Number 12-02
Effective January 08, 2012
COURT SERVICES DIVISION RAPID RESPONSE FORCE
PURPOSE
The purpose of this directive is to provide for a Rapid Response Force within Court
Services Division to respond to emergencies and other large scale operations that impact
court operations that go beyond the capabilities of assigned branch personnel.
BACKGROUND
Recent events in Los Angeles County and around the country have caused law
enforcement agencies to respond to situations involving mass demonstrations and take
appropriate action. The manner in which these agencies have responded is closely
monitored by the media and the public. In order to deal with events affecting court
operations in Los Angeles County that go beyond the capabilities of branch personnel,
Court Services Division has established a Rapid Response Force that will be available
during the hours of court operations. Primarily, the Rapid Response Force will respond
to emergencies within courthouses where the local agency is unable to respond or the
response would extend beyond their capabilities. The Rapid Response Force will also
respond to events outside of our courts that impact court operations, such as the
ingress and egress of judges, court personnel, inmates, etc. where the local agency is
unable to handle the situation. Rapid Response Force team members have the ability
to respond Code-3 countywide if the request is of an emergent nature. Upon their
arrival, the mission of the Rapid Response Force is to restore order and return court
operations to normal as soon as safely possible. The Rapid Response Force is not
intended to respond to routine court activities such as high profile media cases,
extreme shortages of personnel, etc.
CONFIGUATION
The Rapid Response Force will consist of a platoon with four squads. The platoon will be
led by a lieutenant and sergeant. Each squad will be led by a sergeant and bonus deputy
and will be comprised of approximately twelve deputies from the Civil Management Unit
(CMU), Court Services Division Headquarters Training, and the Judicial Services Unit
(JSU) who will act as a plain clothed, advance scout team. The squads are configured
based on the basic geographic location, North, South, East, and West, where squad
members are normally assigned to ensure a rapid response to an emergency anywhere
within the County.
2
2
COURT SERVICES DIVISION RAPID RESPONSE FORCE 2
Platoon Leader Civil Management Unit Lieutenant
Back-up Platoon Leader Division Operations Lieutenant
Platoon Sergeant Division Training Sergeant
Back-up Platoon Sergeant Civil Management Unit Operations Sergeant
REQUESTING THE RAPID RESPONSE FORCE
Any branch supervisor determining the need for the Rapid Response Force may request
a response. Prior notice, if feasible, should be made to the Civil Management Unit
Lieutenant. The fastest way to request a response during emergency situations is by
contacting Sheriff’s Communication Center by radio on the SCC Access Channel, the
home frequency of the vast majority of personnel on the Rapid Response Force.
Immediate notifications should be made to the assigned Area Lieutenant, Bureau
Operations Headquarters, as well as immediate telephonic notification to Court Services
Division Headquarters.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Court Services Division’s Training Unit shall ensure that Rapid Response Force team
members receive periodic training regarding crowd and riot control procedures. The
Training Unit shall ensure that each courthouse is equipped with the necessary less lethal
weaponry, such as sting ball grenades, 40 mm weapons, etc. to handle emergency
situations.
Civil Management Unit Headquarters personnel shall ensure that the Rapid Response
Force team rosters are updated as personnel transfers occur.
Rapid Response Force team squad sergeants shall ensure that they have contact
numbers for deputy personnel assigned to their squad in the event they are unable to be
reached by radio.
Rapid Response Force team personnel shall ensure they monitor their radio during their
assigned working hours. Team personnel shall be in full uniform during their tour of duty
and have all response gear, including helmets, ballistic vests, PR-24, etc. available.
Personnel who are taking time off, including vacations, sick days, etc. shall inform their
respective squad sergeants of their unavailability.
APPROVED: Original Signed
RICHARD J. BARRANTES, CHIEF
COURT SERVICES DIVISION
CSD Rapid Response Force Roster can be found in CSDNet in Forms under “Rapid Response Force
Roster”.