July 1, 2004 To establish the anti-drug Red Dog Unit to reduce the incidence of drug and drug-related crimes through aggressive proactive police action.

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Atlanta Police Department

Policy Manual

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard Operating

Procedure

 

Effective Date

February 9, 2010

 

APD.SOP.5140

Red Dog Unit

Applicable To:  Zone, SOS, and SES Commanders

Approval Authority:  Interim Chief George N. Turner

Signature:  Signed by GNT

Date Signed:  2/10/10

 

 

1.               PURPOSE

 

This written directive establishes the guidelines and operating procedures for the Red Dog Unit, with the aim of reducing incidences of drug-related crimes through aggressive proactive police action.

 

2.               POLICY

 

The Police Department will provide high profile and aggressive police presence in areas of the City that have high incidences of drug sales, drug use, and drug-related crimes.  The function of the Red Dog Unit is to arrest street-level narcotic dealers, to confiscate illegal drugs/weapons, and to seize assets derived from the illegal sale of narcotics.

 

3.               RESPONSIBILITIES

 

3.1              The Red Dog Unit commander will report directly to the SES commander.

 

3.1.1           The Red Dog commander and supervisor(s) are responsible for developing tactical plans as each situation requires and they will ensure that each officer is appropriately assigned and understands his or her assignment.

 

3.1.2           The Red Dog commander and supervisors are responsible for maintaining contact with each zone, and the Crime Analysis Unit, for the development of action plans.

 

3.2              All employees are responsible for adhering to the guidelines set forth in this directive.

 

4.               ACTION

 

4.1              Method of Operation

 

4.1.1           The Red Dog Unit will conduct surveillance until target areas have been identified.  When the Red Dog squad is not actively involved in “strike force” operations, Red Dog officers will patrol in identified target areas.

 

4.1.2           Once a target has been identified, the Red Dog commander and supervisor (s) will develop an action plan.  The action plan must include the following:

 

1.    Elimination of suspect(s) escape routes.

 

2.    Rapid apprehension of suspect(s) to minimize the possibility of violent resistance.

 

3.    Methods of containment in the event that violent resistance occurs.

 

4.1.3           The Red Dog Unit will be deployed in teams, with each team having specific responsibilities.

 

4.1.4           Upon request from a Red Dog supervisor, arrestees will be questioned by the Narcotics and Vice Units.

 

4.2              Coordination with SWAT      

 

4.2.1           The Red Dog Unit will work closely with the SWAT team. The SWAT supervisor will assume command of SWAT personnel in SWAT situations that occur during Red Dog Assignments.

 

4.3              Coordination and Reporting

 

4.3.1           The Red Dog Unit commander and supervisors will coordinate daily activities with the Narcotics and Vice Units to ensure that their respective operations do not interfere with each other.  The Red Dog commander and supervisors will notify the commander or watch commander of the involved zones of their current areas of operations.  Use of radio communications for this purpose will be minimized.

 

4.3.2           The Red Dog commander will file a daily report with the commander of the Special Enforcement Section.  The report will include the following:

 

1.    Copies of all offense and arrest reports.

 

2.    An activity summary including the number and types of arrests made, type and quantity of drugs seized, weapons, and any money and/or property seized.

 

3.    Summary of violent resistance encountered.

 

4.    Injuries to police officers or others.

 

5.    Unusual incidents such as an extremely large amount of drugs or weapons seized.

 

4.3.3           The Red Dog Unit Commander or designee will forward a weekly arrest activity report to the commander of each applicable zone.  Zone commanders will utilize the weekly arrest activity report for their respective zones to develop directed patrol activities in areas of high activity.

 

4.3.4           The Special Enforcement Section commander will forward a comprehensive monthly summary report, outlining the Red Dog Unit activities, to the commander of Criminal Investigations Division. The report must include the number of drug arrests by categories, weapons seized (type, caliber), stolen vehicles recovered, Narcotics seized (street value), and amount of cash seized.

 

4.4              Red Dog Training Requirements

                  (CALEA 5th ed. Standard 33.6.1)

 

4.4.1           Officers assigned to the Red Dog Unit must have a minimum of two (2) years of “street experience” and not have any open OPS complaints or sustained maltreatment/use of force complaint(s).  In addition, he/she must be able to physically complete the SWAT training requirements.

 

4.4.2           Red Dog Unit personnel will receive 16 hours per quarter of classroom and/or instructional tactical training pertaining directly to Red Dog functions.  In addition, the training must be designed to develop and/or enhance the skills, knowledge, and abilities specific to personnel assigned to the Red Dog Unit. 

 

4.4.3           Red Dog Unit personnel assigned to an entry team, including entry team supervisors, will receive 16 hours per quarter of training in the execution of “high-risk” warrants and other tactical Red Dog related functions.  Each warrant entry team will be assigned a training coordinator.  The training coordinator will be responsible for scheduling and documenting training for members of his/her team.

 

4.4.4           The Red Dog commander and supervisors will ensure that all employees assigned to the Red Dog Unit satisfactorily complete the training requirements. Failure to complete the 16 hours per quarter of classroom and/or instructional tactical training may result in the employee losing his/her position on the Red Dog Unit.

 

4.4.5           At the discretion of the Red Dog commander, Red Dog personnel may be allowed to re-take or make up the required quarterly training.   An absence from the required quarterly training must be approved and excused by the Red Dog Unit commander.  Red Dog personnel may also be granted an excused absence in cases of court subpoenas, planned vacation, or any other reason deemed reasonable by the unit commander.

 

4.4.6           The Red Dog commander and supervisors will continuously assess the training needs of officers assigned to the Red Dog Unit. Supervisors will coordinate the training needs of the Red Dog Unit with the Atlanta Police Training Academy.

 

4.4.7           The Red Dog commander and supervisors will provide instructional on-the-job coaching/training for employees to increase their effectiveness in the field.

 

4.4.8           The Training Unit and the Red Dog commander are responsible for documenting attendance records and quarterly training requirements of the Red Dog Unit.  Attendance and training records will be kept on file, at the training academy, for a minimum of five years and then shredded.

 

4.4.9           Red Dog personnel who are scheduled for quarterly training will follow the policies and procedures established by the Training Unit commander.  Trainees must attend all training when scheduled, report on time for all training classes, and comply with applicable rules and regulations regarding conduct, dress, and participation.

 

4.5              High-Risk Warrants

 

4.5.1           The Red Dog Unit will serve as the Department’s primary unit responsible for serving interdepartmental high-risk warrants.

 

4.5.2           Under the auspices of the SES commander and through deputization, the Red Dog Unit will serve as a secondary option to surrounding Metro Atlanta Law Enforcement Agencies serving high-risk warrants, in their respective jurisdictions.

  

4.6              Active Shooter Response

 

4.6.1           The Red Dog Unit, comprised of four (4) officers per team, and operating in a team concept, will be trained and equipped to rapidly respond to an incident involving an active shooter.  In addition, all Red Dog personnel must familiarize themselves with APD.SOP.3185 “Active Shooter.”

 

4.7              Crowd Control/Management

 

4.7.1           The Red Dog Unit will serve as the primary unit within APD to respond to a crowd control/management situation.  In such instances, the Red Dog Unit’s primary function will be to establish a perimeter and contain a large number of individuals and to stabilize and deescalate the situation at hand.

 

5.               DEFINITIONS

 

                  N/A

 

6.               CANCELLATIONS

 

                  APD.SOP.5140 “Red Dog Squad” issued signed June 15, 2004

 

7.                REFERENCES

 

                  APD.SOP.3185 “Active Shooter” signed April 15, 2008

                  APD.SOP.2130 “Dress Code/Uniforms”

                  APD.SOP.5030 “Special Enforcement Section”

                  APD.SOP.4040 “Special Operation Section”