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.
When policing in a crowd, employ tactics that are well-trained, effective and consistently present you in a positive light
From boots to barriers, here’s what stood out for patrol and emergency response situations
Communication with organizers before, during and after events can help head off problems
Demonstrators in Portland also vandalized and stole from buildings and flouted the city’s established curfew
As unrest spread across dozens of US cities, the Pentagon took the rare step of ordering the Army to put several active-duty U.S. military police units on the ready to deploy
Georgia’s governor declared a state of emergency early Saturday to activate the state National Guard as violence flared in Atlanta and in dozens of cities nationwide
Videos of protests and confrontations with police officers in cities nationwide have circulated on social media
Demonstrators threw projectiles at officers, tried to grab an officer’s gun and obstructed roadways, officials said
Around 500 to 600 demonstrators marched through the Kentucky city’s downtown streets on Thursday night
The protests continued into the night, despite Denver Mayor Michael Hancock pleading for calm
Livestream video showed protesters entering the building, where fire alarms blared and sprinklers ran as blazes were set
The city shut down its light-rail system and planned to stop all bus service out of safety concerns
Protesters clashed with counter-protesters and police during the silent demonstration intended to protest the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery
Several stores were looted, including one where a man was fatally shot, and a police precinct was vandalized
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in the late afternoon on downtown streets and eventually moved towards U.S. 101
Several stores were looted and a police precinct attacked
Videos show hundreds of protesters gathered in Minneapolis streets damaging police vehicles and property
Two men were arrested at the scene, including one who refused to leave and put his hands on officers
The Republican-led Michigan Legislature refused Thursday to extend the state’s coronavirus emergency declaration as hundreds of activists returned to the Capitol
Officer discretion, common sense and good judgment are more important than ever in these difficult times
Solid planning, sufficient personnel and resources, mutual aid and a willingness to act were all key to ensuring a peaceful event
A judge previously ruled in favor of the ban after law enforcement identified ‘credible evidence’ that armed groups planned to attend the rally
Here are the events and technologies the P1 team and our readership viewed as having the most significant impact on the profession in the last decade
Police get thousands of calls for shoplifting, domestic violence incidents, public drunkenness, and other misbehavior that spikes for about 72 hours on either side of Thanksgiving
In this podcast segment, Jim and Doug discuss the various challenges facing police officers on the final night of October
The suit was filed Tuesday against the city and 343 officers and officials
The Supreme Judicial Court sided with the DA on Monday after a judge shot down several attempts by the progressive DA last week to dismiss charges of disorderly conduct against protesters
The incident happened during a protest following the acquittal of former officer Jason Stockley
The union had called for the prosecutions of everyone arrested at the “straight pride” parade after LEOs were pelted with rocks, bottles of urine and other materials
A large crowd “aggressively interfered” with the officers as they issued citations for drinking alcohol
Police used a natural barrier — the city’s Willamette River — to keep dueling protesters apart
Police seized metal poles, bear spray and other weapons and closed bridges and streets to try to keep the rival groups apart. They were largely successful
Portland police are mobilizing to prevent clashes between out-of-state far-right groups and the homegrown anti-fascists who oppose them at a rally planned for Saturday
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