LAW ENFORCEMENT
BERTIE COUNTY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN
Reviewed / Updated: August 25, 2015

Primary Agency: Sheriff
 
Support Agencies: Municipal Law Enforcement
  Emergency Management
  Administration
  Communications
  Others as required or requested
   
Attachments:
Attachment 1: Preparedness / Response Checklist
Also see
Annex Terrorism
  Direction and Control
  Communications
  Notification and Warning
Checklist All
   
   
I.

 

 PURPOSE

 This annex provides for security, crime prevention, maintenance of law and order and traffic control during emergency situations. 
 
II. SITUATION AND ASSUMPTIONS
 
  A. Situation:
 
 
  1. During emergencies, law enforcement agencies must expand their operations to provide the increased protection required by disaster conditions. Numerous federal, state and county law enforcement agencies are available to support local law enforcement agencies within Bertie County.
     
  2. Law enforcement in Bertie County is provided by the Bertie County Sheriff's Office and four municipal police departments.
     
  3. State law enforcement agencies that regularly operate within Bertie County's borders are the N. C. Highway Patrol, N. C. Wildlife Commission, State Bureau of Investigation and the Division of Motor Vehicles.
     
  4. Federal law enforcement agencies that routinely operate within the borders of Bertie County include the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the United States Coast Guard.
     
  5. A spirit of cooperation exists among the local, state and federal law enforcement agencies that operate within the County.
     
  6. When N. C. Highway Patrol personnel are requested to support Bertie County traffic control, a ranking officer from the Patrol may be present in the County EOC to coordinate N. C. Highway Patrol operations.
     
  7. Pre-determined traffic control points have been identified by the Highway Patrol, County Sheriff's Department and municipal police to facilitate management of traffic flow during evacuations.
  B. Assumptions:
 
 
  1. Activities of local law enforcement agencies will increase significantly during emergency operations. Adequate law enforcement resources and services will often be available through existing mutual aid agreements. If local capabilities are overtaxed, support will be obtained from state and federal law enforcement agencies.
     
  2. An evacuation from the Outer Banks could significantly impact Bertie County law enforcement/traffic control operations.
     

  3. During evacuations, accidents or mechanical failure could significantly impede the evacuating traffic flow.
     

  4. The number of law enforcement personnel normally available in the County area may not be adequate to provide for security during an emergency event.
     

  5. During or following an emergency event, it may be necessary to supplement local law enforcement personnel with officers from other jurisdictions to provide security and traffic control.

III. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
 
  A. Emergency law enforcement operations will be an expansion of normal functions and responsibilities. These responsibilities will include maintenance of law and order, traffic control, crowd control and security.
 
  B. Law enforcement activities will remain under the control of the senior law enforcement officer for the jurisdiction in which the emergency operation is taking place. Absent a senior law enforcement official in the jurisdiction, the Sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer.
 
  C. Law enforcement agencies will have a responsibility for warning the public and for traffic control in and near an evacuated area and in other areas of emergency operations.
 
  D. During technological, natural or civil disturbance threat or actual occurrence the Sheriff or designee will coordinate law enforcement operations from the County Emergency Operations Center if needed. At the same time, municipal law enforcement agencies will be responsible for directing law enforcement activities within their local EOCs. Coordination among law enforcement agencies will ensure security for vacated hazard areas, essential industries, prisoners, evacuating populations and congregate care facilities and will establish road blocks, checkpoints and traffic control points and parking areas as needed.
 
  E. The Bertie County Sheriff's Office will be the coordinating agency for law enforcement operations in the County during multi-jurisdictional emergency events.
 
  F. Emergency law enforcement operations will interrupt routine functions and responsibilities. Expanded emergency responsibilities will include maintenance of law and order, traffic control, crowd control and security of damaged areas and shelters.
 
  G. Law enforcement officers in Bertie County will assist with the dissemination of emergency information to isolated populations and to motorists.
 
  H. Law enforcement agencies will have primary responsibility for traffic control and security in and near an evacuated area and in other areas of emergency operations. They may be called upon to assist with warning the public.
 
  I. When evacuation is required traffic control points must be in place prior to the order to evacuate.
 
  J. Law enforcement officers in the field will help with initial assessment of the situation and report to the Emergency Operating Center.
 
  K. Law enforcement officers will enforce the provisions outlined in the Proclamation of a State of Emergency.
 
  L. The Chief Law enforcement officer of the jurisdiction will coordinate handling of inquiries and informing families on the status of individuals injured or missing due to a disaster event.
 
  M. Within the National Response Framework, all public safety and security is considered an emergency support function (ESF 13).
 
IV. DIRECTION AND CONTROL
 
  A. The Sheriff is responsible for the direction and control of law enforcement activities during emergencies.
 
  B. Assistant Coordinators for Law Enforcement are Chiefs of Police in their respective municipalities.
 
V. CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT 
 
  A. The chain of command within an organized law enforcement organization is established by senior rank and position to ensure continuous leadership and does not change during emergency operations.
 
  B. The line of succession is:
  1. Sheriff
  2. Chief Deputy / Chief of Police
  3. Patrol / Investigation Supervisor
  C. Records vital to the law enforcement function will be protected during emergency situations by the individual agency. Assistance may be provided by County Administration.
 
  D. The Sheriff and Chiefs have developed deployment and support plans and will implement those plans in accordance to the situation and in coordination with the Emergency Management Coordinator and the Emergency Operations Center.
     

Attachment 1
Law Enforcement Disaster Preparedness/Response Checklist
 
     
  Sheriff or Law Enforcement EOC designee
 
  When notified, report to the Emergency Operations Center and serve in the Support group, until relieved or the incident is terminated.
 
  Receive a situational briefing. Ask questions and address concerns.
 
  Advise the EOC of the availability of local law enforcement response resources, including the number of personnel and units that may be available.
 
  Advise the EOC of any special units or personnel needs that are immediately known.
 
  Advise the EOC of the need to request or deploy municipal, state, and/or federal law enforcement personnel.
   
If state and/or federal law enforcement is deployed have a representative report to the EOC to provide coordination under unified command.
Ensure communications are available for any municipal, state and/or federal law enforcement personnel.
 
  Ensure incident command is established with field personnel.
 
  Establish and maintain communications with field commanders/supervisors.
 
  Coordinate law enforcement actions from the EOC and coordinate with other response emergency services (i.e. fire service, EMS, rescue, etc.).
 
  Provide security personnel for the EOC.
 
  Provide security at established staging areas.
 
  Give a situational briefing to law enforcement supervisors.
     
  Chief Deputy / Supervisor / Chief of Police
 
  Receive a situational briefing from the Sheriff or designated EOC law enforcement representative. Ask questions and address concerns.
 
  In turn, give a situational briefing to all departmental personnel, including support personnel, such as records, jail, civil division, courts, etc.
 
  During the situational briefing include:
   
Ensure the primary functions of the department are carried out (i.e. the protection of lives and property, enforcement of laws, ordinances, curfews, etc.).
Maps of areas.
Mission specific assignments (i.e. security, patrol, checkpoints, roadblock, traffic control, etc.).
Safety issues or concerns (i.e. power lines down, roads blocked, flooding, etc.).
Location of to-be-established checkpoints.
Location of staging area.
Current weather and forecast weather reports.
Incident command structure and Incident Commander
 
  Ensure personnel are advised to track and record all vehicle mileage and use (in hours) as well as all overtime hours and to file reports with supervisor.
 
  Establish and maintain communications with:
   
Field supervisors and/or on scene personnel
Incident Commanders
Communications Center
Emergency Operations Center
Municipal/state/federal law enforcement agencies that are involved in the incident.
 
  Request, as necessary, assistance through the EOC.
 
  Carry out other functions assigned by the Sheriff.
 
  Collect and/or develop and maintain accurate records of personnel, expenditures, damages, injuries to personnel, etc.
 
  File reports with the Sheriff and/or designated EOC representative when requested or required.
 
  See Hazard Specific Checklists that are attachments to the County Emergency Operations Plan, for assistance in determining potential/necessary actions for your department.
 
 

Bertie County Emergency Management - PO Box 530 - Windsor, NC 27983-0530