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.
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
Failure to plan is planning to fail, and that’s glaringly evident when large-scale civil unrest breaks out
La Crosse police work hard to keep the peace during Octoberfest, and this year, a perimeter protection plan was introduced to prevent a Waukesha-style attack
The man reportedly severed his finger when an officer shot him with a less-lethal projectile
This was the first civil trial from the Portland 2020 protests to reach a jury, with more than 50 similar lawsuits pending against the city
A protest medic filed a $450K lawsuit against the city for a broken arm obtained during a protest
The department’s After Action Report identifies 17 areas of analysis with recommendations for improvements, including improvements to de-escalation techniques and training
The dropped charges mark the end of a two-year investigation against three Columbus police officers
The council’s passage of the 2021 rule was “unlawful interference with police procedures and tactics,” officials said
By now every officer should be trained in crowd control so that a group of them can form anytime to address a violent crowd in the early stages of its development
Nine steps to develop a well-rounded and holistic protest policing response
Law enforcement agencies must carefully balance the optics of providing public safety during protests while preparing for the potential of violence
Police responses to public protests and unrest have varied over time
Different police tactics yield different responses from protesters: tactical mismatches are likely to influence escalation as well as who joins or desists from protest events
The FOP has put up a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest
During any period of widespread protests, it is important to prep both your equipment and your family in case you are deployed to assist with crowd control
Officers were responding to reports of a large group causing vandalism
One city seeks to hold organizers financially responsible after the city spent $25,000 on police overtime and cleanup
Police said thousands of beachgoers refused to disperse as “countless fights broke out”
Police were responding to a shooting that left one person dead and four others injured
The day ended in sporadic skirmishes, with some people throwing rocks at officers, LAPD said
The officers’ use of force was “absolutely legitimate,” wrote arbitrator Jeffrey Selchick, who added that the protester was “definitely not an innocent bystander”
As the officer circled the crowd in his cruiser to disperse a car meetup, people began kicking and vandalizing the vehicle
Court refused to dismiss county liability allegation that sheriff tacitly authorized pattern of unlawful bean bag deployment
The group “doesn’t represent spring breakers. These represent criminals,” said Panama City Police Chief Mark Smith
Last year, Chief James White implemented a similar plan targeting the city’s “party atmosphere”
“Officers are EXHAUSTED,” said the Miami Beach FOP. “The party needs to end”
Most of Cleveland’s bomb squad resigned in February after officers accused a supervisor of bringing a live pipe bomb to training
A man wanted on multiple felony warrants pulled out a gun as officers tried to arrest him, police said
This report is a hard read, but necessary for police leaders around the country
Guard members will not carry firearms or take part in law enforcement activities, the Pentagon said
Jury trial required to determine liability for mass arrest, alleged excessive force and supervisory indifference
