Elections. Pandemics. Wars. Sometimes even a sports match upset. Amidst the chaos of any major shift in society, police can count on the risk of civil unrest. But this isn’t 2020 anymore. Police agencies across the country have learned valuable lessons from the disorder at the beginning of the decade. Below, we share actionable strategies to help prepare for the worst (while still hoping for the best) in potentially turbulent times.
Plan for the Best…
“Even a Homecoming Parade can lead to chaos and disorder if it occurs without prior planning or follows a route that hasn’t been pre-approved.” (Police1, n.d.)
The best way to handle potential riots is to prevent them from happening in the first place. Many police agencies have been successful in leveraging public relations skills with proactive communication with event organizers. Lt. Dan Marcou outlines a strategy in Police1 that focuses on establishing early contact to facilitate a peaceful and orderly assembly. One way to do this is by providing protest organizers with key recommendations, such as:
- Make a plan and obtain the proper permits.
- As a leader, emphasize the importance of maintaining a peaceful event.
- Be vigilant for the arrival of negative informal leaders.
- Enforce a mask ban.
- Discourage alcohol and drug use.
- Declare a weapons possession ban.
- Set a clear start and finish time.
- Understand that the police presence is for the safety of both the demonstrators and the community.
For a full list, read the Police1 article.
On the agency’s side, it’s important to plan for staffing challenges. Due to the high-chaos and high-stress nature of civil unrest response, officers may get injured or sick. To mitigate potential shortages, the IACP Agency Considerations Checklist for Civil Demonstrations Response recommends shared service agreements with neighboring agencies, swing shifts, and cross-training for temporary assignments.
However, even with the best preparation, the reality is that not every gathering will remain peaceful. That’s where the next phase of readiness comes in.
…While Preparing for the Worst
When a peaceful protest escalates, or a mass gathering turns chaotic, officers must rely on their training. Unlike standard calls, mass unrest situations require monitoring potentially hundreds of people at once. At any moment, officers may need to subdue a violent threat, clear a path to administer first aid, or manage foot and vehicle traffic. The unpredictability is daunting—even when protestors remain peaceful, counter-protestors or external agitators may not.
Your agency’s policies will dictate the specific response, but in general, these guidelines can help:
- Utilize an effective line of communication via the chain of command
- Utilize appropriate safety equipment
- Consider crowd control devices like barriers to encourage safe conduct
- Confirm thresholds for arrests
- Establish neutrality to protestors and counter-protestors
- Set up and communicate zones of operation
- Remain calm – set up plans for breaks, hydration, etc.
Regardless of the situation, officers are there to put personal beliefs aside and uphold the rule of law and public safety—protecting community members, demonstrators, property, and fellow officers alike.
Prepare for Civil Unrest Affordably, Anytime
While training is essential, real-world experience is the best preparation for mass unrest situations. Fortunately, VirTra offers scenario-based training in a hyper-realistic simulator environment designed for these high-intensity events, to prepare the mind for where the body may have to go. Click here to contact a simulator expert and learn more about training options.
