G18.1.2 Crowd Management
Chapter: Chapter 18: Other Orders
Sub-Chapter: 18.1 - Other Orders
Effective Date: 05/30/2023
Revised Date: 05/30/2023
Rescinds: None
Purpose
To establish procedures the Indiana University Police Department (IUPD) will follow during demonstrations, protests, and events requiring crowd control.
General Order
The IUPD will protect the rights of community members to free speech and expressive activity, such as assembling and speaking in public areas of campus in accordance with the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, Indiana law, and Indiana University (IU) policy. The IUPD will provide a response to demonstrations, protests, and events requiring crowd control to protect the interests of the university while safeguarding the rights of individuals. The IUPD will intercede in crowd situations that become dangerous and restore order as soon as practical.
Procedures
Verbal abuse is common in disturbance situations. Officers will remain neutral, exercise restraint, self-discipline, and flexibility in enforcing applicable laws and university policy, however should not ignore violations of the law or university policy, nor should they grant exemptions including amnesties from them. Officers will not initiate arrests for disorderly conduct within the crowd without supervisory direction, especially when doing so would compromise the staffing of a line or post.
When responding to demonstrations, protests, and events requiring crowd control, the IUPD will follow all IUPD general orders, including all orders in Chapter 7 – Use of Force.
The IUPD will not proactively respond to demonstrations, protests, or other events requiring crowd control that are taking place in areas outside the IUPD’s primary jurisdiction as defined in G1.1.2 Jurisdiction and Service Boundaries. If another law enforcement agency requests mutual aid from the IUPD, the IUPD may respond but will do so as a group in an organized and controlled manner under the direct supervision of the IUPD.
Emergency Response Group (ERG)
The IUPD has a designated ERG that is utilized specifically for crowd control and disbursement. The ERG operates under the direction of the department ERG coordinator.
Upon notification of an event taking place on IU property that has the potential for demonstrations or protests, the ERG coordinator will be notified to begin planning for the event. Primary planning objectives include, but are not limited to, establishing the location of the event and site planning to include staging areas, identifying ingress and egress routes, equipment, and personnel needs.
During activation, the ERG will operate under the direction of an ERG team leader. The ERG team leader will be a rank of lieutenant or above. The ERG’s primary objective will be to ensure the safety of individuals. If use of force appears necessary, the decision will be made by the ERG team leader, if feasible. ERG members may make the individual decision to use force consistent with existing IUPD general orders in order to protect oneself or another person or prevent the significant destruction of property. Any use of force will be directed at the specific individual(s) who is (are) posing the threat.
The ERG team leader may order the crowd to disperse upon determination that the assembly is unlawful and that the group is committing acts or conduct that create a substantial risk of injury to any person or substantial damage to property. Prior to issuing the dispersal order, the ERG team leader will consider whether less restrictive means of crowd management would be effective. These include, but are not limited to, seeking voluntary compliance or moving the crowd to an area that will mitigate the chances of injury or harm to property.
Before giving the dispersal order, the ERG team leader will ensure there is an avenue of egress sufficient to allow the crowd to depart and will position officers to support or direct the crowd’s movement. A minimum of two officers will be deployed to the rear of the crowd, opposite end of the ERG team leader who will be giving the order, to ensure the dispersal order is audible.
When the ERG team leader gives the dispersal order to the crowd, the ERG team leader will record the time and location of the dispersal order. When announcing the dispersal order, the ERG team leader will state:
- their name, rank and that they are with the IUPD,
- the crowd is occupying the premises unlawfully,
- the crowd is ordered to disperse and provide the direction(s) to leave, and
- state if the crowd does not leave they will be subject to arrest.
Absent exigent circumstances, officers will allow a reasonable amount of time for the crowd to comply with the dispersal order prior to deploying any use of force.
Incident report(s) and other documentation as appropriate will be completed to document any crimes and arrests that occurred as well as any use of force that was applied.
Related Information
Indiana Code
- 21-39-8 Speech and Expression on Campus
Indiana University
- UA-14 The First Amendment at Indiana University
- UA-16 Event Management