Chief’s Counsel: Crowd Management and Civil Rights Protection
The demonstrations of the past year—including the Occupy movement, the flash mobs, and the sports championships—clearly put law enforcement agencies on notice that they have an obligation to prepare their departments for a proper response to these events. The Occupy movement has provided a glimpse of what can be expected in the future. Preparation to address these crowds is best achieved through policy, training, and application of how to manage crowds while protecting First and Fourth Amendment rights.
