LAW ENFORCEMENT

I.	PURPOSE
	This Annex provides crime prevention, maintenance of law and order, and traffic control during emergency situations.
II.	SITUATION AND ASSUMPTIONS
	A.	Situation
		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 the County.
	B.	Assumptions
		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 may be obtained from State and Federal law enforcement agencies.
III.	CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
	A.	Emergency law enforcement operations will be an expansion of normal functions and responsibilities. These responsibilities may 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 has occurred.
	C.	Law enforcement agencies will have responsibility for warning the public and for traffic control in and near an evacuated area and in other areas of emergency operations.
	D.	During emergencies or disasters the County Sheriff or his designee will coordinate law enforcement operations from the County EOC. At the same time, municipal law enforcement agencies will be responsible for directing law enforcement activities within their respective jurisdictions. 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 within reception areas as directed.
IV.	ORGANIZATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
	A.	Organization
		1.	The County Sheriff is responsible for coordinating law enforcement operations within the County.
		2.	Other law enforcement agencies will support emergency law enforcement activities.
		3.	Routine law enforcement procedures should be followed during emergency situations if feasible.
	B.	Responsibilities
		1.	Sheriff
			a.	Develop and update on an annual basis Law Enforcement Annex and SOPs.
			b.	Obtain mutual aid agreements with other law enforcement agencies.
			c.	Maintain current internal notification/recall rosters and communications systems.
			d.	Provide direction and control for law enforcement operations.
			e.	Assist in warning and notifying the affected population of an existing or impending emergency.
			f.	Provide traffic control during emergencies.
			g.	Assist in evacuation of the disaster area and movement to shelter.
			h.	Provide security and protection for the damaged area and critical facilities and control access to affected areas.
			i.	Provide security in the EOC, reception centers, shelters, lodging and feeding facilities during emergency operations.
			j.	Relocate and house prisoners when necessary during periods of evacuation.
			k.	Coordinate additional law enforcement support with State Highway Patrol and other counties and/or municipalities during response activities.
			l.	Deliver radiological monitoring kits when requested
			m.	Limit access to the evacuation area during response and recovery operations.
		2.	Municipalities Law Enforcement Agencies
			a	Maintain law and order within local jurisdictions.
			b.	Provide mobile units for warning operations.
			c.	Provide security for essential facilities.
			d.	Provide vehicle security in reception center parking areas.
V.	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 Chief's of Police in their respective municipalities.
VI.	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
		3.	Ranking deputy or Chief of Police
	C.	Records vital to law enforcement function will be protected during emergency situations.
VII.	ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS
	A.	Records and Reports – The sheriff will maintain records and reports including expenditure reports, detailing law enforcement operations and activities during the emergency.
	B.	Communications – The communications network between county and municipal law enforcement agencies will make maximum use of available radio and telephone communication resources.
	C.	Vehicle Passes – The decision to require passes will rest with the Chairman, County Board of Commissioners. The order for requiring passes will be issued from the EOC. The law enforcement agencies will be responsible for issuing passes upon the direction of the EOC. A sample, temporary pass and permanent "Official Vehicle" pass is shown in Appendix 1, Vehicle Passes.
VIII.	PLAN DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE
	A.	This Annex will be reviewed on an annual basis.
	B.	Departments within the County having a role in this Annex will maintain SOPs, personnel rosters and telephone numbers to support this Annex.
IX.	AUTHORITIES AND REFERENCES
	A.	N.C. General Statutes, 166A
	B.	Alexander County Emergency Management Ordinance.