Crowd Control
The Crowd Control topic focuses on the difficult task of controlling large groups of people with a limited number of police officers and resources. The police crowd control articles and tips in this section focus on strategy, policy, planning and tactics that can help quell a riled-up crowd and riot gear — helmets and shields — that will keep them safe in the process.
Law enforcement must be prepared for the worst when a controversial verdict is read, protestors become violent or a sports team wins a championship and the celebration spills to the streets.
Police departments must prepare to use proven team tactics for crowd control to ensure demonstrations remain peaceful and lawful assemblies
Be cognizant of what is working – and what is not – and be flexible enough to change tactics quickly as needed
Both the public and cops have many misconceptions about police crowd control
28 people were arrested, police said, after a fourth night of protests since the grand jury’s decision to not indict officers in Taylor’s death
Police said early Friday that demonstrators were arrested on charges including unlawful assembly, failure to disperse and riot
A suspect is in custody, Louisville Police said
The move comes as a grand jury is expected to announce soon if the involved officers will be charged
Rioters damaged police headquarters and set a fire downtown in the aftermath of a fatal shooting, officials said
Successful outcomes are obtained by advance planning between law enforcement and city leaders, prosecutors, first responders and community members
They allegedly hit an officer in the head with a wooden shield and threw a commercial grade firework at officers
Richmond Police Chief Gerald Smith expressed support for the move, referencing the fatal shootings at protests in Kenosha and Portland
Police Chief James Craig said this won’t change anything because his officers have only used force when the protests turned violent
The protests became violent as the night wore on, with some in the crowd throwing objects at police and flipping tables at restaurants
An attorney for the protest medics argued that rendering medical aid was a form of protected free speech
On Monday crowds demanded he resign, with some people setting fires and breaking windows
How Fort Wayne PD’s Air Support Unit provided a real-time view from the sky during both peaceful protests and civil unrest
The cost includes damage to garbage trucks, street lights and traffic signals
Sheriffs from two surrounding counties said they would not send deputies to Portland, as the governor asked, to help curb the violence
State police will return to help local authorities after a man died amid clashes between Trump supporters and counter-protesters
An 18-year-old reportedly received the bill after organizing a BLM rally in town
The 18-year-old says she received the letter from her town’s mayor several days after organizing the rally
Having access to protective face masks is key to ensuring officer safety
The ruling puts journalists and legal observers on the level of demonstrators during dispersal orders
Marchers on Wednesday night were calm and peaceful following Tuesday night’s fatal shootings
Agents will be pulled from fraud and organized crime teams to focus on violent and federal crimes committed during the unrest, officials said
A special response team is exposed to gases in training to prepare them for civil unrest response
Police said they held back because they didn’t want to escalate a volatile situation
The crowd threw bottles at cops and put metal bars in the street to try to damage police vehicles, officials said
The teenager was caught on cellphone video opening fire in the middle of the street
About 300 people hurled rocks and bottles at officers and set three fires to sides of the building, police said
Hundreds of protesters defied a curfew, threw bottles and shot fireworks at law enforcement guarding the courthouse
One officer suffered a concussion and third-degree burns, officials said
The violence started Sunday night and lasted into the predawn hours of Monday
