POLICY & PROCEDURE MANUAL - City of Champaign

CHAMPAIGN POLICE DEPARTMENTPOLICY and PROCEDURE POLICY NUMBER: 41.14SUBJECT: CONFLICT MANAGEMENT AND EFFECTIVE DATE: 10/01/09CRISIS INTERVENTIONREVISED DATE:REFERENCE ILEAP:RFERENCE CALEA:INDEX AS:41.14.1 AUTHORITY41.14.2 OBJECTIVES41.14.3 TACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS41.14.4 LOCAL RESOURCESPURPOSE:The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance toChampaign police officers responding to ordermaintenance situations involving conflict between two ormore people, alcohol incapacitation, mental illness, or anaddiction to controlled substances.POLICY:41.14.1 AUTHORITYA. The police order maintenance function involves theresponsibility to protect life and property and keep thepeace. This responsibility requires a unique authorityto investigate and, if need be, authority to take aperson into custody even though there is no authorityto arrest.B. Peace officers have statutory non-arrest authority totake custody of persons involving alcoholincapacitation, mental illness, and addiction tocontrolled substances.41.14.2 OBJECTIVESA. The objectives of this policy are as follows:1. To provide officers with awareness of thepotential for danger, injury, or death oftenassociated with conflict situations.2. To provide officers with awareness of the basicprecautions that should be taken to ensureofficer and citizen safety and survival duringpolice response to various conflict situations.B. Conflict management and crisis interventionobjectives are as follows:1. To provide officer intervention as a calm thirdparty, to reduce tension and hostility, and torestore order without unnecessary force.2. To reduce the emotional level of the dispute topre-conflict level and to obtain control of thesituation without having to resort to the use ofphysical force.3. To provide an initial effort for informationgathering and to objectively determine theunderlying issues of the dispute or conflict.4. To provide an initial approach that will enhancenegotiation or conflict resolution, to reduce thepotential for repeat calls for service to thatlocation.41.14.3 TACTICAL CONSIDERATIONSA. An officer approaching a potentially violent conflictshould ensure that a back-up officer has beendispatched, seek clarification from METCADregarding any information which is vague or unclear,and make a tactical approach which enhances officersafety and minimizes the potential for officer or citizeninjury to the extent possible.B. When officers are attempting to defuse a hostilesituation, the involved parties should typically beseparated.C. Officers should present themselves in a calm,authoritative manner so as not to contribute to theconflict.D. The initial approach to conflict resolution shouldtypically include determining precipitating causes,determining underlying causes, bringing separateddisputants back into calm discussion, and the use ofnegotiation skills.41.14.4 LOCAL RESOURCESA. The Front Desk will maintain a current list of localresources which can be utilized during suchsituations, including but not limited to:1. Detoxification facilities for the emergencytreatment of alcohol incapacitation.2. Mental health facilities for the treatment of mentalillness.3. Facilities for the treatment of addiction tocontrolled substances.ISSUING AUTHORITYR.T. FinneyChief of PoliceChampaign Police DepartmentPage 1 of 1