WMD Crime Scene Management

1. WMD Crime Scene Management Defining a CBRNE Crime Scene

2. Objectives Identify the phases of response. Recognize a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, or Explosive (CBRNE) crime scene and the characteristics associated with its environment.

3. Weapons of Mass Destruction

4. Incident Phases • Recovery Phase • Last Living Victim Removed • Response Phase • Scene Control Begins • Notification Phase • Incident Recognized • Restoration Phase • Contamination Survey Completed Awareness Level Actions

5. Notification Phase • Begins with recognition that an incident has or is about to occur • Ends with the initiation of incident management procedures 9-1-1 Center L.A. County Fire Department www.fema.gov

6. Notification Phase Actions • Ensure responders operate from a safe distance. • Ensure all “awareness-level” actions have been properly implemented. • Gather critical information on incident and communicate. • Ensure safe incident management activities have been implemented. • Law enforcement could be involved in the identification and arrest of criminal suspects.

7. Response Phase • Begins with incident management. • Ends with removal of the last living victims from the hazard area. • Challenges: • Site security • Victim rescue • Agent identification • Emergency decontamination of people • Evidence preservation • Multiple devices FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Team at World Trade Center www.fema.gov

8. Response Phase Actions HOT Cold Warm • Position equipment • Isolate area • Hot zone • Warm zone • Cold zone • Protect self (PPE) • Segregate casualties/victims • Walking • Nonambulatory • Rescue

9. Response Phase Actions (continued) • First aid • First aid to decontaminated victims • Triage, Treatment, Transport (T3) • Assist HazMat team with technical decontamination • Defensive control • Multiple devices and perpetrators • Evidence preservation Technical Decontamination www. ftmeade.army.mil

10. Recovery Phase • Begins when the scene is stabilized, and the last living victim is transported to a medical facility. • Ends with completion of the contamination survey. • Challenges: • Link up with state and federal authorities • Evidence collection • Re-establishment of essential services • Decontamination of essential equipment

11. Restoration Phase • Begins with completion of the contamination survey. • Ends with complete hazard remediation. • Emphasis on elimination of contamination and site restoration.

12. Recovery/Restoration Phase Actions • Within PPE limitations: • Support/operate the decontamination requirements. • Support/operate the equipment decontamination site. • Provide medical support. • Post-incident medical assessment and follow-up. • Continue scene control.

13. CBRNE Incident Response versus Day-to-Day Response • Situation may not be recognizable until multiple casualties. • Possible multiple events. • Responders at higher risk of becoming casualties. • The location of the incident is treated as crime scene. • Contamination of critical facilities and large geographic areas • Scope of incident may expand.

14. CBRNE Incident Response versus Day-to-Day Response (continued) • Stronger reaction from public. (“Do Something!”). • Time becomes a factor. • Critical infrastructure becomes a target. • Specialized state and local response capabilities can become overwhelmed.

15. Defining a Crime Scene • Crime is an act committed in violation of law. • Laws punishing criminal conduct highlight the elements needed for conviction. • The elements are the various parts a prosecutor needs for conviction. Collecting Evidence at a Crime Scene Courtesy of CDP

16. Common Elements of a Crime • Actus reus—guilty act • Mens rea—mental state; what is your intention? • Concurrence—agreement in opinion; the act and intent meeting as one • Causation—process of causing; the act of causing something to happen

17. Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Explosive Defining a WMD Crime Scene Oklahoma City Bombing www.wikipedia.org

18. Crime Scene Recognition • First officer on scene has responsibility of protecting any potential evidence. • Investigation depends on the ability to properly identify, isolate, and secure the scene.

19. Evidence Preservation and Collection • Actions and observations are very importan.t • Everything is potential evidence. • Communicate observations of evidence to other responders and to incident command. • Record observations and actions as soon as possible. • Victims can provide critical evidence.

20. Initial Response to Scene • The first-arriving responder should: • Note prearrival information (time, date, address, etc.) • Be aware of any persons or vehicles leaving crime scene • Note possible secondary crime scenes • Make initial observations (look, listen, smell) • Treat the crime as ongoing until told otherwise • Document all observations

21. Crime Scene Considerations • Golden Rule: Leave it alone unless it is absolutely necessary for the performance of duties with law enforcement approval. • Second Rule: Do the job using the fewest number of personnel.

22. Conclusion Identify the phases of response. Recognize a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, or Explosive (CBRNE) crime scene and the characteristics associated with its environment.