For those not familiar with the LE process on how an officer involved shooting is handled, I’m sharing my experience. First, I think Tom Homan with his background would perhaps be better suited as the spokesperson than Ms. Noem. I think if someone is thrust into this position they should have some background, training and familiarity on how to handle the media release.
I’m not familiar with the ICE protocol for federal agents using lethal force but I am very family with our county agency officer involved shooting protocol both as a frontline supervisor and incident commander having been involved with many officer involved shootings and lethal force encounters as an officer, supervisor and manager.
Safety always comes first so the scene must be secured and the safety of all officers comes first. When safe to do so, first aid is rendered to the injured person. Emergency medical aid is always summoned immediately unless the subject has been pronounced deceased but usually paramedics are always summoned regardless.
Establish a crime scene with police tape expanding it as large as necessary to maintain scene integrity. No one enters the scene unless required by their job and all personnel are logged.
When safe and practical to do so, the officer or officers involved in the shooting are separated and if possible, an officer not involved will standby with the officer(s) involved in the shooting.
Homicide detectives, CSI, internal affairs, public information officer, rangemaster/armorer, and union representative are summoned to the scene.
The field supervisor will make contact with the officers or officers involved in the shooting and conduct a “safety interview.” What officers fired their duty weapons. How many rounds were fired. The location and direction. Assess if any rounds endangered the public.
The field supervisor will not ask anything further of the officer who discharged their weapon other than insuring the officer is okay. Homicide detectives will later conduct a thorough interview of the officer(s) who discharged their weapon, Internal affairs, and a union representative will be present.
Department rangemaster/armorer arrives and retrieves the officer(s) weapon used in the shooting and gives them a departmental replacement duty weapon.
The officer(s) involved in the shooting are transported to headquarters where a detailed, taped and recorded interview takes place with homicide detectives with internal affairs and department union representative present.
Upon completion of the interview, standard procedure is to take the officer(s) back to the crime scene for a walkthrough of the events.
The public information officer will release a statement that will be minimal and factual to the media.
You can imagine that this is not exactly a quick process to obtain detailed information immediately. A thorough investigation must take place, canvassing, video evidence and witnesses must be interviewed. Of course I’m basing this entirely from memory, my 25 years on the job and I retired almost 9 years ago. I freely admit I am unfamiliar with ICE officer involved shooting protocol but I believe it would be a similar process.
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