves and one officer covers. Point-Cover- Lead officer always lead, Cover officer moves after leader on command. • Strive for Triangulation: promotes separation, minimizes cross fire situations, and maximizes impact of defensive fire. • Be thorough- do not pass possible hiding places, don't pass doors, closets, rooms. If you cannot open a locked room, try to secure it to keep the suspect form exiting or attacking you from behind. Use good noise discipline, keep back to walls but do not touch walls, and look up as well as down.

Describe the process of a threat assessment

Person, Nuisance (animal), Blind spaces, Open door, Closed door, Crawl space/ trap doors. 1. Person, 2. Living Nuisance, 3. Blind space in same room, 4. Open door, 5. Closed door, 6. Crawl spaces/ trap doors.

Explain the reasons why hallways are extremely dangerous

• "Fatal Funnel"

Explain the considerations, options, and effects of managing light sources in a building search

• "Read" the light, Operate from the lowest level of light, "See" from the opposite direction, Light and move, Power with light, Align three things, and Carry more than one light. • Make sure the flashlight is charged. If search will be long consider back up. Avoid backlighting yourself or partner. Only lead searcher should use a flashlight. Flashlight Extended, Weapon supported with light.

List the primary goals of a building search

• Building searches are conducted for two reasons: Apprehend criminals, Assure building users and owners of the facility are safe.

Explain and demonstrate two techniques for entering doorways

• Button-hook- One officer on each side of doorway prior to entry, each officer moves through doorway to same side. • Cross-Over- One or more officers on each side of doorway prior to entry. Each officer moves through doorway to opposite side (not at the same time) • Do not stop in the doorway and block your cover officer from entry with either method.

Explain the difference between cover and concealment

• Concealment- To keep from sight (Webster), Does Not Stop Bullets • Cover- A position offering protection from attack (Webster), Will stop bullets and may conceal you at the same time.

List the responsibilities of the cover officer during a search

• Cover secondary threat, and assist point officer.

Explain the reasons why descending stairways are more dangerous than ascending stairways

• Descending Stairs: Poor visibility, staircase often open beneath, moving into area where officer is backlit, descending officer should crouch to allow view into lower areas more quickly.

Identify the reasons to avoid utilizing the intruder's point of entry (POE)

• Doors not windows, unexpected by adversary, do NOT use suspect point of entry, be aware of back lighting, clear before entering, and notify perimeter when you are going to enter.

Explain the difference between covert searches and dynamic searches

• Dynamic Tactics- Free -flow (congo-line)- requires a large number of officers; depending on the structure size/ design, rooms are cleared as quickly as possible, generally utilizing distraction devices as an entry tool. Relies on speed, surprise and violence of action for room/ suspect control, officer safety may be sacrificed...why? • Direct to Threat- Form of dynamic, where officer(s) do not take time to clear individual room(s) and are headed for an exact area of concern. Most dangerous form of room/ building clearing...why? Under what circumstances would you utilize this technique? WE USE ALL METHODS

List the reasons and methods for conducting a perimeter check and setting a perimeter

• Establish a point of entry, Gather intelligence information to conduct the search, clear exterior hiding/ danger areas prior to interior search. Officers maintain perimeter while officer checks. Optimal conditions with three or more, tell others which way you will conduct the check.

Explain and demonstrate several weapon positions to use during a building search

• Holstered, Safety Circle, Low ready or guard, Pointed in.

Explain and demonstrate the procedure used when a suspect is located during a building search

• Identify Yourself, Command or Control, Verbal commands, Physical control may be required of they fail to follow verbal command(s). Do not approach the suspect; maintain cover, direct suspect into open, FOLLOW C.R.S.T. flow. Use level 3 handcuffing procedure as taught in ACT. Direct suspect to back up towards you, place suspect on knees, direct suspect to move back on his knees to you, prone position handcuffing. Avoid Crossfire's, search thoroughly after handcuffing, only one officer gives commands to the suspect.

Explain the procedure used to remove a suspect located and taken into custody during a two-officer search

• Provide cover and verbally direct downed subject to safe area, provide cover for a rescue officer(s) to retrieve subject, provide cover-fire, directed into solid objects near last known suspect location, do not attempt to carry downed subject- pull or drag along the floor to secure area.

List the situations that may require an immediate search of the building

• Reason for an immediate search- special exigent circumstances, rescues (citizen and officer), hazardous circumstances (threat of injury, prevent the situation from expanding), and availability of special units. Priorities of Life: 1. Hostages/Victims 2. Innocents 3. Officers, Firemen, Paramedics, etc. 4. Suspect(s) 5. Property

List the responsibilities of the point officer during a search

• Respond to first threat, remove threat, request help if needed, assess before moving.

Explain the techniques utilized in searching multiple story buildings

• Same fundamentals. Secure the perimeter, control stairway exits, secure elevators on main floor, search completely from top to bottom, use stairways, not elevators. Clear floor you occupy first, then call suspects to you of possible. If basement, gain outside access if possible, set a perimeter farther back, control all the exits, and freeze elevators on you floor.

Identify the key points involved in planning a building search

• Stealth: Utilizes/ relies heavily on extreme light and noise discipline, subject(s) are entirely unaware of your presence. o Slow and Deliberate: Utilizes/ relies on various/ multiple techniques including ruse, Loss of speed and surprise depending on technique(s) used. ("Phantom Call" call out a potential subject from a position of advantage, Israeli lean/ slice the pie, and Quick Peek.) o Dynamic: Relies on speed, surprise and violence of action, requires officers to process highest amount of information with the least amount of time and make split second decision. • Key Points: Contact a responsible party for the building, gather intelligence information, establish a search team, equipment needs, determine immediacy of entry/ search. • Remember always plan from a position of cover. • Contact responsible party- responsible to the building, contact on file, and do neighbors know. Gather intelligence- floor plans, lights, previous call history, and hazardous materials.

List the primary components of a competent and tactical search: Physical Mechanics

• Weapons, positioning, and handling. Movement on stairways, initial entry location (door/Window), quick peeks, style of movement, slicing the pie, room entry, challenges (arrest), using windows, movement in hallways. Decision Making: Absolutely the most important component of search. "Fatal Funnel"- Hallway and doorway.

List several danger factors inherent to building searches

• You could be working in a stressful environment. You could be searching for a hidden suspect. There is always the possibility that the suspect is armed and may be willing to hurt you and others. The most probable outcome statistically is that you will confront no one or someone with a lawful reason to be there. The suspect is operating from a position of advantage. Ego.

Identify the reasons for creating angles of observation during a search

• field of view. Make it harder on the subject.