1. Riot Baton and Formations
CROWD CONTROL
Riot Baton and Formations

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3. RIOT TEAM
Must be prepared to confront and neutralize large crowds that would threaten the security of the public and disturb the peace.
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4. RIOT TRAINING PHILOSOPHY
A full riot team is composed of fifteen (15) people, trained and drilled to move in areas of disturbance, with adequate equipment, and to do one of four things:
Contain crowd activity
Assault or divide a crowd
Move or guide a crowd
Extract a hostage or any injured personnel
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5. UNIT RIOT TEAM MOVEMENT
Unit Riot team movement is dependent upon the situation and the distance to be covered.
Double Time
controlled jog in formation
usually a single or double column
designed to cover great distances with no opposition
the preparatory command is “Team at a Double Time”
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6. UNIT RIOT TEAM MOVEMENT
 Full Step
normal stride, in formation
designed to cover large distances with little opposition
the preparatory command is “Team at Full Step”
 Half Step
approximately an eighteen-inch step in formation
to move at a slower pace or over a short distance with increased opposition
the preparatory command is “Team at Half Step”
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7. UNIT RIOT TEAM MOVEMENT
Mark Time
normally a half-step in place
designed to allow the squad to regroup or encounter a specific problem
the preparatory command is “Team – Mark Time”
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8. TEAM STANCES There are three basic team stances in formation:
Rest Position
Feet are shoulder-width apart
Arms lowered down by side
Baton held in a relaxed, ready position
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9. TEAM STANCES Ready Position The feet are shoulder-width apart
Baton held diagonally across the body at 45 degrees
About 2-4 inches from the chest
Assumed position in any team formation
Utilized when moving from one place to another
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10. TEAM STANCES On Guard Position Feet are in a “T” shaped stance
Knees slightly bent
Elbows in close to the body
Baton held at waist level, pointing towards the rioters
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11. RIOT FORMATIONS The Column Used in moving from one area to another
All team members:
line up in a straight column, one behind the other
look straightforward
stand in the “ready position”
count off and determine each member’s position
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12. RIOT FORMATIONS THE COLUMN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
- TEAM LEADER
- POINT MAN
THE COLUMN
- CHEMICAL AGENTS
- ASSISTANT TEAM LEADER
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13. RIOT FORMATIONS The Line Used primarily to move a crowd straight back
Point Man (#2) goes to a location designated by the team leader
The remainder of the team:
automatically follows the Point Man
lines up with the even numbered officers to the right and the odd to the left
aligns themselves in sequence on line with the Point Man one pace apart
distance may be increased or decreased as necessary by the leader
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14. RIOT FORMATIONS THE LINE 13 11 9 7 5 3 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 1 15 X
POINT MAN 1 15 X
TEAM LEADER
ASSISTANT TEAM LEADER
CHEMICAL AGENTS
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15. RIOT FORMATIONS The Wedge
Designed to split a large group into two smaller entities
Small groups can then be controlled by additional support teams
Point Man (#2) to go to a location designated by the Team Leader
The remainder of the team:
automatically follows the Point Man
lines up with the even numbered officers on the right and the odd to the left
align themselves in sequence one pace apart and one pace behind the Point Man
This distance may be increased or decreased as necessary.
After assuming the “Wedge”, the officers:
automatically assume the “on-guard” position
await further orders
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16. RIOT FORMATIONS THE WEDGE 2 3 4 5 6 1 7 8 9 10 11 12 15 13 X
- POINT MAN 2 3 4 5 6 1 7 8 9 10
- TEAM LEADER 11 12 15 13 X
- ASSISTANT TEAM LEADER
CHEMICAL AGENTS
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17. RIOT FORMATIONS The Diagonal Left and Diagonal Right
Designed to move a crowd away from a barrier such as a barricade or wall
Can be used to turn a crowd
Point Man (#2) goes to a location designated by the Team leader
The remainder of the team:
automatically follows the Point Man
lines up in numerical sequence one pace apart and behind the officer in front
dependent upon the direction of the diagonal
After forming the diagonal, the officers will:
assume the “on-guard” position
await further orders
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18. RIOT FORMATIONS THE DIAGONAL LEFT 2 3 4 5 1 6 7 8 9 10 X 11 15 12 13
- POINT MAN 2 3 4 5 1 6 7
- TEAM LEADER 8 9 10 X 11 15 12
CHEMICAL AGENTS 13
- ASSISTANT TEAM LEADER
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19. RIOT FORMATIONS THE DIAGONAL RIGHT 2 3 4 5 1 6 7 8 9 X 10 11 15 12 13
- POINT MAN 2 3 4 5 1 6 7
- TEAM LEADER 8 9 X 10 11 15
CHEMICAL AGENTS 12 13
- ASSISTANT TEAM LEADER
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20. RIOT FORMATIONS The Diamond
Used to penetrate a crowd and extract a hostage or injured person
Formed by placing two wedge formations back-to-back, facing opposite directions
Formed by a single team or a combination of two or more teams
Extremely difficult to execute
Should ONLY be used by a well-drilled and experienced team
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21. RIOT FORMATIONS THE DIAMOND 3 4 2 5 6 7 8 1 9 10 15 12 11 X 13 13 11
- POINT MAN 8 1 9 10 15
- TEAM LEADER 12 11 X
- ASSISTANT TEAM LEADER 13
CHEMICAL AGENTS 13 11
- ASSISTANT TEAM LEADER
- TEAM LEADER 12 1 9 15 10
- POINT MAN 7 8 5 6 2
THE
DIAMOND 4 3
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22. RIOT BATONS Riot Baton Use-of-force equipment
Used primarily for defense
Should only be used to prevent:
serious bodily injury to another person
serious property damage
The baton will never be used to punish.
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23. STRIKE POINTS Strike Points
Places on the body to target with the baton.
The baton is an invaluable tool for use in any disturbance control situation.
Officers using riot control batons MUST have a thorough knowledge of the vulnerable points on the human body.
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24. STRIKE POINTS Upper Arm- between the elbow and shoulder
Thigh – Outside or Inside
between the hip and knee
Upper Arm- between the
elbow and shoulder
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25. STRIKE POINTS
Abdomen
The baton can be used to punch someone in the abdomen to keep them away.
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26. FATAL or PERMANENT DAMAGE IMPACT POINTS
Head
Neck and throat
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27. FATAL or PERMANENT DAMAGE IMPACT POINTS
Lower Sternum
Joints
(knees, elbows)
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28. FATAL or PERMANENT DAMAGE IMPACT POINTS
Genitals
Kidneys
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29. RIOT BATON GRIPS Two-Handed Grip The preferred grip The strong hand:
holds the baton with a firm grip
palm down
The weak hand:
will be on the strike end of the baton
2-4 inches from the end to prevent injury
palm up, with a firm grip
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30. RIOT BATON GRIPS One-Handed Grip Officer’s strong arm only
Grasps the baton handle firmly
Keeps the baton close to his body to maintain possession
The weak arm used to:
protect the body, with or without a shield
take an additional hold on the baton handle to provide a more controlled and powerful strike
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31. RIOT BATON MOVEMENTS Two-Handed Thrust Made from the on guard stance
Body is thrust forward rapidly by advancing the left foot
Left arm
snapped fully straight
drives the striking end of the baton into a strike point
The officer must never direct at the permanent or fatal impact points
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32. RIOT BATON MOVEMENTS One or Two Hand Strike Made from any stance
Body is thrust forward rapidly by advancing the foot opposite the side the strike is being performed
Striking arm is snapped straight
Directs the striking end of the baton to a strike
To prevent the opponents from taking control
Baton MUST be utilized in a combination of strikes OR
Quickly returned to the officer’s body
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33. RIOT BATON MOVEMENTS Butt Stroke Delivered from the on guard position
Made by advancing the body rapidly off the foot
Right arm is snapped straight
Handle of the baton is driven to the left, striking the opponent’s shoulder, chest, or collarbone
Left hand is kept even with the left shoulder
After delivering the blow, the officer returns to the on guard position.
The butt stroke can be fatal if the side of the neck or head is struck.
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34. RIOT BATON MOVEMENTS Baton Smash
Delivered from the rest, ready, or on guard positions
Baton is held horizontal to the ground, chest high
Executed by advancing the left foot rapidly
Both arms are snapped straight, smashing the length of the baton across the opponent’s chest
After delivering the smash, the officer returns to the on guard position.
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35. SUMMARY
The officer who is skillful in using a riot baton can adequately cope with most situations that require physical restraint.
Defensive techniques enable officers to defend against blows against armed or unarmed attackers.
The officer can utilize offensive techniques listed previously in a defensive manner to protect themselves.
Riot Team officers must be trained with the baton to the point that they use the various techniques automatically.
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36. RESOURCES
Correctional Officer Resource Guide 3rd edition by American Correctional Association
Photos by Amy Wood
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