PURPOSE
The purpose of this Station Order is to establish procedures to minimize risk to Compton Station patrol personnel when conducting parole/probation compliance operations, and/or lower to moderate risk search operations.
When planning a search operation, the paramount concern will always be for the safety of the public, our personnel, and the protection of property.
PROCEDURE
Compton Station patrol personnel wishing to conduct a search of a residence pursuant to a subject’s parole or probation status shall notify their supervisor and advise him/her of the circumstances. The supervisor shall be the permanent rank of sergeant or above, and will serve as the Incident Commander.
A risk assessment shall be conducted in accordance with MPP Sections 5-09/465.10 SEARCH OPERATIONS - RISK ASSESSMENT and 5-09/465.20 SEARCH OPERATIONS PREPARATION CHECK LIST. Moderate risk search operations are defined as having one or two of the hazards associated with high risk operations. Lower risk operations have none of the risk factors associated with high risk operations.
Station personnel shall conduct the appropriate inquiry into the L.A. Clearinghouse to establish that there are no conflicting investigations.
Moderate risk search operations require the following:
All personnel involved in a search operation shall attend the operation briefing.
All searches shall be conducted in teams of two (2) Deputies per room.
The Incident Commander shall be an individual holding the permanent rank of Lieutenant or above whenever a search operation is expected to result in an evidence seizure valued at $10,000 or more.
DOCUMENTATION
The Incident Commander shall direct deputy personnel to video tape the location prior to commencing the search and again at the conclusion of the search. The locations of all search warrant services, excluding those deemed lower risk, shall be videotaped.
Upon rendering a location secure (after completing a sweep for persons/items posing a threat to officer safety), the entry team leader shall ensure that the location is videotaped, including a descriptive narrative of the location and any and all damage to the location. The narrative should also include descriptive information such as the color, trim, location of the address and any unusual features, etc. Pre-existing damage, along with damage resulting from law enforcement activities, as well as the general condition of the location, shall be videotaped and identified in the narrative.
The Incident Commander shall verify that all the required videotaping is completed. All persons found inside the location shall be identified on video tape. Each person shall be asked about presence of money, valuables and firearms before the search begins.
A report describing the execution of the plan and any subsequent search shall be written and include the following information:
Should a search operation result in no additional evidence of a crime, a SH-AD-49 shall be written with statistical code 810, documenting the incident (SEARCH OPERATION (PROBATION/ PAROLE) / NC / 810). If an arrest is made from the search operation, a copy of the arrest report takes the place of this.
The RD shall be specific to the location of the search operation, i.e. no using 2899 as a catch all for addresses within other Sheriff’s Station area.
SEARCH OPERATION PACKAGE
A search operation package shall be completed by the Incident Commander, which will consist of the following:
LASD Search Documentation Checklist on a letter size manila envelope containing:
In the absence of a Compton Station archive drive specifically designated for search operation videos; it is recommended the Incident Commander keep a second DVD disc for their own records.
ARCHIVE
The designated sergeant with the collateral duty of maintaining the Search Operation collateral duty shall review each package for accuracy and completeness. The packages shall be entered into LARCIS as a search operation, and retained at the station for a period of two years.