urban shield report cardjlp · 2019. 12. 16. · urban shield report card 4 • many participants...
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UrbanShield2017:ReportCard
StopUrbanShieldCoalitionSeptember2017
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Summary
AsanannualSWATtrainingandweaponsexpoorganizedbytheAlamedaCountySheriff’sOffice(ACSO)andhostedintheBayArea,UrbanShieldhascomeundernationalscrutinyforitsroleinmilitarizingpoliceforces,perpetuatingracismandxenophobia,andsquanderingmillionsofdollarsthatcouldbespentoneffectiveemergencyresponseandcommunitypreparednessprograms.
MembersoftheStopUrbanShieldCoalitionsatonatimelimitedtaskforcethatwasconvenedbytheAlamedaCountyBoardofSupervisors(ACBOS)inJanuary2017toassesstheimpactsofUrbanShield.ThetaskforcememberswereinvitedtoobserveUrbanShield2017.AstheStopUrbanShieldCoalitionisprimarilyconcernedwiththeimpactsofUrbanShieldoncommunities,memberswhoobservedUrbanShield2017providedtheirassessmentandcompiledthisreport.
ThisreportcardassessesfivemainareasofconcernandrankseachwithagradebasedonhowtheareaswereobservedinUrbanShield2017.Theranksarebasedonlettergrades,with“A”denotingthemostfavorableand“F”theleastfavorable.ThereportcardalsoassesseshowUrbanShieldhasimplementedasetof12PrinciplesandGuidelinesthatweremandatedbytheACBOS.
ThefindingsarethatUrbanShielddramaticallyfailsinaddressingthreeofthefiveconcernareas:Militarization;Racism,Xenophobia,andCulture;andSurveillance.Additionally,UrbanShieldisextremelypoorintheremainingtwoareasofFinancialFactorsandDe-escalation.
ObserversalsofoundthattheACSOseeminglywillfullyignoredthe12PrinciplesandGuidelines,astheUrbanShieldweaponsexpoandtrainingscenarioswereinviolationofthemajorityoftheguidelines.
AllimagesinthisreportcardweretakenbyobserversatUrbanShield2017.
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ContentsSummary.........................................................................1
PoliceMilitarization........................................................3
Racism,Xenophobia,andtheCultureofUrbanShield...5
Surveillance.....................................................................6
FinancialInterests...........................................................7
De-escalation..................................................................8
The12PrinciplesandGuidelines..................................10
InsideUrbanShield2017................................................0
Conclusion......................................................................2
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PoliceMilitarization
Grade:F
TheforemostconcernwithUrbanShieldhasbeenthatthescenarios,trainings,weaponry,andtacticsusedcontributetotheincreasingtrendofpolicemilitarization.DespiteclaimsfromtheACSOthattheeventisgearedtowardtrainingpoliceofficers,observationsdocumentedbyStopUrbanShieldmembersshowthatboththeweaponsexpoandexercisesareentirelydominatedbyamilitarizedapproach.
ObservationsfromtheWeaponsExpo:
• Gunandsurveillanceboothsdominatedthevendorshow.Theweaponrywasintimidatingandreinforcesaharmfulmodelforemergencypreparedness.
• Equipmentwaspromotedwithphraseslike:“Military-grade”is“better,”andwithsalespointsthattechnologywasdevelopedatFortMeade,Livermore,LosAlamos,etc.
• Sniperriflerafflerewardedparticipantswithmilitary-styleweaponry• Therewasa“Special”onGlockgunsforUrbanShield
ObservationsfromtheTrainingScenarios:
• Duringadebriefofascenario,oneofthemilitarypersonnelrepeatedlystatedthat"ourworldsarestartingtocollide"–militaryandpolice.MilitaryparticipantsregularlyreferencedexperiencestheyhadinIraqandAfghanistan,tellingpoliceofficerstobepreparedforthosekindsofsituations,includingdealingwithImprovisedExplosiveDevices(IEDs)andguerrillawarfare.
• SWATteamsambushedfiredfirstonterroristroleplayers,whowerepatrollingaruralarea.• AColombiancolonelservingasanevaluatorstatedhispreferencetowantingpolicetohave
thesameapproachandcapabilitiesasthemilitary.• OneparticipanttoldobserversthatthetypesoftrainingsUrbanShieldprovidesforSWAT
arenecessarybecausethe"politicallywatereddowntrainings"theyreceiveelsewherearenotsufficient.
• Militaryfatiguesandarmycamouflagewereubiquitousthroughoutthetrainings.
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• Manyparticipants–vendors,roleplayers,evaluators,SWATteammembers–arecurrentorex-military.
• Thevideoatthestartframedmilitarizationasdeepservice,honor,protectionandworkthattakesplaceshouldertoshoulderintheirsharedfightagainstevil.
• AnFBIpersonnelservingasatrainer/evaluatorrepeatedlytoldSWATofficersthatpolice"aretheonlyoneswhocanstopthis,"and"youaretheonlyoneswhocanhelp,"referringtoemergencysituations,despitereal-lifeincidentsdemonstratingthatcommunitymembersoftenarethequickestanddecisivefirstresponders.
• UrbanShieldsolicitedvolunteerstoplaypassivevictimswhoare“wounded,frightenedbystanders,ordisorientedpeople.”Inreality,bystanderstypicallybecomethemosteffectivefirstresponders,1butscenariosinsteadreinforcedpoliceasactorsandeveryoneelseas“disoriented.”
• Inatleastonescenario(airplanebomb),SWATtreatedvictims(passengers)aspotentialhostiles,cuffingthembeforebringingthemofftheplane“justincase.”ThecuffingwasdoneonlybytheBerkeleyPoliceDepartment,butthescenarioorganizerthoughtthiswasfine,solongastheyultimately“neutralized”theshooter(s),ashowSWATteamscarryouttheirworkisuptoprotocolandpracticeofindividualpoliceunits.
• RoleofEMTswasminimal.Inmostofthescenariosobserved,EMTswereabsent.Inonescenario(nightclub)theywere“integrated”(i.e.broughtinafterSWATteamhadenteredfirst).SWATteamdirectedthemwheretheywantedthemtogo.
• Real-lifeincidentsonwhichscenariosweresupposedlybasedweremostlyinothercountries(17outof29).ItdoesnotseemcontextualtotheUS,andcertainlynottothedailylifeandneedsinourcommunities.
1WhyOrdinaryCitizensAreActingAsFirstRespondersinHouston.TheAtlantic.https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/08/ordinary-citizens-are-first-responders/538233/
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Racism,Xenophobia,andtheCultureofUrbanShield
Grade:F
BoththeUrbanShieldtrainingsandweaponsexpohavecomeunderintensecriticismforthedisplayanduseofraciststereotypingandpropagandamaterials.Althoughat-shirtvendorsellingitemswiththeoffensivephrase“BlackRiflesMatter”wasbarredfromtheexpoafterpublicoutcry,observersnotedthatmuchoftheexpoandtrainingswererootedinadeeplypolarizingandfear-basedmentality.Theprogramandtrainingsarenecessarilystructuredarounda“nexustoterrorism”mandatedbythefederalgovernment,whichcontributetoananti-ArabandIslamophobicsentiment.
ObservationsfromtheFairandTrainingScenarios:
● Afar-right,extremistmilitiaorganizationknownastheOathKeepersparticipatedintheUrbanShieldfair,andwasseenstationedunderanofficialAlamedaCountySheriff’sOfficetent.TheSouthernPovertyLawCenterdescribestheOathKeepersas“oneofthelargestradicalantigovernmentgroupsintheU.S.today.WhileitclaimsonlytobedefendingtheConstitution,theentireorganizationisbasedonasetofbaselessconspiracytheoriesaboutthefederalgovernmentworkingtodestroythelibertiesofAmericans.”2
● UrbanShieldcontractedStrategicOperations,Inc.,whichdesignsmilitarycombatroleplayswithraciallyderogatoryandIslamophobicimages,despiterejectionofthecontractbytheAlamedaCountyBoardofSupervisorsonAugust1.3
● The“usversusthem”and“goodguysversusbadguys”terminologywaspervasive.● AmilitaryevaluatorrecentlybackfromAfghanistanstated“you’reseeingherewhatwesee
there,it’scomingupovertheborder,”implyingthatimmigrantscrossingintotheU.S.areakintoamilitarythreat.
● All“victims”inaircraftscenarioarewhite.● Imageofmentallyillinhospitalscenariowasheavilystereotyped.
2SouthernPovertyLawCenter’sprofileoftheOathKeepers.https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/oath-keepers3https://media-alliance.org/stopping-stops-urban-shield-vendor-vetoed-due-to-racist-stereotyping/
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Surveillance
Grade:F
AfeatureofUrbanShieldhasbeentheuseandshowcasingofhighlyintrusivesurveillancetechnology.InJanuaryof2017,theACBOSpassedasetof12PrinciplesandGuidelinesthataimedtomitigatethenegativeimpactsofUrbanShield,withoneguidelinebarring“surveillancetraining.”Despitethispolicy,UrbanShieldcontinuestoincludeboththeuseofsurveillancetechnology,aswellassurveillancetrainingObservationsfromtheWeaponsExpo:
● Dressedinmilitarycamouflage,CaliforniaHighwayPatrolaccompaniedasalespersontotestamotiondetectorthatisplacedontheoutsideofabuildingwall.Itshowsinreddotswherethe“targets”areinsideofthebuilding.
● Gemalto,amultinationalsecuritycompany,showcasedfacialrecognitiontechnologythatwillbepilotedatSantaRitaJailthisyear.ObservationsfromtheTrainingScenarios:
● UrbanShieldfeaturedasurveillancedroneseminarthatwasexplicitlyatraining.Policeuseofdrones(i.e.fordrugraids,notforsearchandrescue)wascentraltothisseminar,whichendedwithasong:“Everystepyoutake,everymoveyoumake,I’llbewatchingyou.”
● AVerizon“surveillancetrailer”wasusedinthreescenariosaccordingtothevendor.● Thinfloorcameraonstickcouldbeslidunderneathdoortoseewhat’shappeningina
room,beforeSWATenters.● TheCommunityEmergencyResponseTeamtraininginvolvedacellphoneappbywhich
neighborhoodrespondersreportedeventsthatfedintoaplatformrunbytheNorthernCaliforniaRegionalIntelligenceCenter(NCRIC),alocalfusioncenterthathascomeundercriticismforcompilingmassivedatabasesofinformationgatheredthroughsurveillanceanddiscriminatoryreportingpractices.InformationcompiledbyNCRICissharedwithfederallawenforcementagencies.
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FinancialInterests
Grade:D
Theweaponsexpooverwhelminglyfeaturesmilitaryequipmentandweaponry,exposingtheshallownessofclaimspurportingUrbanShieldtobeconcernedwithdisasterpreparedness.DespitetheACBOSbarringthesaleortransferoffirearmsattheexpo,theACSOraffledoffasniperrifle,makingthe$20ticketsavailabletoanyoneinattendance.ObservationsfromtheWeaponsExpo:
● AtAxonbooth:Observer:“Youpaidalotforthisbooth.”AXON:“ACSOisabigcustomer”Observer:“Andyouwanttokeepitthatway.”AXON:“That’sallstuffthatgoesonbehindthescenes.”
● Themainpurposeofthevendorshowvendorshowistomarketproductsforsale.Themajorityofthevendorsobserversspokewithwereseekingtogettheirproductsintouseduringthescenarios,andfollowupwithpolicedepartmentsaftertheexpotomakesales.
● Onecompanyhadatractoratvendorshow,whichwas“technologyinsearchofapurpose,”accordingtothevendorrepresentative.
● ThetrainingsincludedExecushield,agroupofmercenarieswhoprovidearmedsecuritytocorporateleadersinplaceslikeMexico,Peru,andthePhilippines.
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De-escalation
Grade:D
WithincreasedattentiontopoliceinvolvedshootingsacrosstheU.S.,manyhavecondemnedthe“shootfirst,askquestionslater”approachoflawenforcementthathasledtoseriousinjuryanddeofficialsengagesituationswith.Forinstance,astudyofallkillingsbypoliceofficersin2015foundthatatleastoneinthreeinvolvedthedeathofsomeonewhoshowedsignsofmentalhealthissues.4TheAmericanPublicHealthAssociationpublishedastatementinNovember2016categorizing“lawenforcementasapublichealthhazard,”andrecommendedapproachestoarangeofsituationsthatutilizede-escalationwhiledecreasingpolicecontact.However,observersfoundthatthetrainingsofUrbanShield,overwhelminglyandnearlyexclusively,encouragepoliceofficersto“shootfirst,askquestionslater.”ObservationsfromtheTrainingScenarios:
● Of36SWATscenarios,theSheriff’sOfficeclaimedthatfourrewardedde-escalation.Butde-escalationtacticsweredifficulttorecognizeinthetwode-escalationscenariosthatwesaw.
● Anevaluatorstatedthat“it’sanautomaticshoot”ifasuspectapproachesanofficer.● OneU.S.basedscenariowasatChildren'sHospital,basedona2010incidentwhereaman
ranintothehospitalwithagun.Inreallifeitwasdealtwithusingnon-lethalforce.5HowevertheSWATteamwasnotgivennon-lethalforcetouseoranyopportunitiesforde-
4DistraughtPeople,DeadlyResults.TheWashingtonPost,2015.http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/investigative/2015/06/30/distraught-people-deadly-results/?utm_term=.dca4fa6eb449
5http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Gunman-Grabs-ER-Worker-at-Oakland-Childrens-Hospital-99621479.html
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escalationduringthescenario.Theonlyimpliedcourseofactionwas“shoottoneutralize”or“shoottokill.”
● Itwasclearthatnoneofthescenariosweredesignedtopracticeortrainforde-escalation.● Abatonvendorwasmarketingthebatonsaspeacekeepingtoolsthatlimitlegalliabilityfor
police.Theyhadthecapabilityfordangerousattachments,includingblades.● ThecompetitionscoresheetthatwesawdoesnotrewardsurvivalofallpartiesinANY
scenario.● “Suspect”roleplayersinobservedscenarioswereorderedtoobeywhatevercommandthey
received,thusnottestingde-escalationskills.● NotimeinUrbanShieldformattocarryoutde-escalation,withjust15-20minutesofactual
roleplayineachscenario.De-escalationisoftenamuchlongerprocess.● Nomeaningfuldiscussionorcriticalengagementinpost-scenariodebriefs,e.g.“whatmight
youhavedonedifferentlytoresultinnodeaths.”Rather,mostdebriefswereversionsof“goodjob!”
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The12PrinciplesandGuidelinesAsaresultoftheincreasedcontroversyfacingAlamedaCountyforhostingUrbanShield,theBoardofSupervisorsunanimouslypassedasetoftwelveguidelinesforUrbanShieldtofollow.AlthoughtheStopUrbanShieldCoalitionbelievesthattheharmsandnegativeimpactofUrbanShieldcannotbemitigatedthroughimplementationoftheseguidelines,observersnotedthattheSheriff’sOfficeisinnon-compliancewiththemajorityoftheguidelines.
Expandcommunityinvolvementandawareness
• Thefar-rightextremistmilitia,theOathKeepers,werestationedintheUrbanShieldFairwiththeSheriff’sOffice.
UrbanShieldwillbefreefromraciststereo-typing
• The“terrorists”inatleastonescenariowerewearingscarvestraditionallywornbypeopleacrossmanyArabandMuslimcountries.
• StrategicOperations,Inc.waspresentatUrbanShield,despitethefacttheyweredeniedacontractwithUrbanShieldbytheACBOSbecauseoftheirmannequinsthatpromoteracist,stereotypingimagesofArabs,Muslims,andpeopleofcoloras“terrorists”and“criminals.”
Worktoexpandtrainingthemedicalprofessionforcriticalincidents
• Observersnotedinthescenariostheysawthattrainingformedicalpersonnelwasminimal,limited,andsubjecttothecompletecommandanddirectionofSWATandlawenforcement.
UrbanShieldwillnotincludesurveillancetraining • Asurveillancedronetrainingtookplace.• Weaponsexpoboothsfeaturedsurveillance
equipmentthatwasusedinseveralSWATexercisescenarios.
Continuetoexaminenewtechnologyandequipment N/AUrbanShieldwillnotincludecrowdcontroltraining • NoobservedcrowdcontroltrainingthisyearContinuetoevaluateexistingequipment N/AUrbanShieldwillexcludeanyandallvendorswhodisplayderogatoryorracistmessagesinanyform
• Allparticipantsoftheweaponsexpoweregivena“BlueLivesMatter”pin
• StrategicOperationwaspresentatUrbanShield,despitethefacttheyweredeniedacontractwithUrbanShieldbytheACBOSbecauseoftheirmannequinsthatpromotedracist,stereotypingimagesofArabs,Muslims,andpeopleofcoloras“terrorists”and“criminals.”
UrbanShieldwillexcludethesaleortransferofanyassaultweaponsandfirearms
• TheACSOraffledoffarifleattheweaponsexpo• Weaponsvendorscontinuedtopursuesalesof
theirproductsWillexcludevendorsdisplayingnon-lawenforcementrelatedtacticaluniformsandequipment
• No“non-lawenforcement”uniformsandequipment.However,observersnotedthatthenatureoftheweaponsexpomadeitclearthatpromotingmilitary-gradeweaponryandequipmentwastheonlygoal,ratherthanpromotingdisasterresponseandpreparedness.
UrbanShieldwillstrivetomaintainthefinestfirstrespondertrainingpossible
N/A
Excludeparticipationfromcountrieswithdocumentedhumanrightsabuses
• ThisyearincludedparticipationofobserversandevaluatorsfromSaudiArabia,thePhilippines,andColombia–allcountrieswithdocumentedhumanrightsabusesbytheirpolice/military.
InsideUrbanShield2017
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Conclusion
Thefollowingconclusionsweremadebyobservers:
• UrbanShieldisfundamentallyabout“defeatingtheenemy.”Thisisprimarilyduetothefederallymandatedrequirementthattrainingsandexercisesoftheprogramhavea“nexustoterrorism.”
• UrbanShieldisstructurallyunabletoaddressconcernsofpolicemilitarization,racism,andxenophobia,andisheavilysteepedinawarfareculture.
• Thoughmostblatantandegregiousdisplaysofracistpropagandahavebeenremoved(e.g.“BlackRiflesMatter”),theprogramstillusesracistandIslamophobicstereotypes.
• ExceptforsomeCERTtraining,communitypreparednessanddisasterresponsesthatarenotbasedonamilitarizedthreatwerevirtuallynonexistent.
• TheAlamedaCountySheriff’sOfficehasfailedtocomplywithPrinciplesandGuidelinesthatwereunanimouslypassedbytheAlamedaCountyBoardofSupervisors;itisoperatinginbadfaith.
• Lastly,observersconcludedthatwhileminorelementsofUrbanShieldcanbemodifiedtoaddressconcerns,itisimpossibletoreformUrbanShieldtobecomebeneficialforthecommunitiesofAlamedaCounty.