Stop police shootings and escalation of social conflicts!

The San Leandro City Council will be voting to approve the purchase of a BEARCAT (Ballistic Engineered Armored Response Counter Attack Truck). They are calling a vehicle with 11 gun ports, an automatic tear gas deploying mechanism and a roof hatch with a gunner stand an “armored ambulance”. The SLPD has already acquired 6 M-14s, weapons so deadly that only special forces use.

The SLPD promises to use it for regular law enforcement purposes, including serving warrants for non-violent crimes such as credit card fraud (because the suspects could possibly have a gun in their homes). They will loan it to Oakland and other cities to use against peaceful protesters, thus acerbating social and racial tensions.

The San Leandro City Council has so far served as nothing but a rubber stamp for the Chief of Police. It’s time to ask our elective representatives to do their job and represent the people.

Please come to the rally and share!

Rally Again Against Armored Attack Vehicle & Police Militarization
Monday, Feb. 2, 2015
6 PM
Followed by City Council meeting at 7 PM

Please also sign our petition asking the Red Cross to stop the San Leandro Police Department from displaying the Red Cross Emblem on its counter attack vehicle.

e-mail: notanks [at] sanleandrosafe.org

http://www.sanleandrosafe.org/

Petition:

Rescue Vehicle Policy

PURPOSE AND SCOPE

The purpose of this policy is to provide direction for the usage, training, and storage of the regional MedEvac rescue vehicle.

USE OF THE MEDEVAC

The use of the MedEvac will be authorized by the field supervisor and/or the on-duty Watch Commander. The use of the MedEvac will only be for supervisory approved purposes including, but not limited to, calls for service involving potentially armed subjects, Tactical Team callouts, search warrants, officer or citizen rescues, or authorized training. The vehicle’s purpose is to provide an armored rescue resource for officers to use when managing critical incidents where there is an objective risk to the safety of civilians and/or officers from a person who may be considered armed and dangerous.

The MedEvac vehicle shall not be deployed during non-violent demonstrations, including for crowd control and crowd management, unless there are objective facts demonstrating a risk of injury or death to police officers and/or the public. The MedEvac vehicle may be staged at pre- designated locations away from protest sites to allow for timely response. The vehicle may be used in cases of a declared unlawful assembly, and after a lawful dispersal order, where persons are engaged in criminal behavior that presents an objective risk of injury or death.

MEDEVAC OPERATION TRAINING

Periodic briefings and training will be conducted on the operation and deployment of the MedEvac. A valid class “C” California driver’s license is required to drive the MedEvac. Supervisors shall submit training validation forms to document that staff members have received training.

MEDEVAC DEPLOYMENT CONSIDERATIONS

Staff has the discretion to deploy the rescue vehicle in those circumstances where there is an objective risk of injury or death to civilians and officers and use of the vehicle may reduce or resolve said risks by facilitating safe police management of the critical situation and rescue of injured persons. Staff should:

* Assess the situation and based on the objective facts determine that the discretionary use of the rescue vehicle may contribute to the safe resolution of a critical incident where there is a risk of injury or death to civilians or officers.

* Given proper authorization for deployment of the vehicle, staff should, whenever practical, create an operational plan for deployment of the vehicle consistent with this policy, current law and the department’s Use of Force policy

* The vehicle may be used to locate and contain a threat by providing cover for officers, facilitating a rescue of an injured person or as a tactical resource to allow officers to take into custody a person who presents an objective risk of injury or death to civilians or officers.

In selecting the rescue team, the supervisor should consider experienced personnel, such as Tactical Team Operators and/or former Tactical Team members, Hostage Negotiators and officers who have received Crisis Intervention Training (CIT). In addition, the rescue team should include a Medic or TEMS officer (Tactical Emergency Medicine Support), rescue carriers, cover officers along with officers equipped with less lethal force equipment.

Fire and ambulance personnel should be ready to accept injured persons at the termination point of the rescue.

USE OF THE MEDEVAC BY OUTSIDE AGENCIES

The on-duty supervisor shall approve the use of the MedEvac by outside agencies for emergency purposes. If time allows, at least one on-duty Tactical Team officer shall deploy with the MedEvac, to assist outside agency requests. This may include additional officers who have received training in advanced first aid. The use of the MedEvac by outside agencies for purposes other than emergencies shall be authorized by the Tactical Operations Commander or on call Captain.

MEDEVAC STORAGE

The MedEvac is a Regional asset. It will be stored primarily at the San Leandro Police Department, or another area designated by the City. If the vehicle is in use and stored by one of the grant partners, the vehicle should be kept in a secured area, when possible.

MEDEVAC MAINTENANCE

Maintenance of the MedEvac is the responsibility of the Tactical Operations Commander. Officers from the Tactical Operations Team will routinely check the MedEvac and its equipment, including but not limited to ensuring the battery is charged, the trickle charger is attached, the engine will turn over, and that the vehicle is in general working order. When reasonable, the vehicle should be fueled after each use.

http://www.sanleandrosafe.org/?page_id=12