Police Practices: Mobile Command Posts

by Police Chief Frank T. Hutson and Fire Chief Robert B. Walker

As service providers, law enforcement agencies respond to a broad range of emergency situations--from street crimes to sexual assaults, from traffic accidents to domestic disturbances. As a rule, most emergencies are handled by one or more responding units, generally in their own patrol districts.

However, what happens when a law enforcement agency must respond to a major disaster, such as a plane crash or a building collapse, that requires hundreds of workers to handle both rescue efforts and crowd and traffic control? Unless the department serves a major metropolitan area where officials can muster multiple agencies in a short period of time, the result is usually an uncontrolled, disorganized response. One way for smaller departments to avert this type of response is to modify a van into a mobile command post that can be used to organize under one command during full-scale incidents.

A case in point is when the Cocoa Beach, Florida, Fire Department responded to the collapse of a condominium that was under construction. Eleven people were killed and 23 persons were injured. The rescue operation, which lasted over 60 hours, required approximately 400 rescue workers and the assistance of 50 private, volunteer, and government agencies. Based on the information gathered from this incident, the Cocoa Beach Fire Department set out to equip such a mobile command post to use at the scene of major operations. Since budget constraints prohibited the purchase of two vehicles, one for police use and one for fire use, the agencies worked together to modify the van to meet the needs of both departments.

THE VEHICLE

The departments purchased a van with a 6-cylinder engine, automatic transmission, heavy-duty suspension system, posi-traction rear end, and heavy-duty cooling and electrical systems. Adding heavy-duty air shocks was the only necessary modification. These were added to accommodate the additional weight caused by the command console and the large amount of equipment that is stored in the vehicle.

COMMAND CONSOLE

The command console consists of a slide-out work desk, file drawers, storage spaces, communications station, and an equipment and manpower status board. A small generator plugs into the console, making it self-contained, and if necessary, the console can be removed from the vehicle.

COMMUNICATIONS

In addition to three law enforcement radio frequencies, the 16-channel mobile radio communications unit includes the radio frequencies of local fire and emergency medical services. There is also a portable weather monitor, a Coast Guard marine radio, an 80-channel programmable scanner and a citizens band radio. The citizens band radio also serves as a base unit for a field communications system to allow for uninterrupted communications among management team members. Twenty walkie-talkies, each with three frequencies and a range of 1 mile, allow the incident commander to communicate with officers in the field when necessary.

Telephone communications include a portable cellular telephone that is connected to the vehicle's main electrical system. This cellular phone is backed up by two high-capacity portable batteries and a built-in charging unit. Two additional telephones with 1000 feet of hard line and two, 250-foot portable lines allow for communications to be set up from a structure nearest to the scene.

MANAGEMENT TEAM DOSSIERS AND RESOURCE FILES

Large vinyl folders contain all of the information, materials, and supplies necessary for specific personnel assignments, such as public information officer, law enforcement liaison, medical officer, and communications officer.

The folders hold water-resistant fluorescent vests that identify each position, flashlights, pens, paper, and a laminated primary assignment sheet that outlines specific duties of each assignment.

The resource files, which are updated yearly, provide a listing of manpower, equipment, and services available from adjoining counties. Also included are full-scale aerial photographs of the entire city and corresponding sketch maps of each photograph from which to work.

MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT

In addition to fire and disaster-related equipment, the van stores a victim identification kit, a radiological monitoring kit, electronic listening devices, and photographic and video equipment. It also holds emergency medical first-responder equipment, such as a trauma box, splints, and an oxygen supply.

For use by the police department, the van stows identification vests, police department grid books, maps, procedures manuals, and police department magnetic signs that fit over fire department insignias. A green strobe light and additional command post signs are also available to law enforcement personnel.

CONCLUSION

The mobile command post vehicle is an excellent example of how emergency services can work together to meet a common goal. Should there be another disaster, the City of Cocoa Beach now has the capacity to respond in an efficient, organized manner.

Information for this column was submitted by Police Chief Frank T. Hutson and Fire Chief Robert B. Walker, City of Cocoa Beach, Florida.