Nevada Department of Corrections

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Nevada Department of Corrections
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Towers Posts
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What is a Tower?

• Dictionary.com Unabridged tower1 Pronunciation
• tou-er
• noun
• 1.a building or structure high in proportion to
  its lateral dimensions, either isolated or
  forming part of a building.
• 2.such a structure used as or intended for a
  stronghold, fortress, prison, etc.

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The Backbone of Prison Security
Hey, Im being stabbed

• Staff must be
• Alert
• Use Sound Judgment
• Qualified on weapons
• Respond quickly to emergencies

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Tower Officers

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

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Tower Officers

• Each tower officer is responsible for both sides
  of their assigned perimeter fences.
  Additionally, theyre responsible for everything
  within sight or hearing 360 degrees

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Access to Towers

• Tower officers must know the identity of all
  persons attempting to enter their assigned tower
• A supervisor may check your tower at any time

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Tower Entry

• Tower officer will identify any person
  approaching the tower
• Tower officer will then let staff member in
• Entering staff will look around the area before
  opening the door, enter the tower, and
  immediately lock the door behind them

Identify Yourself
Its Sgt. Smith
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Tower Duties

• 1. Be trained in the post orders for a particular
  tower before assuming duty in it.
• 2. Always check the Continuing Inventory of
  Equipment. Discrepancies must be reported to the
  Shift commander.
• 3. Check the condition of all equipment. Report
  all discrepancies. Officers will not attempt to
  repair defective equipment.
• 4. Ensure that no unauthorized reading materials,
  radios, or other unauthorized items are present
  in the tower.

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Tower Duties

• 5. Determine which inmates are outside the
  fences or perimeters and the areas in which they
  are working.
• 6. Check sensor devices, if present.
• 7. 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.

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First 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

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Officer Duties

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

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Maintain constant watch

• Closely observe everything within sight
• Observe both sides of the fences and walls
• Report any suspicious activities to your shift
  commander

Stop or Ill shoot
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Be Alert to Sounds

• Become familiar to sounds that occur from day to
  day
• Lack of these sounds could mean problems
• Get Help

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Distractions

• Avoid distractions
• Inmates create distractions
• Keep vigilant of the entire area even during an
  incident

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Inmate Work Crews

• Observe inmates working in the immediate area
• Be aware of their job assignments
• When they are supposed to be done
• The number of inmates working

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Vehicular traffic and parking lots

• 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

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Gate operations

• Some towers operate gates to the outside of the
  institution
• Do not open two gates at the same time

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Challenging Procedures

• Do not allow anyone to approach your tower
  without challenging them
• verbally
• hand signal
• signaling device

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Mandatory Response

• Mandatory to answer the challenge from a tower
• Fails to acknowledge the challenge, the tower
  officer will cover that person with a weapon
  until
• positive identification
• supervisor authorizes

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Unauthorized activity

• Observe any unusual or unauthorized inmate
  activity in view of your tower and report it to
  the Shift Commander

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Living Units

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

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Yard Areas

• 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

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Off-limit Areas

• Only authorized inmate work parties
• All other inmates unauthorized
• Staff will notify towers when touring these areas

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Security Check-in

• Operational procedures require tower officers to
  periodically check in to a designated location at
  specified times during the shift. If you dont,
  a welfare check will be initiated on you and your
  post

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Visibility

• Officer should be visible while staff are on the
  yard
• Roof Posts should tour their roof area
• Lights should stay off during dark periods so
  staff are not silhouetted

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Escorts

• During dark hours no inmate should be outside
  buildings unescorted
• if one is spotted it should be considered an
  escape attempt
• Tower Officers will be notified of any escorts
  day or night

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Spotlight Operation

• Towers equipped with spotlights have procedures
  and post orders that require the officer to run
  the spotlight within the surveillance area at
  certain times

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Weapons

• Weapons will be fully loaded, chamber will be
  empty
• Weapons and ammunition will be kept in a location
  to ensure immediate availability when needed
• Thorough cleaning and dismantling will only be
  done by the ARMORY OFFICER

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Weapons

• 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

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Weapons

• If you drop the weapon or ammunition off of the
  tower, you will
• Immediately notify central control
• Get another weapon from the tower and cover the
  dropped gear until it is recovered by an officer.
  Do not allow an inmate to approach it

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Discharge of Weapons

• 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

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Discharge 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

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Other Guidelines

• The following are additional guidelines a tower
  officer should be aware of
• Use of Force Reports
• Sick / incapacitated
• Telephones
• Hostage situations

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Prohibited Tower Activities

• 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