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Field Operations Directives (FODs)

02-001 Assisting LASD Detective Units or Other Law Enforcement Agencies in Tactical and Non-Tactical Operations


02-002 Tracking Family Abuse Crimes
01-016 Witness Detention or Transportation

ASSISTING LASD DETECTIVE UNITS OR OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

IN TACTICAL AND NON-TACTICAL OPERATIONS

BACKGROUND

On occasion, patrol personnel may be requested to assist LASD detective units or other law enforcement agencies in tactical and non-tactical operations or vehicle stops.  Examples of such requests include:

  • A request for uniform presence during arrest/search operations;
  • A request to conduct a traffic stop to make an arrest (i.e., a tactical “felony stop”);
  • A request to conduct a traffic stop in order to identify the driver or a passenger to gather intelligence (i.e., a non-tactical stop known as a “cool stop”); and/or
  • An advisement that a vehicle/occupant may be involved in criminal activity (for a deputy to investigate on their own volition in order to detect crime, prevent crime, or arrest a violator without further involvement of the “informant” agency or officer) (i.e., a non-tactical stop known as a “wall” or “whisper” stop).

Deputy personnel involved in these types of situations are generally unfamiliar with the protocols, procedures, and practices of the requesting law enforcement agency or unfamiliar with the dangers associated with the actions they are requested to perform.

PURPOSE

This directive establishes procedures for deputy personnel who are called or assigned to assist LASD detectives or other law enforcement agencies with a criminal investigation or an arrest/search operation within a station’s primary enforcement jurisdiction.  This directive shall not apply to LASD personnel assigned to joint task forces performing operations with other agencies associated with the duties of the task force.

The procedures set forth in this directive are intended to provide a safe and controlled response to requests from LASD detective units or other law enforcement agencies.  It is not the intention of this directive to dissuade another law enforcement agency from conducting a lawful police function within LASD jurisdiction and in accordance to that agency’s policies and procedures.

POLICY

Arrest/Search Operations

When any law enforcement agency, including LASD detective units, notifies a sheriff’s station desk of its intent to execute a search or arrest warrant, or some other tactical operation within the Sheriff Department’s jurisdiction and requests patrol assistance, the watch commander shall be immediately notified.  The field sergeant, along with the area car(s), shall respond to meet and confer with the requesting agency’s officer-in-charge and request a briefing of the situation.

Watch Commander’s Responsibilities

The watch commander shall be responsible for ensuring that all Department policies and procedures, including those outlined in this directive, are followed.  In addition, the watch commander shall:

  • Ensure a field sergeant and all assisting personnel are briefed regarding the operation by the officer-in-charge of the requesting agency;
  • Request an operations plan, if available, from the requesting agency;
  • Review the Search Warrant Preparation Checklist (SH-R-461) and determine the risk level of the operation;
  • Ensure the requestor’s plan and the deployment of personnel to fulfill the requestor’s mission are tactically sound before authorizing the deployment of LASD patrol personnel;
  • Respond to the location of any planned “high” or “highest risk” level tactical entry operation involving other agencies prior to deployment of any LASD personnel;
  • Confer with the LASD field sergeant and requesting agency or unit.  If the operation is of a planned "high" or "highest risk" assessment, the watch commander shall decline to have patrol personnel participate in the operation or limit patrol personnel's role (e.g. perimeter traffic control).  If the situation requires Special Enforcement Bureau’s Special Weapons Team/Tactical Entry Team (SWT/TET) deployment or better tactics than those presented to the watch commander and the requestor intends to proceed under the existing circumstances, the watch commander shall order patrol personnel to refrain from being directly involved in the operation.  The watch commander may exercise his/her discretion and allow patrol units to remain in the area in order to maintain traffic control and keep the general public away from the operation; and  
  • It may also be appropriate to stand by away from the scene.  Have the field sergeant identify a command post, and pre-plan coordination should an emergency response to the operation be necessary.

Field Sergeant’s Responsibilities

After receiving watch commander approval, it is the field sergeant’s responsibility to tactically deploy patrol personnel to assist in the execution of the arrest/search operation.  In addition, the sergeant shall ensure the following:

  • If the requestor has a written operations plan, review it and any applicable search or arrest warrant to determine any known relevant suspect information including suspect(s) description, weapons availability, criminal history, associates in the area, etc.;
  • Complete a Search Warrant Preparation Checklist (SH-R-461) and confer with the watch commander to determine the risk level of the operation;
  • If the operation meets a “highest risk” level according to the Search Warrant Preparation Checklist (SH-R-461) criteria, the field sergeant shall recommend to the requesting agency that an alternative to a tactical entry be considered (e.g., surveillance and detention outside of the location, containment and order to exit, etc.), or that a fully trained and equipped SWT make the entry;
  • The SWT may be called for the requesting agency within our primary jurisdiction if they do not have a SWT available;  
  • Similarly, for “high risk” level operations, it is recommended the SWT be consulted per the checklist criteria;
  • Advise the watch commander of the need for a SWT, the requesting agency’s agreement to proceed with a SWT entry, or their refusal to use a SWT or an alternative method to a tactical entry;
  • Appropriate tactical considerations are addressed employing the standards of the Five “C”s (Command, Control, Coordinate, Communicate, and Contain);
  • Determine the handling officer/detective’s intent to pursue or not pursue the suspects should they flee or barricade themselves;
  • Do not assume the requestor will go to any lengths to apprehend the suspect(s), and determine at what point, if any, they intend to withdraw;
  • Determine a specific mission for patrol personnel (e.g., outer perimeter control, inner perimeter control, traffic control, visible uniform presence to the suspect or public, etc.);
  • Ensure that a confidential Mobile Digital Computer (MDC) entry is made
    advising other units of the warrant service location prior to deployment; and
  • Tactically deploy patrol personnel to accomplish the specific mission.
    • The tactics used shall consider avenues for approach and escape from the target location, as well as a rallying point for deputies should the situation dictate a need to regroup;
    • An adequately sized and safe location for a command post shall be identified with consideration given to acquiring a tactical radio frequency; and
    • A written tactical plan by the LASD sergeant is not required.

For search or arrest warrant service inside a building, patrol personnel’s function should generally be limited to a tactically deployed exterior “uniform presence.” “Presence” may be the display of uniform personnel or marked vehicles which demonstrate clear identification of authority to the public or to the suspect(s).  Exterior personnel deployment should use concealment, cover, containment, and communications appropriate to the circumstances.

Absent an emergency, LASD patrol personnel should not be assigned to make the initial entry and clearance of locations in combination with other law enforcement agency personnel.  It may be more appropriate for LASD patrol personnel to secure the perimeter behind the entry team and take temporary control and custody of persons detained by the entry team.

In the event a request for emergency assistance occurs at the location, the field sergeant or handling unit shall coordinate the tactical response of all LASD units.  Special Enforcement Bureau shall be requested for barricaded suspects.

Tactical or Unknown Risk Vehicle Stops/Contacts 

Many agencies are primarily investigative in nature and are not as experienced or properly equipped with marked patrol vehicles and safety equipment to conduct vehicle stops.  Station patrol personnel receiving a request from another law enforcement agency or another LASD investigative unit to make a tactical or an unknown risk vehicle stop shall immediately notify the field sergeant and the watch commander.

“Wall” or “Whisper” Stops/Contacts and “Cool” Stops/Contacts

When a law enforcement agency or LASD detective unit requests patrol personnel to conduct a stop of a vehicle, the responding deputies shall: 

  • Prior to a vehicle stop, patrol personnel shall notify the field sergeant and the watch commander of the request to conduct the stop. All personnel, including the field sergeant, shall be briefed by the requesting law enforcement agency or the handling LASD detective;
  • Vehicle stops shall only be made if reasonable suspicion to stop the vehicle exists prior to the stop.  Reasonable suspicion is present when a deputy has sufficient facts and information to make it reasonable to suspect that criminal activity is about to be, is being, or has been committed and the person to be detained is connected to that activity.  The initial observation that forms the basis for reasonable suspicion for the detention and probable cause that may lead to an arrest, needs to be clearly articulated in subsequent criminal complaint reports.
  • Often, the requesting agency, in order to protect a confidential source, will not be able to supply patrol personnel with the overt reasonable suspicion needed to make an investigative stop or an investigative contact not involving a vehicle stop (i.e., a “wall” or “whisper” stop/contact).  The intent is to prevent the existence of an on-going investigation and use of confidential sources from being prematurely revealed.  This shall be clarified with the investigator before the stop is initiated;
    • Under these circumstances, the patrol deputy should not stop the vehicle unless he observes independent reasonable suspicion to make the stop.  A traffic stop is lawful if based on reasonable suspicion that the motorist has violated the vehicle code or other law.  Probable cause is not required.  The patrol deputy should not conduct a search unless he/she observes independent probable cause to make an arrest, or conduct a search, or obtains written consent to conduct a search.  If the request is for contact of a person not involving a vehicle stop, the deputy shall develop independent, reasonable suspicion for a detention or shall make a strictly consensual contact;
    • “Wall” stop arrests are handled by the patrol deputy and the normal case assignment detective unit.  If the deputy makes an arrest as a result of a “wall” or “whisper” stop/contact, the deputy shall advise the detective assigned to handle the case of the informant agency and investigator’s name.  The deputy shall complete the arrest report without reference to the investigating agency that requested the stop/contact.  The arrest report shall detail the independent probable cause that resulted in the arrest.  In no case shall the deputy write two arrest reports, a practice which leads to conflicting reports and a significant potential for problems, and
    • The handling detective shall confer with that investigator prior to the filing of a criminal case.  The informant agency may request that the case be filed; the filing be delayed and the suspects be released; or that the agency requests reassignment of the case to them for proceedings at a later date.  The detective shall also confer with the filing Deputy District Attorney at the time of any case filing and fully advise the D.D.A. of the identity of the requesting agency and the reason for the “wall” stop/contact.
  • Similarly, a “cool” stop/contact is that where an investigator may only desire to have persons or a vehicle’s occupants confidentially identified via Field Interview Report (FIR) or citation based upon observations by a patrol deputy for future follow-up investigation; and
  • Deputy personnel shall maintain command and control until the activity is completed (e.g., investigation and arrest, cite or identification and release).

Tactical Vehicle Stops

For tactical vehicle stops made by LASD patrol, deputy personnel shall maintain complete command and control of the conduct of the stop according to LASD standard operating procedures (e.g., felony stop) until the suspect is taken into custody.

In cases of “high” or “highest risk” stops, consideration shall be given to requesting SEB, if possible (e.g., known automatic weapons, history of or threatened armed assaults on police, hostages, etc.).  A field sergeant shall be dispatched to the scene of tactical felony stops and monitor coordination by the handling unit.  In situations where the suspect is already mobile, there is often no possibility to physically meet and confer to plan a tactical stop.  Time may be of the essence to prevent a vehicle or suspect from escaping or entering a secure location.  Planning and coordination are still necessary; however, rapidly unfolding events may preclude the ability to make detailed tactical plans prior to the stop.  In these instances, the watch commander shall be notified and responding deputies shall:  

  • Obtain from the requesting agency the specific request and justification for the stop;
  • Follow Department procedures for conducting felony vehicle stops; and
  • Coordinate the stop via radio for monitoring by the desk, field sergeant, and watch commander.

Any questions regarding this Field Operations Directive should be referred to the Advanced Officer Training Unit at [REDACTED TEXT]