Police Operations and Incident Command
Police Operations and Incident Command
This domain tests operational command: ICS/NIMS, critical incidents, resource deployment, and multi-agency coordination. Lieutenant-level questions often ask who commands, what the incident action plan contains, and how to transfer command without losing accountability.
Core rules
- ICS principles: common terminology, modular organization, management by objectives, incident action planning, manageable span of control, comprehensive resource management, integrated communications, and accountability.
- Unified command: use when multiple agencies have jurisdiction or authority; commanders share objectives but retain authority over their own resources.
- Command post and staging: establish a command post away from the hazard, a staging area for unassigned resources, and a media area.
- Transfer of command: brief the incoming commander on situation, objectives, strategy, tactics, resources, safety, and communications; transfer formally.
- Critical incidents: for active shooter, prioritize stopping the threat; for barricades, contain, evacuate, negotiate, and plan tactically.
Worked example
A barricaded subject incident involves city police, county sheriff, and fire/EMS. The lieutenant establishes unified command, assigns operations, planning, logistics, and finance/administration sections, sets inner and outer perimeters, orders evacuation, opens staging, appoints a safety officer, and directs the PIO to a media area. The planning section produces an incident action plan for the next operational period. Command is transferred to the SWAT commander only with a formal briefing; the lieutenant remains in unified command for police resources.
Traps
Freelancing outside the incident action plan; allowing unassigned resources to self-deploy; using a single command when unified command is required; neglecting the safety officer; and failing to document transfer of command.