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Crowd control

The Crowd Control topic focuses on the difficult task of controlling large groups of people with a limited number of police officers and resources. The police crowd control articles and tips in this section focus on strategy, policy, planning and tactics that can help quell a riled-up crowd and riot gear — helmets and shields — that will keep them safe in the process.


Law enforcement must be prepared for the worst when a controversial verdict is read, protestors become violent or a sports team wins a championship and the celebration spills to the streets.

Unraveling the strategy and impact of protesters using “sleeping dragons,” and the nuanced law enforcement approaches to safely manage these challenges
When policing in a crowd, employ tactics that are well-trained, effective and consistently present you in a positive light
From boots to barriers, here’s what stood out for patrol and emergency response situations
“These announcements will allow police officers, whose lives were upended by the indictments, to return to their services to our community,” said Austin Mayor Kirk Watson
The Philadelphia Police Department cruiser was flipped over and then set on fire during a protest over the death of George Floyd
Designed as a revolutionary advance in riot armor, the NovaSteel Breastplate is an up-armorable plate carrier capable of stopping a full spectrum of threats
“We have encountered things like this before but never to this level of dangerousness,” Chief Jeffrey Maddrey said
Communication with organizers before, during and after events can help head off problems
At least $10M will be paid in the city’s highest per-person settlement in a mass arrest class-action lawsuit
Automated less-lethal technologies may relieve officers of their most difficult decisions
Your eyesight may be at risk – do you know what to do in a laser incident?
K-9
The bill wouldn’t prevent search and rescue, explosives detection and narcotics detection that do not involve biting
An action that may be perceived as “mean,” yet doesn’t violate a clearly established constitutional right, will not lead to liability for an officer
The NYPD had braced for “robust protests” in the city on Friday as the bodycam video of Nichols’ arrest was released
Mirroring the AR-15 platform, this non-lethal solution is accurate, easy to handle and designed for both daily patrol and crowd control
Richland County (S.C.) Sheriff’s Department Corporal Peter Hart describes what makes RCSD’s Special Response Team unique
The retraining and change in tactics are “a direct reflection of lessons learned in 2020,” said Chief Michel Moore
PD must abide by a 14-month injunction that requires LEOs to restrict their use of tear gas, less-lethal munitions, pepper spray and long-range acoustic devices
La Crosse police work hard to keep the peace during Octoberfest, and this year, a perimeter protection plan was introduced to prevent a Waukesha-style attack
The man reportedly severed his finger when an officer shot him with a less-lethal projectile
This was the first civil trial from the Portland 2020 protests to reach a jury, with more than 50 similar lawsuits pending against the city
A protest medic filed a $450K lawsuit against the city for a broken arm obtained during a protest
The department’s After Action Report identifies 17 areas of analysis with recommendations for improvements, including improvements to de-escalation techniques and training
The dropped charges mark the end of a two-year investigation against three Columbus police officers
The council’s passage of the 2021 rule was “unlawful interference with police procedures and tactics,” officials said
By now every officer should be trained in crowd control so that a group of them can form anytime to address a violent crowd in the early stages of its development
Nine steps to develop a well-rounded and holistic protest policing response
Law enforcement agencies must carefully balance the optics of providing public safety during protests while preparing for the potential of violence
Police responses to public protests and unrest have varied over time