LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTION Plan 1996 RAINBOW FAMILY GATHERING
MARK TWAIN NATIONAL FOREST

Prepared By: JAMES R. SCOTT
(OPERATIONS CHIEF)

APPROVED By: LYN CARPENTER (INCIDENT COMMANDER)

Exhibit 4

Intimidation Resisting, Threatening of Officers - The tactic of intimidating Forest Service Officers is common. The group has an aggressive element that instigates trouble and confrontations. They will push officers to the limit and use threats of lawsuits to gain advantage. Unfortunately, previous reaction to these threats have been to back off and allow the group unrestricted use of public lands. Members will use various methods of intimidation, but the most common is for a group to enter into a conversation with a single officer and initiate a confrontation. Rainbow members will generally take advantage of their numbers. The group has a few leaders/instigators and many followers.

Roads Blocked -- Parking and the operation of motor vehicles have a major impact on the Forest Service Roads and adjacent County Roads and State highways, Historically the Rainbows desire to see up "live in' type vehicles within the "camp area' with all other vehicles parked on adjacent roads utilizing the 'shuttle type" method to get the members Into the main gathering area. parking for 20,000 members will create massive traffic problems within the forest and on adjacent roads and communities. As many as 4,000 vehicles can be expected, Forest,+· State and local officers will be expected to deal with the problem on · twenty four hour basis to keep roadways open and safe Pedestrian traffic will be heavy on all roadways leading Into the "Gathering Site, not only by members but onlookers as well.

Identification Difficulties - Some Rainbow members are reluctant to properly identify themselves and will only provide nicknames. proper identification is difficult to obtain from some members. This behavior is sometimes due to criminal history background or defiance of authority. Failure to provide proper identification is also a method of stalling. If it becomes too difficult for the officer to learn the true identity, the officer may give up-his efforts to identify the person. If violation notice are issued for petty offenses, a final disposition of theme charges will be difficult to obtain. The Jail or bail method should be used if at all possible.

Resource Damage - Having 20,000 Rainbow Family members plus the other Identified elements will cause long term damage to the natural resources. Their history of construction of "Communal Kitchens' and "Slit Trenches' for depositing human waste for 20,000 people could cause a lasting impact upon the soil base. It should be remembered there will be large numbers on site before and after the main gathering. Most Rainbow members utilize down and dead timber for constructing shelters and campfires, but they have also cut green trees for: building shelters and for firewood.

III. ACTION PLAN

A. Implementation of Forest Supervisor's orders

The concentration of thousands of people into a relatively small area of National Forest creates law enforcement and management problems which are similar to those of a small city. At National Gatherings, the majority of the duties Performed by LEO'S and Agents are more consistent with those of a traditional police officer, rather than those routinely associated with a land management law enforcement. The assumption of these duties to often not a matter of choice, but a matter of necessity+y to fulfill public and employee safety needs.

Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations (36 C.F.R.) specifies a limited number of potential violations routinely enforced by Forest service Law Enforcement Few of the violations provide jurisdictional baste to cover the demands placed on LECI at larger events. 36 C.I.R. 261.50 does, however authorize the Forest Supervisor to implement Supervisor's Orders. Use of Supervisor's Orders at Rainbow Family events can be an effective tool in meeting the unique law enforcement demands of large gatherings on National Forest lands.

Specific Enforcement Policies

Below is a list of Issues likely to be encountered at a large Rainbow Family event. To ensure nationwide consisting, field unite will implement the policy established for each issue.

1. Subject Control of Forest service Roads

Issue - Gathering members block Forest Service Roads and control access to gathering areas.

Policy- Gathering attendees will not obstruct traffic or deny access on Forest Service Roads

2. Subject - visible wearing of weapons and defensive equipment.

Issue- Gathering attendees-object to visible weapons and defensive equipment within gathering areas,

Policy- Uniformed LE&I personnel will wear weapons and defensive- equipment in a visible manner in conformity with Forest service Manual 5360.

3. Subject Harassment and interference

Issue Gathering attendees use intimidation and harassment tactics to discourage effective law enforcement.

Policy Gathering attendees whose actions constitute interference or a violation of other applicable law, will be cited or arrested, as deemed appropriate by the officer on the scene.

4. Subject Patrol Area patrol Area.

Issue- Gathering attendees attempt to prohibit routine law enforcement activities by declaring area off limits and sacred

Policy- Patrol areas include all areas not Constitutionally protected where LE&I personnel can be protected present. This policy will ensure effective law enforcement throughout the gathering. The main camp at the national gathering is not afforded special protection, and will be patrolled.

5.Subject- Road Checkpoints

Issue- Rainbow leaders object to law enforcement checkpoints.

Policy-Road checkpoints are effective for deterring criminal conduct and enhancing traffic safety, and should be used in conformity with state and federal law.

6.Subject - Camping Restriction

Issue - Campsites and slit trenches are often established in violation of law, regulation and policy.

Policy - Rainbow gathering attendees will conform to the laws, regulations and policies pertaining to the placement of campsites and slit trenches.

C. Enforcement Action on problem Identification

1. Public nudity - with Supervisor's order public nudity can be handled by Forest Service law enforcement Officers along with state and local officers if state law is applicable.

2. Drugs/Alcohol - with Supervisor order alcohol violations can be handled by Forest Service officers along with state, and local officers. Drug violations will be handled by Forest Service officers, state and local officers.

3. Weapons - All arrested individuals will be searched for weapons, all prohibited weapons will be seized and submitted to local or State Officers for prosecution.

4. Intimidation, Threatening and Resisting Officers - intimidation, threatening or resisting officers will not be tolerated. Efforts to identify the leaders/instigators will be made early on and they will be monitored.

5. Roads Blocked - Vehicles parked on Forest Service Roads that block or hinder traffic will be towed, after efforts to identify and locate the owner are m·de. Vehicles that are parked an state maintained roads that block or hinder traffic will be dealt with by the appropriate agency. Pedestrian traffic that intentionally blocks or hinders traffic will not be tolerated.

6. Identification Difficulties -Most Rainbow members will not have sources of identification on their persons while In the gathering. Identification will be difficult and officers will decide what action to take on case by case basis.

7. Resource Damage - Rainbow members will be advised of proper procedures to obtain firewood. Use sites will be monitored to ensure proper protection of the resources This monitoring will be performed with occasional Inspections by Operations and Law Enforcement personnel.

Photographic and video equipment will be used to document damage.

1996 Gathering Site

The Gathering will take place in the area of spring creek on the Winona Ranger District of the Mark Twain National Forest The Gathering site will be along and on both aides of forest road (156. This area is accessed from Missouri state highway 99 three miles north of Thomasville, MO., turn east on forest road 3173 and then travel east for about three miles and turn south an 4166 into the Gathering.

Law Enforcement Structure And Objective

The Forest Service law enforcement function of the gathering will operate under the Incident Command System, with Lyn Carpenter at the Incident Commander. There will be a separate operationssection chief to handle the law enforcement operations for the gathering. The Operations chief will be Jim Scott, with two patrol supervisors.

operations chief (Le): JIM SCOTT

Law Enforcement Liaison Bruce HALDONADO

Deputy LEL DAVE CLARK

Shift Supervisor (12A to 12P) MIKE ASHBY

shift Supervisor (12P to 12A) JOHN SMITH

Beginning the morning of 6/19/96 pair of officers will be placed at the intersection of FDR 3173 and FDR 3238 Once manpower is available this post will be maintained on a 24 hr basis. FDR 3236 re closed by a Supervisor's Order, pour officers will patrol the main Gathering after +he v.s. Park Police Mounted arrive they will be placed an day shift (10AM to 10 pm) and will patrol the main gathering along with four officers on foot or bicycles.

NO PATROLS WILL BE Made INSIDE OF Main GATHERING After DARK.

A law enforcement staging area will be set up .6 miles west of the main gate of the Gathering on FDR 3173, a officer will be at the staging area on a 24 hour basis to monitor radio communications. Officers at staging area will keep the generator fueled and monitor parking in parking area. Holding pens for the horses will be eat up at the staging area for the mounted units to use during lunch breaks.

Checkpoints will be used on FDR 3173 to monitor traffic and posted speed limits will be enforced, FDR 3173 is posted at (20mph). Missouri motor vehicle code will also be enforced on a11 roads in the area.

Parking along FDR 3173 and FDR 4155 will not be allowed and vehicles parked along that roadway will be towed.

Oregon County Sheriff Dept. will provide support of 3 to 4 officers on as, needed basis. Missouri Department of Conservation officers will assist when when available. Missouri State Water Patrol officers will work on June 21 thru June 23 to assist officers with Speed checkpoints on Forest Development Roads.

Missouri State Highway Patrol will set up mobile radio communications unit at the Thomasville Command Center to be operational on July i, 1996 and rico a mobile repeater at the staging area to enable officers to obtain NCIC and other law enforcement information via radio while working this· event.

A highway Patrol dispatcher will In place in the Thomasville Command Center from July 1 thru July 7 on a 24 hour basis.

Missouri State Highway patrol Officers will assist with the Gathering with Officers assigned to the incident July 1 thru July 7.

Officer Assignments

10 officers will be assigned to the morning shift. (12 am to 12 pm)

Shift supervisor Smith

(1) D. DEASON USFS
(2) M. BORCOVAN USFS
(3) D. Hamilton USFS
(4) B. Roemeling USFS
(5) R. Portwood USFS
(6) R. Klein USFS
(1) R. RANDALL USFS
(a) S. WYRSCH USFS
(9) J. RAY USFS
(10) E. Miller USFS

13 officers will be assigned to the afternoon shift (12pm to 12 am)

Shift Supervisor (Ashby)

(1) J. Stewart USFS
(2) C. Turpin USFS
(3) M. STEPHENS USFS
(4) J. Wright USFS
(5) C. ELKINS USFS
(6) R. Bennett USFS
(7) C.W. Smith USFS
(8) S. Hudson USFS
(9) H. RHODEs USFS
(10) M. Peterson USFS
(11) B. Severson USFS
(12) D. ZUNIGA USFS
(13) OFFICER MATARESE USPP

HORSE MOUNTED PATROL

(1) SGT. MORISSETTE USPP
(2) SGT. HORTON USPP
(3) Off. Nail USPP
(4) Off. SABATE UBPP
(5) Off. TRAYNOR USPP
(6) Off. BODDEN USPP
(7) Off. Kang USPP
(8) Off. NEWTON USPP

PATROL OFFICER PROCEDURES

1. The official uniform of the officers agency will be worn by all patrol officers while on duty.

2. Full defensive epuipment, including service weapon, baton and chemical weapons are to be worn at all timea. (certified equipment only)

3. Due to the high temperatures each officer will decide if body armor will be worn.

4. Officers will carry portable radios when outside of their vehicle.

5. Officers will notify a dispatcher (County or Staging area) of all vehicle store before leaving their vehicle. Officers will inform the dispatcher of their location, vehicle license number,and number of occupants in the vehicle. Officer will then notify the dispatcher when they clear the atop and are back in the vehicle.

6. Protective gloves will be worn by officers when conducting eearchee of individuals, vehicles, packs, etc.

7. When possible, all prieonero will be transported in vehicles equipped with transport cages.

8. Individuals arrested will be handcuffed behind their back and searched before being transported.

9. Officers will rsqusllt assistance on all potentially hazardous contacts.

10. All incident reports and violation notices will be turned into the shift supervisor ct the end of each shift.

11. (DO NOT) give out any specific information, provide transportation, or make promises to any forest visitor other then law enforcement personnel or forest service personnel.

12. Shift Supervisor and Operations chief decisions are final in all law enforcement matters.

13. All patrol offlcere are to be present at the shift briefings at the beginning of their shift.

14. All patrol officers err to brief their shift supervisor at the end of their shift as to significant events encountered and other information which the relieving shift may need to know.


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