I. PURPOSEThe purpose of this policy is to provide law enforce-ment officers with guidelines for the execution of asearch warrant.

II. POLICYIt is the policy of this law enforcement agency to pro-vide techniques to accomplish a thorough and legalsearch; respect the constitutional rights of the per-son(s) the warrant is being served upon; minimize thelevel of intrusion experienced by those who are hav-ing their premises searched; provide for the safety forall persons concerned; and establish a record of thewarrant execution process.

III. DEFINITIONSSearch Site: The premises to be searched, as explic-

itly stated in the search warrant.Search Personnel: Law enforcement officers and

supporting personnel taking part in the execution of asearch warrant.

Evidence Collector: Member of the search teamresponsible for the possession, packaging, sealing, andmarking of all items seized.

Case Agent: The officer primarily responsible forthe investigation, and preparing, planning, and imple-menting the search warrant.

Tactical Coordinator: The officer responsible forplanning and supervising tactical operations toinclude dynamic entry and other tasks requiring spe-cial weapons and tactically trained officers.

Protective Sweep: Quick and limited search ofpremises incident to an arrest or service of a warrantperformed in order to identify weapons or other dan-gers to officers or others. Officers must be able to artic-

ulate a reasonable basis for conducting a protectivesweep.

IV. PROCEDURESA. Warrant Service Planning1. The case agent shall advise and receive approval

from his or her supervisor before serving the war-rant.

2. Selection of officers to serve the warrant shall bebased on the officers’ prior training and experiencein conducting warrant service consistent with thedemands of the warrant service in question.

3. The case agent shall ensure the complete prepara-tion for serving the warrant in accordance with itsnature and complexity and in consultation withthe prosecutor if necessary. (A checklist of possibleissues that may be considered in the planningprocess is attached to this policy for reference).These tasks include but are not limited to the fol-lowing:a. Gather intelligence on the target site to include

the structure, immediate area surrounding thestructure, and surrounding neighborhood.

b. Assess the capabilities and backgrounds of sus-pects to include criminal records, and history ofweapons usage and potential for violence.

c. Determine the best date and time for warrantexecution. The warrant shall be executed assoon as practicable as defined by state law.

d. Determine equipment, team personnel, andany specialized team requirements.

e. Secure a warrant and ensure that it is thor-oughly reviewed for accuracy, legal integrity,and completeness. (1) No-knock entries, where legally permitted

and specified in the warrant, shall be con-

Model PolicyEXECUTING SEARCHWARRANTS

Effective Date NumberFebruary 2005

SubjectExecuting Search Warrants

Reference Special Instructions

Distribution Reevaluation Date No. Pages5

ducted in accordance with state law.(2) The need for a no-knock warrant shall be

clearly specified in the application and affi-davit for a warrant.

(3) Should nighttime service be anticipated ordesired, justification shall be included inthe affidavit and must be authorized in thesearch warrant.

(4) The tactical team commander shall be con-sulted whenever a warrant calls for no-knock entry, nighttime entry, or serviceinvolving drugs or subjects deemed partic-ularly dangerous.

B. Preparation for Executing the Warrant1. The case agent and tactical coordinator, where

required, work cooperatively to ensure properpreparation, planning, and service of the warrant.They shall detail procedures for executing the war-rant to all team members in a warrant service brief-ing. The plan briefing shall be conducted by boththe case agent and tactical coordinator and willinclude but not necessarily be limited to the fol-lowing:a. The specific items subject to the search as

defined in the warrant and any available infor-mation on their location.

b. Information concerning the structure to besearch and surroundings, to include floor planswhere available, mockups, photos, and dia-grams of the location identifying entrances,exits, obstructions, fortifications, garages, out-lying buildings, suspect vehicles, and all otherpoints of concern.

c. Suspects and other occupants who may be pre-sent at the location—incorporating photos orsketches whenever possible—with emphasison suspect threat potential, as well as the pres-ence of children, the elderly or others who maynot be involved with suspects.

d. A complete review of the tactical plan toinclude the staging area, route of approach;individual assignments for entry, search, man-agement of evidence, custody and handling ofseized vehicles, custody of prisoners, and post-execution duties such as securing the locationand conducting surveillance on the site foradditional suspects.

e. Personnel, resources, or armament necessaryfor gaining entry, safety and security of officers,or for conducting the search.

f. If a joint agency task force operation, all officersparticipating in the warrant service shall bepresent and identified as members of the war-rant service team.

g. Contingency plans for encountering hazardousmaterials, canines, booby traps, fortifications orrelated hazards; measures to take in case of

injury or accident, to include the nearest loca-tion of trauma or emergency care facilities.

h. Procedures for exiting the location under emer-gency conditions.

2. The entry team shall at all times include uniformedofficers who shall be conspicuously present wherethe warrant is served. All non-uniformed officersshall be clearly identified as law enforcement offi-cers by a distinctive jacket or some other conspicu-ous indicator of office.

3. All members of the search team shall wear bodyarmor or ballistic vests as designated by the caseagent.

4. Prior to execution of the warrant, the case agentshall attempt to determine if any circumstanceshave changed that make executing the search war-rant undesirable at that time. Where possible, pre-search surveillance shall be conducted up to thepoint at which the warrant is executed.

5. The case agent shall make a final assessment of thewarrant’s accuracy in relationship to the locationto be searched.

6. The case agent shall ensure that the entire searchwarrant execution process is documented until thesearch team leaves the premises. A written recordshall be supported by photographs and, if practi-cal, videotaping of the entire search process.

C. Entry Procedures1. If an advance surveillance team is at the target site,

radio contact shall be made to ensure that the war-rant can be served according to plan.

2. The search personnel shall position themselves inaccordance with the execution plan.

3. Notificationa. An easily identifiable police officer shall knock

and notify persons inside the search site, in avoice loud enough to be heard inside thepremises, that he/she is a police officer and hasa warrant to search the premises, and thathe/she demands entry to the premises at once.

b. Following the knock and announce, officersshall delay entry for an appropriate period oftime based on the size and nature of the targetsite and time of day to provide a reasonableopportunity for an occupant to respond (nor-mally between 15 and 20 seconds). If there isreasonable suspicion to believe that the delaywould create unreasonable risks to the officersor others, inhibit the effectiveness of the inves-tigation, or would permit the destruction ofevidence, entry may be made as soon as practi-cable.

D. On-Premises Activities1. Upon entry, the occupant shall be given a copy of

the search warrant.2. The supervisory officer shall ensure that a protec-

tive sweep of the site is performed immediately.

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3. After the site has been secured, a photographicand/or videotape record of the premises shall bemade prior to conducting the search. Search per-sonnel shall then follow the plan that details thelikely whereabouts of the items to be seized andthe order of operation for conducting the search.

4. Items specified in the warrant may be searched forin places where they may reasonably be expectedto be located and seized, as well as other items thatare reasonably recognized as evidence.

5. An officer, designated in the plan, shall be respon-sible for collecting, preserving, and documentingall items seized until possession is transferred tothe evidence custodian, laboratory, or otherauthority.

6. Cash and currency taken as evidence shall be veri-fied by a supervisor and be transported to a sepa-rate safe as designated by department policy.

7. Officers should exercise reasonable care in execut-ing the warrant to minimize damage to property. a. If damage occurs during an entry to premises

that will be left vacant, and the damage mayleave the premises vulnerable to security prob-lems, arrangements shall be made to guard thepremises until it can be secured.

b. If damage occurs, justification for actions thatcaused the damage and a detailed descriptionof the nature and extent of the damage shall bedocumented. Photographs of the damageshould be taken where possible.

8. If items are taken from the search site, an itemizedreceipt shall be provided to the resident/occupant,or in the absence of the same, left in a conspicuouslocation at the site.

9. In a timely manner upon conclusion of the warrantservice, the case agent and tactical coordinatorshall conduct a debriefing of all participating offi-cers.

10. The case agent shall thereafter prepare and submit an after action report on the warrant service, results of actions taken, and recommendations for further investigative actions.

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Every effort has been made by the IACP National Law Enforcement PolicyCenter staff and advisory board to ensure that this model policy incorporates themost current information and contemporary professional judgment on this issue.However, law enforcement administrators should be cautioned that no “model”policy can meet all the needs of any given law enforcement agency. Each lawenforcement agency operates in a unique environment of federal court rulings, statelaws, local ordinances, regulations, judicial and administrative decisions and col-lective bargaining agreements that must be considered. In addition, the formula-tion of specific agency policies must take into account local political and communi-ty perspectives and customs, prerogatives and demands; often divergent lawenforcement strategies and philosophies; and the impact of varied agency resourcecapabilities among other factors.

This project was supported by Grant No. 2000-DD-VX-0020 awarded by theBureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.The Assistant Attorney General, Office of Justice Programs, coordinates the activi-ties of the following program offices and bureaus: the Bureau of Justice Assistance,the Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Institute of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justiceand Delinquency Prevention, and the Office of Victims of Crime. Points of view oropinions in this document are those of the author and do not represent the officialposition or policies of the United States Department of Justice or the IACP.

© Copyright 2005. International Association of Chiefs of Police, Alexandria,Virginia U.S.A. All rights reserved under both international and Pan-Americancopyright conventions. No reproduction of any part of this material may be madewithout prior written consent of the copyright holder.

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Pre-Search Planning ChecklistA. Target Location Considerations

1. Can the site be penetrated by gunfire?2. Does the target site pose a fire hazard?3. Are there underground parking facilities,

attached garages, or additional buildings onthe curtilage?

4. Where are the access points, on upper andlower levels, approach issues related to accesspoints, and points of cover at approachpoint(s)?

5. Which way do doors and windows open?6. Does the target site have an alarm system or

warning device?7. Is there evidence of reinforced entrances or for-

tifications?a. Barred windows or doorsb. Backing mesh

8. Appearance of double locks on doors? 9. Are there any lookouts, and if so, where, how

many, warning devices used, signals?10. Evidence of children, such as bicycles or

swings?11. Evidence of elderly, disabled, handicapped or

other uninvolved persons?12. Unusual obstacles to entrance?13. Can a reasonably accurate floor plan be

obtained or constructed?14. Attitude of neighbors: hostile or friendly?15. Evidence of dogs? If so, how can they best be

control?16. Where is the electrical box and is it accessible?

B. Target Suspect Considerations1. How many suspects and other persons are

involved at the site at particular hours?2. Are they involved in narcotics?3. Is there gang involvement?4. What is the background of the principal sus-

pect(s)?5. Are there recent photographs or sketches of the

suspects?6. What are the capabilities and backgrounds of

suspects?a. Criminal recordb. Previous method of operationc. Likelihood of resistanced. Physical and mental conditions of suspectse. Scope of criminal involvement of suspectsf. Experience in martial artsg. Other abilities/capacities to resist arrest

7. What are the weapons background or suspects?a. Previous record of weapons use;b. Pattern of being armed (e.g., when and

how)

c. Military backgroundd. Access to weaponse. Weapons registered to suspect(s)f. Knowledge of use of explosives

8. Access to transportationa. Registration and description of vehicles;b. Locations of involved vehicles for purpose of

securing them during warrant serviceC. Preparation Considerations

1. Establish date and best time of warrant execu-tion.

2. Establish staging area.3. Establish briefing time and location.4. Additional tactical considerations:

a. Prevention of escapeb. Number of personnel need and assign-

mentsc. Individual and team areas of responsibilityd. Route to location and deployment routee. Security and communications at staging

areaf. Equipment requirements

5. Can the location be secured upon completion ofwarrant service or will officers be needed tosafeguard the location following service?

6. Should a surveillance team be left behind fol-lowing service to identify other persons whomight enter the location?

7. What is the best method of entry and order inwhich personnel should enter?

8. Will diversionary tactics be needed?D. Tools, Equipment, and Specialized Personnel

Considerations1. Based on the target location, suspects involved,

and armament, should SWAT be used to per-form the warrant service or assist? Special con-sideration in this matter should be given to:a. Specialized equipment needed for entry

(e.g., torches, Shotlock)b. Whether the site is fortified, employs look-

outs, booby traps, etcc. Whether the scope, complexity, and danger

of service exceeds the training and experi-ence of officers available

2. Raid jackets or other identification.3. Flashlights (even in daylight for darkened inte-

riors).4. Protective equipment.

a. Soft body armor (mandatory)b. Ballistic vests or shieldsc. Visors or gogglesd. Gloves

5. First aid kits.

6. Sledge hammer.7. Pry bars.8. Radios.

a. Tactical frequency needed and availableb. Earpieces neededc. Batteries charged

9. Additional handcuffs, flexcuffs, or otherrestraints?

10. CO2 fire extinguishers (for animal control andfires)?

11. Evidence bags, boxes, and related containersconsistent with the evidentiary items that needto be collected?

12. Cameras and video recording equipment?Note: a. Consideration should be given to taking

pre- and post- warrant execution pho-tographs of the target location. Photos maybe taken by available team members orwhere necessary, by evidence technicians orrelated forensic personnel.

b. All photographs taken are departmentalproperty and shall be retained in the leaddetectives case folder and/or in evidencestorage.

13. High-intensity lighting, as necessary.14. Canine teams.15. Ambulance or EMT standbys?16. Fire department standby?17. Air support.18. City, county, or state prosecutor.

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