Subject: Avalon Station Lockdown and Protection Plan
PURPOSE OF ORDER:
The purpose of this station order is to establish uniform policy and procedures for lockdown and protection of Avalon Station in the event of a large-scale civil disturbance or unrest.
DIRECTIVE:
If there are protesters at the front of the Avalon Sheriff’s Station and Avalon Station personnel need to enter the station, the deputies should consider entering through or over the fence between the Avalon Sheriff’s Station and the County Library. The employee can enter the rear door next to the Report Writing Room or via the upstairs door next to Detective Bureau. The east or west parking lot gates should not be opened until there is sufficient personnel present.
DEFINITIONS
Occupation / Protest- For the purpose of this order, “Occupation / Protest” is defined as a large assembly of protestors who are gathered in the station lobby, in the patio between the county library and the Sheriff’s Station, or close to the station. They may or may not be receptive to communication or verbal commands, however they are not immediately attempting to damage or breach security of the station.
Station Under Siege- For the purposes of this order, “Station Under Siege” is defined as an immediate attempt by rioters or protestors to overrun or take control of the station by breaking the station’s windows, entering the secured station parking lot, or trying to get into the station via one of the doors that are accessible to the public.
PROCEDURES
It is the responsibility of Avalon Station personnel to protect Department property and to ensure the safe continuation of emergency services to the community in the event of a hostile attack. Station personnel must be vigilant in their assessment of the situation. They must react to threats to the Station’s security swiftly and judiciously while being careful not to react too quickly to passive non-threatening protests or demonstrations.
In the event that any station personnel become aware of a protest or large group of demonstrators gathering on or near station property, they are to immediately notify the Unit Commander. Personnel making the initial observation should provide the following information to the Unit Commander;
- Location of the protest or demonstration
- Estimated number of people involved
- Direction of travel, if relevant
- Crimes being committed by protestors if any, i.e. blocking traffic, damaging property, etc.
Unit Commander Responsibilities
Upon receiving notification of a protest or demonstration at or near Avalon Station the Unit Commander shall if possible, visually assess the situation and determine the threat level. Based upon the information gathered, the Unit Commander shall immediately assess and gauge the temperament and objectives of the demonstrators. If the Unit Commander determines the demonstrators are passive/non-combative, he may initiate a line of communication with them in an attempt to diffuse the situation, while simultaneously preparing for a potential escalation of the incident. If it is determined that the demonstration is hostile or combative the Unit Commander shall order the immediate lockdown of the station.
Upon ordering a lockdown of the station the Unit Commander shall:
- Request all on duty station personnel to respond to the station immediately, with code-3 authorization.
- Request field sergeants to respond to the station immediately Code-3.
- Have desk personnel lock station lobby doors if the lobby has not been compromised.
- Monitor surveillance cameras for breaches in security on station grounds pending arrival of field personnel.
- Post deputies at all doors to the station, starting with the lobby if not compromised. If the lobby is compromised, post deputies behind security at the lobby door behind the complaint desk and the lobby door by the Watch Sergeant’s office.
- Additional deputies shall be posted in the corridor, behind security, at the door leading to the parking lot and, the door in the hallway next to the Report Writing Room, the exterior door across from Detective Bureau, and at the windows in the upstairs kitchen area.
- Make notification to SHB.
- Direct desk personnel to make notifications to nearest patrol stations, (Two Harbors deputies by Sheriff’s boat, Marina Del Rey by Sheriff’s boat, SEB and Aero Bureau as necessary.
- Have watch sergeant oversee desk operations (Note: Avalon Station also dispatches for all first responders on the island).
- Have field sergeants establish command post in the Report Writing Room.
- Assume role as incident commander
Field Sergeant Responsibilities
- Respond to station. Establish command post in the Report Writing Room.
- Manage and coordinate response of resources from other stations and agencies.
- Place scouts on the roof of the station to gather and relay intelligence information (Access via the men’s bathroom porthole in the ceiling).
- Place personnel at all doors of the Sheriff’s Station (depending on staffing levels and the status of the situation.
- Send at least two deputies to respond to threats or breaches in security.
- Deploy less lethal and deadly force options with each team.
- Prepare an evacuation plan, in the event the station is compromised.
- Establish first aid and triage area for injured personnel.
- Maintain force protection and respond to threats until situation is resolved.
Watch Sergeant Responsibilities
- Oversee desk operations.
- Monitor security cameras and lobby for security breaches.
- Ensure resources are requested and notifications are made.
- Contact other first responders on the island as needed (LA County Fire Department, LA County Baywatch, Avalon City Fire Department to pick up additional personnel from the city’s helipad or Avalon airport.
- Consider having deputy personnel who are off duty on the mainland meet at Long Beach Aero Bureau to be flown to Avalon Station.
Watch Deputy/Desk Personnel Responsibilities
- Immediately lock lobby door
- Monitor surveillance cameras for breaches in security on station grounds.
- Request response teams from nearest stations not experiencing same situation.
- Request SEB and Aero Bureau response
- Advise SCC of situation and request the patch for initial response of station field personnel to the station.
- Monitor 911 activity and advise the Unit Commander or Sergeants of system overload*
- *Consideration: Until additional deputy personnel arrive, consider not responding to routine calls for service, emergency medical calls need to be dispatched to Baywatch and the fire departments. Avalon Code Enforcement can be used for non-violent calls when appropriate with the sergeants’ approval.
- Jailer Responsibilities
- Initiate a full prisoner lockdown.
- Turn off all inmate phones.
- Account for all jail personnel.
- Ensure all perimeter doors are secure (lock the jail door leading to the hallway).
- Notify Incident Commander of jail status.
NOTIFICATIONS
- SCC
- SHB
- SEB
- Aero Bureau
- Contact and Contract Cities
- RESOURCES / CONTACT INFORMATION
- SCC – (323) 881-8100
- SHB – (323) 526-5541
- DOC – (213) 229-2222
- Aero Bureau – (562) 421-2701
- S.E.B. – (323) 264-7084
- Marina Del Rey Station- (310)482-6000
- Avalon Baywatch (310) 510-0856
- Avalon City Fire Department (310) 510-0203
- LA County Fire Department (310) 510-0424
Updated: May 31, 2023