LAS VEGAS FIRE & RESCUE

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES

FIRE INVESTIGATIONS - BOMB SQUAD / INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION, THREATS TO COMMIT ARSON
Revised Date: / 08/27/04
Supersedes: / 06/03/02 / SOP / 600.30 / Page 1 of 4

I.INTRODUCTION

  1. Purpose:To state policies and procedures governing the actions of members who acquire or process information concerning possible impending acts of arson or bombing, or who become aware of threats to commit arson or bombing.

BACKGROUND:There will be occasions when Department personnel acquire information concerning possible impending acts of arson and bombing, or become aware of threats to commit arson or bombing. This information may come from friends or neighbors who know of the member’s affiliation with the Fire Department, or as a result of ongoing criminal investigations by the Bureau of Fire Investigations or other agencies, or may simply be overheard in the course of everyday activities. In determining the Department’s response to, or use of such information, there must be a careful weighing of sometimes conflicting interests; i.e., the need to protect the confidentiality of the information and its source, versus the need to disseminate the information for the safety of Department personnel and /or citizens.

  1. Scope:This policy applies to all members of Las Vegas Fire & Rescue who acquire or process information concerning possible impending acts of arson or bombing, or who become aware of threats to commit arson or bombing.
  1. Author:The Deputy Chief of Fire Prevention –(Fire Marshal), through the Supervisor of Fire Investigations - Bomb Squad and the Deputy Chief of Administration shall be responsible for the content, revision, and annual review of this section.
  1. Definitions:
  1. Intelligence information: Information concerning a crime that is about to occur or may occur, received prior to an incident, usually obtained from a confidential source, that may be exploited to prevent such a crime from occurring and/or apprehend those responsible, and provide for the safety of Department members and citizens.
  1. Threat(s): Statement(s) made to the intended victim or to another person, expressing intent to commit a crime against persons or property.
  1. RESPONSIBILITY
  1. It shall be the responsibility of all members of the Department who acquire or process information concerning possible impending acts of arson or bombing, or who become aware of threats to commit arson or bombing, to maintain the confidentiality of such information, and of its source, and to communicate such information immediately to the on-duty Fire Investigator(s).
  1. It shall be the responsibility of all members of the Bureau of Fire Investigations - Bomb Squad who acquire intelligence information concerning possible impending acts of arson or bombing, or who become aware of threats to commit acts of arson or bombing, to make the appropriate notifications as outlined in this SOP, to document the information in the daily log, and to take other action as directed to prevent the crime and/or apprehend those responsible.
  1. It shall be the responsibility of the Chief of the Department, after careful consideration of the consequences of disseminating the information, including possible harm to the source of the information, versus the possible negative impact on personnel and public safety of maintaining the confidentiality of the information, to determine to which personnel the information will be disclosed, based upon the need-to-know.
  1. It shall be the responsibility of Battalion Chiefs and Company Officers to be familiar with the layout, construction type, special hazards, and other characteristics of structures in their response areas prior to being dispatched to an incident.
  1. POLICY
  1. It shall be the policy of Las Vegas Fire & Rescue to exploit intelligence information concerning possible impending acts of arson or bombing, or threats to commit arson or bombing, in such a manner that will provide for the safety of Department personnel and citizens while, to the greatest extent possible, protecting the confidentiality of such information and its source. This may necessitate limiting the number of personnel to whom such information is disclosed, prior to an incident.
  1. In the event that the Department’s response to, or use of such information creates a conflict between the safety of Department personnel or citizens, and the confidentiality of such information or its source, precedence shall be given to the safety of Department personnel and citizens.
  1. Any member of the Department who acquires information concerning possible impending acts of arson or bombing, or becomes aware of threats to commit arson or bombing, shall treat such information as confidential. Unauthorized disclosure of such information could jeopardize the safety of sources of information and interfere with the legitimate investigative interests of the Bureau of Fire Investigations and other agencies. Unauthorized disclosure of confidential intelligence information may result in disciplinary action.
  1. Any member of the Department who acquires information concerning possible impending acts of arson or bombing, or becomes aware of threats to commit arson or bombing shall immediately communicate such information to the on-duty Fire Investigator(s).
  1. PROCEDURES
  1. The on-duty Fire Investigator(s) shall immediately notify the Supervisor of Fire Investigations - Bomb Squad (or his/her designee) of the information. A determination will be made in consultation with the Supervisor of Fire Investigations - Bomb Squad (or his/her designee), of the value of further investigative activity such as surveillance of the location or suspect(s), making contact with the suspect(s), etc., based on an assessment of the nature and reliability of the information. In all cases, the on-duty Fire Investigator(s) shall enter the information in the daily log. In addition, the on-duty Fire Investigator shall contact the on-duty Senior Communications Specialist and request that a notation be created in the Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) System that will be included in the comments section of a dispatch to the involved location. This information will be displayed on the Mobile Data Terminal (MDT) of responding fire suppression units. Examples of such notations would be: “There is info of possible arson (or bombing) at this location” or, “This location is the subject of arson (or bomb) threat”. This notation may be of a temporary nature until such time as the Chief Communications Specialist can enter a long-term notation. This notation shall remain in the CAD system for a period of six months. This notation at the time of dispatch will address legitimate personnel safety concerns by making Battalion Chiefs and company officers aware of the possibility of accelerated flashover, premature collapse, unsound flooring, and other consequences of the use of accelerants or incendiary devices, but it is not a substitute for fire companies being familiar with structures in their response areas prior to being dispatched to an incident.
  1. The Supervisor of Fire Investigations - Bomb Squad (or his/her designee) shall brief the Fire Marshal and the Chief of the Department on the details of the information, as well as any investigative concerns and activities such as ongoing surveillance. The Chief of the Department may brief, or direct the briefing, of the Deputy Chief of Operations. At the direction of the Chief of the Department, the Deputy Chief of Operations may brief the on-duty Fire Battalion Chief whose battalion area the involved location is in. The Fire Battalion Chief shall pass the information to his/her relief until his/her counterparts on all three platoons have the information. The Fire Battalion Chiefs shall treat these details as confidential until such time that they may be directed to brief the companies under their command.
  1. In the event that fire suppression companies are briefed on such information prior to an incident, they shall not conduct reconnaissance of the location, such as drive-bys or in-service inspections, without the prior authorization of their Battalion Chief. Battalion Chiefs shall consult with the Supervisor of Fire Investigations - Bomb Squad concerning the possible adverse impact on the investigative interests of the Bureau of Fire Investigations or other agencies prior to granting such authorization.
  1. Under no circumstances will suppression companies conduct reconnaissance, drive-bys, or in-service inspections of a location known to be under active surveillance by the Bureau of Fire Investigations or any other agency.