Henry Porretto Offers Tactics for Crowd Control

(Newswire.net — February 1, 2018) Mathis, Texas — Violence at political and social demonstrations in recent years has captivated media outlets around the world. What began as peaceful assemblies descended into chaos, causing property damage, injury, and even death at the hands of unlawful demonstrators. Law enforcement officials around the country have struggled to keep the peace when violence erupts, and experienced police consultant Henry S. Porretto now offers time-tested tactics for helping to control unruly crowds. Specially-trained crowd control teams now feature prominently in larger police departments, while smaller agencies can learn from the techniques these larger teams have employed to quell civil disturbances. “Civic speeches, concerts, and rallies have been marred by violent actions by demonstrators,” says Mr. Porretto. “There are a number of tactics that police agencies should master in order to bring about a peaceful resolution to these violent demonstrations.” To learn more about Mr. Porretto and his work in the law enforcement field, visit https://www.crunchbase.com/person/henry-porretto.

The most critical of these tactics is communication. Communication on the part of the police department with news media, event organizers, and individuals in the crowd is paramount in reinforcing positive relationships, even in violent protests. New technologies have enabled police officers to communicate clearly with event attendees more efficiently and effectively. Another aspect that can benefit law enforcement engagement with protesters is understanding crowd dynamics. Knowing that even in peaceful demonstrations, otherwise calm people may act out if event leaders are seen behaving unlawfully. Police personnel should take extra efforts to observe events as they develop, keeping a particular eye out for emerging threats of violence.

Classic crowd control tactics like team arrests and mobile field force maneuvers can quickly bring about peaceful dispersion of a protest gone sour. Officers must be trained in these methods, such as forming lines and wedge formations to separate competing groups or to isolate small groups engaged in violent behaviors. Being able to operate as a cohesive team can be seen as a force multiplier. “More can be accomplished by a small, well-trained team than a larger group of untrained personnel,” says Henry Porretto, who has worked in the law enforcement field for over 30 years. Once officers are comfortable with the movements and crowd dynamics through training, they are more able to identify and respond to violent elements before it can spill out into the larger crowd. Plainclothes observers and undercover officers can also infiltrate groups of protesters, helping to identify group leaders and spot threats more quickly.

Finally, equipment is an important part of the crowd control dynamic. Personal protective equipment can reduce or even eliminate injuries to law enforcement officers, while body cameras and video recording from strategic vantage points can provide protection against rumors and misinformation, both on the part of protesters and by news media reporting. With these tools, police departments are more able to respond to threats and to do so with less risk of injury or chaos. For more information on Mr. Porretto, visit https://everipedia.org/wiki/henry-s-porretto/.