In the initial stages of a disaster, law enforcement officers are often the first on the scene and perform any task necessary to save lives, includingMass Search and Rescue.3However, as a disaster event becomesprolonged, law enforcement agencies will typicallyceasethese specialized rescue operations and transition them to dedicated Search and Rescue (SAR) units, such as FEMA Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) task forces or National Guard units. This allows the police to return to their primary, core mission: maintaining public order, security, and traffic regulation.
According to standard Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for police in disasters, their primary role is to provide "Disaster Scene Security" (Option A) and "Infrastructure Security" (Option B). This includes preventing looting at evacuated sites, protecting critical assets like water treatment plants or power substations, and managing "Perimeter Control" to keep unauthorized persons out of danger zones. These security functions are essential for the overall success of the response but are often compromised if law enforcement personnel are tied up in technical search and rescue efforts.
In the CEDP body of knowledge, this transition is part of "Resource Management." Law enforcement personnel are not generally equipped or trained for the high-risk technical aspects of mass rescue, such as shoring up collapsed structures or performing high-angle rope rescues. By handing over mass SAR to specialized entities during a prolonged event, the incident command ensures that the most qualified personnel are performing the most dangerous tasks, while the police focus on the "civil stability" that is required for a safe recovery environment.
