Recent events, large scale protests and legislative changes have created a need for POST staff to review and update the Crowd Management, Intervention and Control Guidelines originally published in 2012. 

In 2012, POST staff created the Crowd Management, Intervention and Control Guidelines document. The document was created through collaboration with more than 20 subject matter experts and other contributors. 

In the past year, instances of unlawful and inappropriate uses of force by on-duty, uniformed law enforcement officers in the United States, have been recorded and widely played on social media. More recent events within our Nation’s Capitol have increased attention on crowd management incidents and events. Regardless of the frequency, such instances are unacceptable, tarnish the credibility of law enforcement, hamper relations between the law enforcement and the communities they serve, and degrade the hard work, commitment and sacrifice of California's law enforcement profession. Such videos have sparked widespread demonstrations that have sometimes transgressed into unlawful assemblies and even riotous behavior. 

California legislators have passed some bills and introduced other bills which could potentially alter law enforcement’s response to civil unrest.   

POST staff have carefully monitored the relationship and attitudes of the general public toward law enforcement. These changes appear to demonstrate a reduced lack of trust and respect for law enforcement within some communities, which has led to large-scale demonstrations. Some of these demonstrations have unfortunately devolved into unlawful assemblies and riots. Law enforcement responses to the unlawful behaviors have often been captured on video and played through social media. Some of the law enforcement responses, including non-lethal uses of force to manage crowds and unlawful behaviors, have sometimes been interpreted by the public and by legislators as inappropriate.  

POST staff met twice with a group of more than 15 SMEs and other contributors, conducted research on crowd management and have introduced, discussed and referenced the Governor’s Protecting and Facilitating the Right to Engage in Peaceful Protests and Demonstrations recommendations for law enforcement paper into the revised guideline process. 

Staff have now completed the revised guidelines.