The recent turmoil in Baltimore has tested the readiness and planning of America's 11th largest police force. The images shown across the world of an East-Coast American City's police department struggling to contain overwhelming numbers of crowds and sporadic looting, as well as stay protected from rocks and bricks being thrown at them highlights the need for effective training and pragmatic planning for crowd control. Military veterans are well trained in crowd control, and various journalists have asked for veterans to offer their assessment of police departments' handling of crowd control in comparison to their experiences and military protocol. A common critique is the lack of proper de-escalation of conflict, which military experts have said only contributes to an escalation of hostility and violence. The United States Army's Techniques Manual, which was updated in March of 2015, offers the following important points for the prevention of crowd escalation:

Act quickly

If security teams or the authorities credibly feel that a crowd may riot, they should immediately engage crowd participants using preventive tactics, techniques, and procedures, and not point lethal weapons at the crowd, which will only agitate them.

Engage with the crowd, and record if possible

Engaging people as a crowd forms is essential and should be done early, before the crowd forms as a perceived unidentifiable mass. They should understand their presence is known, documented, and can be linked to their actions. Once the security team has taken a picture of a person or group of people, they should warn the crowd that as individuals they would be held accountable for their actions.

Make sure there are clear paths

Clear routes are essential for all parties involved, and must be controlled. Blocking routes or public thoroughfares is not only illegal, but severely restrictive to civil disturbance operations. Routes must remain open in case of injuries and for emergency personnel to respond.

Detain persons committing unlawful acts

Immediately detain persons who are committing unlawful acts and are isolated or easily accessible, unless this endanger the security team. If it is not feasible to immediately detain them, record all relevant information, and make it available to supervisors and law enforcement personnel.  

Security Professionals must always remember that everyone has the ability to exercise their 1st Amendment rights. However, precautions must be taken to ensure all activities remain peaceful, and non-confrontational.