Safety Tactics Developed by: B. Keith Colquitt Charles Abbott Associates Code Enforcement Manager City of Brookhaven Introductions Terminal Learning Objective Through this course a Code Enforcement Official will be able to identify possible safety hazards and how to best deal with them. Learning Objectives • Understand the most common types and causes of situations that lead to serious injuries and fatalities in code enforcement • Know specific safety tactics to minimize risk • Identify techniques to improve officer safety • Draw from other officers’ knowledge • Establish on-going safety habits for daily use • Improve safety practices in local jurisdiction and within the field of code enforcement The Value of Safety Tactics • Reduce stress on you at work and home • Minimize the probability a violator will file a complaint against you • Provide a better image of your office to a violator and other citizens • Increased safety • Survival If what you know is not the same as what you do, your training is incomplete. Where Does Safety Start? • Safety starts with you • Rest • Diet & Exercise • The Clothing You Wear • How you Drive WHAT ROLE ARE YOU PLAYING? • Enforcer • Punisher • Communicator/Informer • Educator • Helper • Resource Person STATISTICS • Between 1999 and 2008, of the 530 officers killed -- • 23% were in arrest situations • 20% were in ambush situations • 5% increase in ambushes 2002-2008 • 106 in 2008, 66 were unprovoked, 40 were premeditated • 19% were making traffic pursuits/stops • 14% were on disturbance calls • 12% were investigating suspicious persons/circumstances • 2% were interacting with a mentally ill person • Of the 42 assailants identified in the killing of law enforcement officers in 2008, 86% had a prior conviction, 26% were on probation or parole at the time CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS Most recently, a Code Enforcement Officer in West Valley, Utah was murdered while she was on scene by the person she was going to be addressing. 150 PACES FROM VEHICLE – APPROXIMATELY 450 FEET GROUP DISCUSSION AT YOUR TABLE DISCUSS A SITUATION WHERE YOU WERE UNSURE OF HOW TO APPROACH A PROPERTY OR IF YOU WOULD EVEN APPROACH THE PROPERTY. THINGS TO CONSIDER • Location / Demographics of inspection area • Layout of property being inspected • Be aware of your surroundings • Being face to face • What to do if you get the “hair standing on the back of your neck” feeling • Exit strategy Location / Demographics • Know the area you are going into • High crime • Gangs • High / Low income • People living in the area Layout of Property •Subdivision or not •Terrain •Style of house / structure Before an Inspeaction • Check GIS Before an Inspection • Check GIS Property & House Be Aware of Surroundings • Know the street names around you • Know the address numbers • Look at vehicles around you • Observe the property • Do not stand right at the door • Look at windows Who has ever been face to face with someone and things started going south, WAAAAYYYY SOUTH??? BE AWARE BE AWARE Being Face to Face • Keep a good distance between you and the person you are talking to • Watch body language • Eyes • Posture • Hands • Leaning on door • When issuing citation, if available, run ID • Always separate yourself while issuing • Be careful about even shaking hands Hair on the Back of Your Neck • Do not let them out of your sight • Tactfully Redeploy • Excuse yourself • Return with backup • If you have that “funny” feeling, there is usually a reason, go with your gut! Violators: Common Reactions Talking over you Criticizing Verbal Abuse Not listening Anger Sarcasm Non-violent threats Insinuations Interruptions Loud voice Disapproving looks Invade personal space Facial expressions Others EXIT STRATEGY • Park your vehicle in such a way it is easy to leave quickly • Make sure there are no obstacles Exit Strategy OUTDOOR TECHNIQUES • Sites, Yards, and Other Open Areas • Always locate cover • Use OSHA code outside: Identify TWO footpaths that can be used to take safe cover or leave the scene safely • Position yourself off-center (Tactical L) from Violator • Plot a “pursuit curve” escape route—straight lines make easy targets • Vehicle(s): Engine blocks, wheels & axles vs. doors and glass • Buildings and building material • Trees and rocks • Landscape such as berms or ditches Exit Strategy Parking Technique for Residential and Commercial Areas S Space 1 car length or at least 15‘ Other Vehicle T Turn Steering Wheel Full Right CODE Vehicle O Overlap with stopped car 50% P Parallel to Roadway Exit Strategy INDOOR TECHNIQUES • Inside Buildings and Structures • Remember the code—OSHA requires buildings to have at least TWO exits • ALWAYS identify TWO or more exits BEFORE entering any building • Windows • Other openings • Materials or structures exits can be made in USE OF FORCE CONTINUUM • Law Enforcement → Criminal = Immediate 1. Ask (verbal request to comply) 2. Tell (order compliance) 3. Make (force compliance, physical arrest) • Code Enforcement → Civil = Prolonged 1. Ask (verbal warning, inspection) 2. Tell (investigation, warning, notice etc.) 3. Make (citation, stop work, court order, etc.) USE OF FORCE CONTINUUM Use of Force Risk to Safety Continuum Continuum Court orders, More More Hostile and Warrants, or Criminal Force charges Risk Criminal Acts Citation, Stop work, Aggression etc. Written Warning Verbal Abuse Verbal Warning Verbal Friction Routine Inspection Body language Less Less Officer Presence Facial expressions Force Risk COMMUNICATIONS • Methods • Response software • Phone- landline, cellular, satellite • Text message • Video stream • Email • Radio- handheld, mobile • Pager • Written log Communications DAILY ENFORCEMENT LOG Violators Vengeance Seekers • Political/ideological revenge against elected officials • May be your “coolest customer” • Remember who they are when you have to return in the event of ambush • Frequently utilize unpredictable behavior and tactics • Less-than-lethal attackers can achieve almost lethal results Violators Common Types of Difficult People: • Passive Aggressive • Sniper • Intimidator • Socially Challenged HOSTILE SITUATIONS Hostile Situations • Verbal Threats • Physical Threats • Aggression • Weapons Hostile Situations • Human Factors for the CEO • Admit if you are afraid, then move on • Avoid dwelling on the chance of failure • Take control of your body and mind • Focus on getting the job done • Reinforce your ability to deal with the unexpected by training for it • Turn anger into a motivator • Accept an element of fate in every situation Hostile Situations • Risk Factors in Hostile Situations • Number of persons present • Weapons available to them • Visually targeting you • Gang apparel or tattoos • High levels of anger at initial contact • Over reacting to small or trivial things • Excessive anger • Rage Hostile Situations Early warning signs • Threats: Verbal • Specific violence • “If you come on my property, I’ll _____” • “I’m going to kill you!” • Excessive emotion • Rage Hostile Situations Early warning signs • Threats: Non-Verbal • Eye contact changes from direct stare to targeted on part of body to be attacked • Breaths go to deep breathing • Stance goes to bladed • Hands form into fists • Talking stops • Rapid movements • Assuming a pre-attack posture • Changing stance Hostile Situations Early warning signs • Aggression • Rapid or exaggerated movement • Ceasing all movement • Physical crowding • Assuming a pre-attack posture or bladed stance • Physical attack • You are 18 times more likely to be attacked by empty hands than by firearms! Hostile Situations Early warning signs • Weapons • Rocks, Pipes, Boards, Misc. Materials • Sharp instruments • Knives • Chemicals • Firearms • Explosives • Others Hostile Situations • Survival Tactics • NEVER let a violator out of your sight • Keep your distance, at least 21 feet from the Violator • Sprint to the nearest cover immediately Don’t hesitate—run to cover in 2-3 seconds • Run in a “Pursuit Curve” if no cover is available. Shield your face/head • Reassess the situation • Don’t leave cover unless the situation changes • Maintain communications • Utilize Exit Strategy only when safe to do so Hostile Situations STATISTICS - Officers fatally shot 1999-2008 Distance in feet from attacker # Officers %Total . 486 0–5 247 50.82% 6–10 91 18.72% 11–20 58 11.93% 21–50 33 6.79% Over 50 33 6.79% Not reported 24 4.94% FBI 2016 STATISTICS • Circumstances: At the time the 66 law enforcement officers were feloniously killed: • 17 were ambushed (entrapment/premeditation); • 13 were answering disturbance calls (seven were domestic disturbance calls); • nine were investigating suspicious persons/circumstances; • six were engaged in tactical situations; • five were performing investigative activities (such as surveillances, searches, or interviews); • four were conducting traffic pursuits/stops; • three were investigating drug-related matters; • three were victims of unprovoked attacks; • one was answering a burglary in progress call or pursuing a burglary suspect(s); • one was answering a robbery in progress call or pursuing a robbery suspect(s); and • four were attempting other arrests. MORE STATISTICS Officer Fatalities in 2018 - 144 total 52 Firearm 50 Traffic 42 Other Officer Fatalities so far in 2019 – 7 4 Firearm related Hostile Situations A word from Beau Weathers and Captain Bill Capps: • NEVER let a violator out your sight • Carry a radio and maintain communication- it shortens response time in emergencies • Wear a vest • Be prepared for what comes after life De-Escalation