Law Enforcement II - Building Search Notes

Law Enforcement II: Building Search

Lesson Identification and TEKS Addressed

• Course: Law Enforcement II

• Topic: Building Search

• TEKS: 130.336. (c) Knowledge and Skills (21)(E) - Simulate conducting a building search

Instructional Objectives

• List the purposes of building searches.

• Identify actions upon arrival at the scene.

• Demonstrate safe building search techniques.

• Critique building searching skills for officer safety.

Rationale

• Building searches are a frequent task for law enforcement officers.

• Proper building search techniques and communication are crucial.

Duration

• 4 to 5 hours

  Materials

• Training guns

• Flashlights

• Handcuffs

Building Search

• Definition: A physical inspection of a structure.

  • Reasons: alarm, unauthorized entry, or evidence of a break-in.

Purpose of Building Searches

1. Locate unauthorized individuals within a structure.

2. Prevent escape or harm to officers.

3. Apprehend suspects and charge them with offenses.

The Mindset of the Officer

• Tactical Thinking: Maintain a "tactical" mindset and prioritize survival.

• Anticipate Armed Confrontation: Approach the building expecting a potential armed confrontation.

• Plan Ahead: Develop a plan before entering the building.

While in Route to the Location

• Considerations:

  1. Past Alarms: Review past alarms or information about the facility to formulate a search plan.

     • e.g., Frequency of break-ins at specific times, origin of the alarm (broken glass, lobby).

  2. Facility Size: Determine if the building (e.g. warehouse) is large enough to contain many hiding spots.

  3. Anticipate the address and exact physical location of structure.

Upon Arrival

• Positioning:

  • Avoid parking directly in front of the location.

  • Park at a distance to maximize the field of view of the building.

• Sensory Awareness: Use all senses to observe the surroundings.

• Cover and Concealment: Identify and utilize available cover and concealment.

• Possible Hiding Places: Be alert for potential hiding spots.

Interior Search

• Officer Safety

1. Communicate

2. Move slowly

3. Use element of surprise, if possible

4. If alone and have to search, request backup

5. If backup is too far away, you can use noises to your advantage (dog barking, etc.)

Tactics

• Fatal Funnel: Be aware of the "fatal funnel" - the doorway, and avoid standing directly in front of it.

• Room Positioning: If sufficient manpower, post one officer at the door, out of the fatal funnel, to watch the hallway while others search the room.

• Searching Technique: Search high and low, challenge the suspect from cover.

  • If searching with a partner, focus on your assigned area.

• Weapon Handling: Keep your finger off the trigger.

• Use of Lights: Use available lights if advantageous; if not, use a flashlight sparingly with the spotting technique (briefly turning it on and off to avoid revealing your exact location).

• Weapon Direction: Never point a weapon at another officer.

• Thoroughness: Search all areas before moving on.

• Partner Awareness: Stay aware of your position relative to your partner.

• Crossfire: Avoid crossfire situations.

• Noise Discipline: Be conscious of the noise you are making.

• Adaptability: If a technique is not working, find an alternative.

How to Handle Suspects

• Initial Contact: Instruct suspects to raise their hands and direct them into the open from a covered position.

• Apprehension: The other officer handcuffs the suspects and moves them to a secure area for searching.

• Continued Search: Continue the search once suspects are secured or when another officer is available.

The Order of a Building Search

• Slow Pace: Begin the search slowly.

• Auditory Check: Open entry doors and listen before entering.

• Verbal Announcement: Announce presence - "Police department-come out!"

• Secondary Search: Conduct a secondary, more thorough search, checking closets, cabinets, under beds, etc.

Don'ts

• Backlighting: Don't backlight yourself.

• Position Disclosure: Don't give away your position.

• Noise: Don't rub or scrape against walls.

• Silhouettes: Beware of silhouettes (use a flashlight briefly when moving).

• Uncovered Areas: Don't enter an area you can't cover (or is not covered by your partner).

• Searching Alone: Never search a building alone.

• Assumptions: Don't assume anything.

Stairways

• Preference: Use stairways when possible, as elevators offer no visibility or cover.

• Tactical Angle: Take a position that provides a tactical advantage.

• Overhangs/Balconies: Look for overhangs or balconies.

• Spacing: Don't bunch up.

• Field of View: Maintain an appropriate field of view.

Field of View

• Definition: Everything visible from a given position.

• Considerations: Assess both your field of view and the potential suspect's field of view.

• Movement: Avoid moving into a suspect's field of view that you or your partner cannot cover.

• Danger Area: Ensure any movement allows you to face the danger area and maintain target acquisition.

Moving

• Dynamic Field of View: As you move, your field of view changes, and new areas become visible.

• Hallways: Hallways must be secured and cleared.

• Building Design: Adapt search methods to the building's design.

• Creativity: Be creative in your approach.

• Communication: Communicate with your partner.

Method of Entry

• Crisscross Pattern

  • The officer enters by crossing from the outside of the doorway to the inside of the doorway on the opposite side.

• Buttonhook

  • The officer enters a room by hooking around the doorway, staying on the same side of the door as they were before entering.

• Open Door - Both Officers on the Same Side

  1. 1st officer - buttonhook

  2. 2nd officer - crisscross

• Open Door - Officers on Opposite Sides

  1. Officers should crisscross

• Closed Door - Opens Out

  1. Officers should get on both sides

  2. the knob side opens the door

  3. Throws the door to the other officer

  4. Officers should Crisscross

• Closed Door - Opens In

  1. Officers on the hinge side

  2. The first officer opens the door and "rides" the door till it stops

  3. Checks behind the door

  4. The second officer crisscrosses

Clearing Techniques

• Quick Peek

  1. Quickly look from cover (expose no more than one eye and part of your face)

  2. Do not do quick peek from the same level twice in a row

• Slicing the Pie

  1. Stand approximately 6 feet from the opening

  2. Face the opening with your weapon raised

  3. Slowly begin to move sideways with little steps

  4. Lean out to expand your field of view

  5. Shuffle your steps slowly

• Chunking

  1. Like Slicing

  2. Larger steps

  3. Must be prepared to engage

  4. Quicker than slicing the pie

• Limited Penetration

  1. Usually follows a quick peek

  2. Your weapon, one eye, and only a small portion of your side are exposed

  3. If the room can be cleared without entering, do not enter it

• Stairwells

  1. Straight stairs

     • Officer 1 covers from the opposite side

     • Officer 2 moves along wall

     • Stay off the wall

  2. Once at the top

     • Officer 2 can continue to clear

     • Quick peek