U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Guide for Small Unit Commanders and Troops in the Control of Civil Disorders

NCJ Number
82775
Date Published
Unknown
Length
26 pages
Annotation
Guidelines are provided for small-unit commanders and military troops in the control of civil disorder, with particular attention to the experiences of the 82nd Airborne Division, which was used in the Detroit civil disorder.
Abstract
Following a discussion of the nature of civil disorder, the use of the 82nd Airborne Division in control of civil disorders is discussed. Topics considered are the circumstances under which Federal troops are committed to control civil disorder, emergency intervention, martial law, legal considerations, apprehension and detention of civilians, cooperation with civil authorities, troop-civilian relations, and press relations. The description of organization portrays the deployment of the rifle company for control of civil disorders, and the establishment of the company command post is discussed. Guidelines for operations in control of civil disorder cover command and control, show-of-force operations, patrolling, mounted patrols, foot patrols, conduct of reliefs, antisniper operations, looting and vandalism, 'troop-baiting,' operational communications, acceptance of gifts from civilians, use of chemical agents, when to lock and load, when to fire, armed and friendly civilians, curfews and their enforcement, and withdrawal from areas of responsibility. Guildelines are also provided for intelligence work.