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.
While we don’t know what we will wake up to on Nov. 6, we must focus on professionalism, choosing to help, not acting as accelerant
With a comprehensive plan in place, your agency can face civil unrest with confidence, knowing the mental and emotional wellbeing of your team is a top priority
Leadership plays a critical role at every stage of civil unrest preparedness — from planning to execution and recovery
Authorities say two officers were injured after a crowd gathered around them during an arrest
Three police officers were injured as first responders tried to break up the gathering of 500 to 800 people
Capitol Police Acting Chief Yogananda Pittman said there was no way to know the extent of the attack
Former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund described a scene that was “like nothing” he had seen in his 30 years of policing
Police leaders say declaring unlawful assemblies is a way to prevent violence, but agree changes should be made to the law’s language
Yogananda Pittman, in prepared testimony before Congress, listed several missteps
A senator on Monday pitched a bill that would allow the use of deadly force against protesters on private property and give immunity to people who run over demonstrators blocking traffic
Protesters set a large fire, damaged buildings and marched with signs late Sunday in response to the incident
Police made several arrests in a group that described itself as anarchist, anti-Biden and anti-police
In interviews, four Capitol officers bemoaned a lack of leadership, saying they didn’t hear Chief Steven Sund on the radio all afternoon
10 officers were injured during the event, officials said
Language in the bill creates “unacceptable consequences” and puts the public and officers in “unnecessary danger,” said one LE official
Police officers who responded to the Jan. 6 siege at the Capitol have shared harrowing details of their experiences
An in-custody death over the weekend has set off violent clashes between demonstrators and police
A public building protest should not surprise any police leader, especially when organizers clearly state that as their intent
An internal FBI bulletin warned, as of Sunday, that the nationwide protests may start later this week and extend through Biden’s Jan. 20 inauguration
There are also investigations into social media activity of Capitol Police officers
Decisions to use force, especially deadly force, are unquestionably the most critical an officer will ever make
A rioter beats the officer with an American flag as the officer is pulled into a crowd
Officer Eugene Goodman is being hailed a hero after he lured an angry crowd away from the open Senate chambers
In a letter to acting secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser asked for a “pre-disaster declaration”
Police tried to keep the groups apart after several skirmishes, while some in the crowd threw rocks and used pepper spray on officers
Footage from Wednesday’s riot shows cop being crushed against a door as crowd attempts to push deeper into the building
Defense leaders are reviewing use-of-force restrictions on Guard members in anticipation of more unrest leading up to Biden’s inauguration
The video shows an unruly crowd was trying to push past officers when a woman was shot
The Secret Service said in a statement that it’s committed to making sure the inauguration is safe and secure
Officer Brian D. Sicknick suffered a stroke and died the day after physically engaging with protesters at the U.S. Capitol
Gus Papathanasiou, head of the Capitol Police union, said planning failures left officers exposed without backup or equipment against surging crowds
Protesters stormed the Capitol building and occupied it for hours
Hundreds gathered in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday and police declared an unlawful assembly
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