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Independent Assessment of the Springfield Police Department Response to Demonstrations on July 29, 2020

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Independent Assessment of the Springfield Police Department Response to Demonstrations on July 29, 2020 INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF THE SPRINGFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPONSE TO DEMONSTRATIONS ON JULY 29, 2020. Rick Braziel Police Response July 29, 2020 | P a g e Contents INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................. 1 METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................................................ 2 Document, Evidence, and Policy Review .................................................................................................. 2 Background ............................................................................................................................................... 3 INCIDENT SUMMARY & REVIEW ................................................................................................................... 4 INCIDENT SUMMARIES PRIOR to JULY 29, 2020 ....................................................................................... 4 June 6, 2020 .............................................................................................................................................. 4 June 8, 2020 .............................................................................................................................................. 5 June 22, 2020 ............................................................................................................................................ 5 June 26, 2020 ............................................................................................................................................ 6 June 27, 2020 ............................................................................................................................................ 7 July 8, 2020 ............................................................................................................................................... 7 July 10, 2020 ............................................................................................................................................. 8 July 22, 2020 ............................................................................................................................................. 8 INCIDENT SUMMARIES POST JULY 29, 2020 ............................................................................................. 9 July 30, 2020 ............................................................................................................................................. 9 September 30, 2020 .................................................................................................................................. 9 INCIDENT SUMMARY JULY 29, 2020 ........................................................................................................... 10 Planning .................................................................................................................................................. 10 Pre-March ............................................................................................................................................... 11 The March ............................................................................................................................................... 12 Dispersal Order ....................................................................................................................................... 14 Clash and Arrests .................................................................................................................................... 15 Concurrent Events................................................................................................................................... 16 Counter Protest Confrontations ............................................................................................................. 17 INCIDENT REVIEW ....................................................................................................................................... 19 Incident Recommendations ........................................................................................................................ 19 Command and Coordination ................................................................................................................... 19 Command and Coordination Lessons Learned ....................................................................................... 20 i | P a g e Independent Assessmen t Planning and Preparation ....................................................................................................................... 23 Planning Lessons Learned ....................................................................................................................... 24 Training Lessons Learned ........................................................................................................................ 25 Mental Health, Wellness, and Resilience ................................................................................................ 27 Responder Wellness Lessons Learned .................................................................................................... 28 Communication ....................................................................................................................................... 28 Internal Communication Lessons Learned .............................................................................................. 29 External Communication Lessons Learned ............................................................................................. 29 After-Action Review Process ................................................................................................................... 30 AAR Process Lessons Learned ................................................................................................................. 32 Use of Force Assessment ............................................................................................................................ 33 Legal Background .................................................................................................................................... 33 SPD Investigation .................................................................................................................................... 33 Use of Force Analysis .............................................................................................................................. 35 SYNOPSIS ..................................................................................................................................................... 36 APPENDIX A ................................................................................................................................................. 40 Timeline of Events ................................................................................................................................... 40 APPENDIX B ................................................................................................................................................. 44 List of Recommendations ....................................................................................................................... 44 Table of Figures Figure 1 July29, 2020 Arrests ..................................................................................................................... 10 Figure 2 Route to the First Street Closure .................................................................................................. 13 Figure 3 Route from the First Street Closure Back to the Park .................................................................. 17 Figure 4 Route from the Park to Main St. .................................................................................................. 18 Figure 5 ICS Command Structure ............................................................................................................... 21 Police Response July 29, 2020 ii | P a g e INTRODUCTION On July 29, 2020, the Springfield Police Department (SPD) responded to a protest in the community of Thurston. The demonstration included protesters and counter protesters and resulted in a dispersal order for unlawful assembly, civil disturbance, police use of force, assaults between the protest groups, and arrests. An independent assessment of the SPD response to the demonstration was requested by the City of Springfield. The project objective was to conduct an analysis of department policy, training, and tactics and, if appropriate, make recommendations to better align the department with best and promising practices.1 This assessment included a comprehensive comparison of critical incidents involving law enforcement agencies to evaluate Springfield Police Department’s response to the July 29, 2020 incident. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This review concerns the July 29, 2020 incident in which Springfield police officers used force to stop demonstrators from marching toward Main Street. The use of force, related tactics, departmental policies, and practices were compared against best and promising practices in policing. The review included analysis of crime reports, statements, evidence, video, audio, applicable policies,
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