Tactical Riot FormationsTactical Riot Formations

Sid Heal, Senior InstructorSid Heal, Senior Instructor

The mob has many headsbut no brains.

The mob has many headsbut no brains.

Thomas Fuller, M.D., 1732Thomas Fuller, M.D., 1732

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Typical Mob CompositionTypical Mob Composition• Predominately males in late teens through late

twenties• Weapons are primitive and usually “at hand”• Leaders are more charismatic than competent• Focus is usually ad hoc with targets of

opportunity rather than preplanned• Initial focus is usually property rather than people• While authorities are targets, they are not usually first,

probably because of fear of retribution

• Predominately males in late teens through late twenties

• Weapons are primitive and usually “at hand”• Leaders are more charismatic than competent• Focus is usually ad hoc with targets of

opportunity rather than preplanned• Initial focus is usually property rather than people• While authorities are targets, they are not usually first,

probably because of fear of retribution

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Typical EscalationTypical Escalation• Acts of disobedience and turmoil but not necessarily

criminal• Cursing and taunting, chants, threats, etc.

• Minor criminal activity• Stopping traffic, tipping over garbage bins, graffiti, etc.

• Escalating criminal activity• Vandalism, small fires, throwing objects, etc.

• Criminal actions• Looting, burning, thefts, etc. Attacks on symbolic centers

• Attacks on people• Counter-protestors, dissidents, brawling

• Attacks on authority figures

• Acts of disobedience and turmoil but not necessarily criminal• Cursing and taunting, chants, threats, etc.

• Minor criminal activity• Stopping traffic, tipping over garbage bins, graffiti, etc.

• Escalating criminal activity• Vandalism, small fires, throwing objects, etc.

• Criminal actions• Looting, burning, thefts, etc. Attacks on symbolic centers

• Attacks on people• Counter-protestors, dissidents, brawling

• Attacks on authority figures11

Force MultipliersForce Multipliers• Formations (synergy)

• Most vulnerable during transitions

• Training and Teamwork• Less lethal options

• Most common mistake is over-reliance

• Ingenuity and Initiative• Implied threats• Force Projection

• Formations (synergy)• Most vulnerable during transitions

• Training and Teamwork• Less lethal options

• Most common mistake is over-reliance

• Ingenuity and Initiative• Implied threats• Force Projection

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Individual Squad AssignmentsIndividual Squad Assignments• Sergeant

• Squad Leader

• Sergeant• Squad Leader

L

S• 2 Linebackers

• Protect squad leader• Reinforce flanks• Ensure communications

• 9 Line Personnel

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Coordination IssuesCoordination Issues• Smallest maneuverable element is a

squad• Communication

• Audible, Visual, Tactile• Unity of Command

• Squad in contact or movement• Stand-off Distance• Interval

• Smallest maneuverable element is a squad

• Communication• Audible, Visual, Tactile

• Unity of Command• Squad in contact or movement

• Stand-off Distance• Interval

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LL

S

SpacingSpacing

• Stand-off —The distance between your formation and members of the mob

• Interval —The amount of separation between members of your formation

• Interval —The amount of separation between members of your formation

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How Far is Far Enough?How Far is Far Enough?

Less than 3% of the population is capable of throwing an object large enough to cause

serious injury beyond 60 yards (50 meters).

Brick35 Yards

(32 Meters)

Small Rock70+ Yards

(64 Meters)

Overall60 Yards

(55 Meters)

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FormationsFormationsColumnColumn

Arrest or Rescue CircleWedge

Skirmish Line

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ColumnColumn• Purpose: Orderly movement• Advantages

• Easy to control• Ability to communicate• Rapid movement

• Disadvantage• Weak in the direction of movement

• CAUTION: Not a movement to contact!

• Purpose: Orderly movement• Advantages

• Easy to control• Ability to communicate• Rapid movement

• Disadvantage• Weak in the direction of movement

• CAUTION: Not a movement to contact! L

S

L

1/3

4

Skirmish LineSkirmish Line

• Purpose: Movement to contact• Advantage

• Powerful in the direction of movement• Disadvantages

• Weak in the flanks• Difficult to control• Difficult communication

• CAUTION: Easy to bog down flanks with resistanceEasy to envelop open flanks

• Purpose: Movement to contact• Advantage

• Powerful in the direction of movement• Disadvantages

• Weak in the flanks• Difficult to control• Difficult communication

• CAUTION: Easy to bog down flanks with resistanceEasy to envelop open flanks

LL

S

3

WedgeWedge

• Purpose: Gain control of an area or objective

• Advantage• Powerful in all directions

• Disadvantages• Relatively small area of control• Limited movement for arrests and evacuations

• CAUTION: Do not use to “chase” suspects

• Purpose: Gain control of an area or objective

• Advantage• Powerful in all directions

• Disadvantages• Relatively small area of control• Limited movement for arrests and evacuations

• CAUTION: Do not use to “chase” suspects

L

S

L

2

• Purpose: Arrest a suspect orrescue a victim

• Advantage• Fastest for reaction of all the

formations• Disadvantages

• Requires high coordination• Requires acceptance of the most

risk of all the formations• CAUTION: Do not delay

extraction

• Purpose: Arrest a suspect orrescue a victim

• Advantage• Fastest for reaction of all the

formations• Disadvantages

• Requires high coordination• Requires acceptance of the most

risk of all the formations• CAUTION: Do not delay

extraction

Arrest or Rescue CircleArrest or Rescue Circle

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Without organization and discipline we’re just a mob—and their mob is

bigger than our mob!

Sid Heal909-732-8325 H9692@Verizon.net