Nevada Department of Nevada Department of CorrectionsCorrections

Towers & PostsTowers & Posts

What is a Tower?

• Dictionary.com Unabridged tow·er1 Pronunciation

• [tou-er]• –noun • 1.a building or structure 1.a building or structure

high in proportion to its high in proportion to its lateral dimensions, either lateral dimensions, either isolated or forming part of isolated or forming part of a building. a building.

• 2.such a structure used 2.such a structure used as or intended for a as or intended for a stronghold, fortress, stronghold, fortress, prison, etc.prison, etc.

The Backbone of Prison SecurityThe Backbone of Prison Security

Staff must be:Staff must be:

– AlertAlert

– Use Sound JudgmentUse Sound Judgment

– Qualified on weaponsQualified on weapons

– Respond quickly to Respond quickly to emergenciesemergencies

Hey, I’m being stabbed

Tower Officers;Tower Officers;

the first and last the first and last line of defense line of defense protecting the protecting the public, staff, public, staff, inmates, and inmates, and everyone else everyone else

inside the inside the institutioninstitution

Tower Officers;Tower Officers;

Each tower officer is Each tower officer is responsible for both responsible for both

sides of their sides of their assigned perimeter assigned perimeter

fences. fences. Additionally, they’re Additionally, they’re

responsible for responsible for everything within everything within

sight or hearing 360 sight or hearing 360 degreesdegrees

Access to TowersAccess to Towers

• Tower officers must Tower officers must know the identity of all know the identity of all persons attempting to persons attempting to enter their assigned enter their assigned tower tower

• A supervisor may A supervisor may check your tower at check your tower at any timeany time

Tower EntryTower Entry

• Tower officer will identify any person Tower officer will identify any person approaching the towerapproaching the tower

• Tower officer will then let staff member inTower officer will then let staff member in

• Entering staff will look around the area Entering staff will look around the area before opening the door, enter the tower, before opening the door, enter the tower, and immediately lock the door behind themand immediately lock the door behind them

Identify Identify YourselfYourself

It’s Sgt. It’s Sgt. SmithSmith

Tower DutiesTower Duties1.1. Be trained in the post orders for a particular tower before Be trained in the post orders for a particular tower before

assuming duty in it.assuming duty in it.

2.2. Always check the Continuing Inventory of Equipment. Always check the Continuing Inventory of Equipment. Discrepancies must be reported to the Shift commander.Discrepancies must be reported to the Shift commander.

3.3. Check the condition of all equipment. Report all Check the condition of all equipment. Report all discrepancies. Officers will not attempt to repair discrepancies. Officers will not attempt to repair defective equipment.defective equipment.

4.4. Ensure that no unauthorized reading materials, radios, or Ensure that no unauthorized reading materials, radios, or other unauthorized items are present in the tower.other unauthorized items are present in the tower.

Tower DutiesTower Duties5.5. Determine which Determine which

inmates are outside the inmates are outside the fences or perimeters and fences or perimeters and the areas in which they the areas in which they are working.are working.

6.6. Check sensor devices, if Check sensor devices, if present.present.

7.7. Check emergency keys.Check emergency keys.

8. Look for construction materials or objects that obstruct your line of sight and report it to the Shift Commander. Report any ropes, ladders, or objects that can be used to escape. Report burned out lights.

9. The off-going tower officer should brief the oncoming officer with all new orders or activities relevant to the post.

First Time in a TowerFirst Time in a Tower

• look over the area carefully for security breaches

• “If I were an inmate, how would I escape past this tower?”

• pay special attention

to those weak spots

Officer DutiesOfficer Duties

• all towers are different, but all towers are different, but there are some operational there are some operational rules that are standard for rules that are standard for all tower assignments.all tower assignments.

– They are:

• Closely observe everything within Closely observe everything within sight sight

• Observe both sides of the fences and Observe both sides of the fences and walls walls

• Report any suspicious activities to Report any suspicious activities to your shift commander your shift commander

Stop or Stop or I’ll shootI’ll shoot

Maintain constant watchMaintain constant watch

Be Alert to SoundsBe Alert to Sounds

• Become familiar to sounds that occur from day to day

• Lack of these sounds could mean problems

• Get Help

DistractionsDistractions

• Avoid distractions

• Inmates create distractions

• Keep vigilant of the entire area even during an incident

Inmate Work CrewsInmate Work Crews

• Observe inmates working in the Observe inmates working in the immediate area immediate area

• Be aware of their job assignments Be aware of their job assignments

• When they are supposed to be doneWhen they are supposed to be done

• The number of inmates workingThe number of inmates working

• Observe all traffic and parking lots

• All vehicles approaching your tower should have prior clearance

• If an unknown vehicle approaches without clearance, signal it to stop and have the occupants identify themselves

Vehicular traffic and parking lotsVehicular traffic and parking lots

• Some towers operate gates to the outside of the institution

• Do not open two gates at the same time

Gate operationsGate operations

• Do not allow anyone to approach your tower without challenging them

– verbally

– hand signal

– signaling device

Challenging ProceduresChallenging Procedures

• Mandatory to answer the challenge from a Mandatory to answer the challenge from a tower tower

• Fails to acknowledge the challenge, the Fails to acknowledge the challenge, the tower officer will cover that person with a tower officer will cover that person with a weapon untilweapon until

– positive identification positive identification

– supervisor authorizes supervisor authorizes

Mandatory ResponseMandatory Response

Observe any unusual or unauthorized Observe any unusual or unauthorized inmate activity in view of your tower inmate activity in view of your tower

and report it to the Shift Commanderand report it to the Shift Commander

Unauthorized activityUnauthorized activity

Observe living units and their roofs for unusual activity. You should receive prior clearance for anyone to be on

any roof

Living UnitsLiving Units

• This will most likely be your main focus when inmates are out

• During recall all inmates must leave the yard

• Report to main control if an inmate is not yet off the yard

Yard AreasYard Areas

• Only authorized inmate work partiesOnly authorized inmate work parties

• All other inmates unauthorizedAll other inmates unauthorized

• Staff will notify towers when touring Staff will notify towers when touring these areasthese areas

Off-limit AreasOff-limit Areas

Operational procedures require Operational procedures require tower officers to periodically tower officers to periodically

check in to a designated check in to a designated location at specified times location at specified times

during the shift. If you don’t, a during the shift. If you don’t, a welfare check will be initiated welfare check will be initiated

on you and your poston you and your post

Security Check-inSecurity Check-in

• Officer should be visible while staff Officer should be visible while staff are on the yardare on the yard

• Roof Posts should tour their roof areaRoof Posts should tour their roof area

• Lights should stay off during dark Lights should stay off during dark periods so staff are not silhouetted periods so staff are not silhouetted

VisibilityVisibility

• During dark hours no inmate should During dark hours no inmate should be outside buildings unescorted be outside buildings unescorted – if one is spotted it should be considered if one is spotted it should be considered

an escape attemptan escape attempt

• Tower Officers will be notified of any Tower Officers will be notified of any escorts day or nightescorts day or night

EscortsEscorts

Towers equipped with Towers equipped with spotlights have procedures spotlights have procedures and post orders that require and post orders that require

the officer to run the spotlight the officer to run the spotlight within the surveillance area within the surveillance area

at certain timesat certain times

Spotlight OperationSpotlight Operation

• Weapons will be fully loaded, chamber will Weapons will be fully loaded, chamber will be empty be empty

• Weapons and ammunition will be kept in a Weapons and ammunition will be kept in a location to ensure immediate availability location to ensure immediate availability when neededwhen needed

• Thorough cleaning and dismantling will Thorough cleaning and dismantling will only be done by the only be done by the ARMORY OFFICERARMORY OFFICER

WeaponsWeapons

• Weapons and sights ARE NOT repaired or adjusted by tower officers. These are only done by the Armory Officer

• Do not set the weapon on window ledges, rails, etc

• Whenever you exit the tower observation room and walk the catwalk, be sure you have a weapon with you – Failure to do so can result in disciplinary action

WeaponsWeapons

• If you drop the weapon or If you drop the weapon or ammunition off of the tower, you will ammunition off of the tower, you will

– Immediately notify central control Immediately notify central control

– Get another weapon from the tower and Get another weapon from the tower and cover the dropped gear until it is cover the dropped gear until it is recovered by an officer. recovered by an officer. Do not allow Do not allow an inmate to approach itan inmate to approach it

WeaponsWeapons

• Each officer must be able to interpret events that only he sees without having the benefit of checking with a senior officer

• Here are some guidelines that may

necessitate using firearms – Prevent escapes– Quell a disturbance– Quell an attempted arson– Prevent attacks on staff, visitors and other

inmates– When ordered to fire by a Command Officer

Discharge of WeaponsDischarge of Weapons

• Whenever you are required to use force, do not use any more than is necessary to control the situation

• You must be able to assess the whole situation in light of established procedures

Discharge of WeaponsDischarge of Weapons

• The following are additional guidelines a tower officer should be aware of

– Use of Force Reports – Sick / incapacitated – Telephones – Hostage situations

Other GuidelinesOther Guidelines

• Sleeping on duty;• Cooking within the tower, except with the

appliances provided;• Writing or reading, other than reading Post

Orders;• Playing radios or tape recorders;• Operating alarm clocks;• Operating cameras;• Conducting activities that have not been

approved by the Shift Commander

Prohibited Tower ActivitiesProhibited Tower Activities