Questions And Correct Answers
You can always tell when a person has a disability by looking at them or talking
to them. True False
FALSE
The technology for hearing aides has improved greatly. Today if someone has
hearing aids they can hear as well as most people do. True False
FALSE
As long as a prisoner with mental health problems stays on his medications there
will not be any need for other accommodations. True False
FALSE
Accommodations for prisoners with a visual disability can be helpful to persons
without visual limitations. True False
TRUE
Wheelchair-bound, handicapped or blind person are appropriate terms to
describe a person with a disability. True False
FALSE
Major Disturbance
A disturbance of a riotous nature evidenced by a near or total lack of control or
containment of one or more prisoner groups.
General Disturbance
A disturbance with the general intent of accomplishing correction of some real or
perceived grievance, or other objective such as an escape. This category would also
include passive resistance affecting institutional operations in the form of sit-downs or
prisoner work stoppage.
Minor Disturbance
Small or contained disturbance involving a few prisoners which would be handled by a
response team or small squad (i.e. day room, weight pit, etc.).
Squad
Six to twelve trained custody officers with an assigned leader, organized and equipped
to function as a tactical unit.
Platoon
Three or more squads (armed or unarmed), with an assigned leader, organized and
equipped to function as a tactical unit.
Emergency Response Team
Three or more appropriately trained employees selected to assume a special
assignment and organized and equipped to function as a tactical unit.
Squad/Platoon Leader
A supervisor, or experienced and well trained status employee, specially trained to lead
squad/platoon, issue commands, and assemble formations.
Base Person
1. Number one team member.
2. Must be either a trained team leader or an experienced status employee who is
, knowledgeable of, and well trained in, all commands and formations.
3. If the squad leader is disabled, the base person will take command of the team.
Line Formation
This formation is used quite often for its offensive and defensive applications.
1. For an offensive application, the line is used to push or drive crowds straight back or
across an open area.
2. As a defensive formation, the line is used to hold a crowd, protect and/or deny access
to area(s). Officers are lined up side by side or abreast of each other.
Column Formation
A formation in which the officers are one behind the other (can be more than one-
person front, such as a column of three or more in a platoon). The function of this
formation is to move staff from a staging area toward the incident in a controlled fashion
and allow squad/platoon leaders to ensure staff and equipment are accounted for.
Diagonal
1. Diagonal formations used here are similar to a line formation.
2. The squad(s) is in a line formation, but diagonally toward the prisoners they are trying
to contain.
3. These formations (left or right) are used to turn/divert crowds into open areas and
away from buildings, fences, or walls.
Wedge
The wedge formation is primarily designed to insert the squad/platoon into an area that
may be occupied by rioters. This may be done to extract injured personnel or to divide
the crowd.
Circle
The circle formation is used when the squad/platoon is flanked and now has rioters
behind them. By forming the circle, the squad/platoon can provide 360 degree security
to exit the area.
HOW TO: Column Formation
1. A column formation is commonly used to assemble and/or move a squad/platoon to a
new location.
2. Verbally tell the base person where to position for the squad formation.
3. Stand where all squad members can see visual signals.
a. The signal is announced and then echoed amongst the squad.
b. Raise one arm straight up over the head and move it in a circular motion.
c. The preparatory command is "Squad Assemble."
d. The entire squad repeats "Squad Assemble."
e. Lower the arm with the execution command of "Move".
f. The entire squad repeats "Move".