Andrea “Mahigun” Bogiatto
Crowd and civil disturbance operations are among the most complex tasks in modern policing. Urban density, rapid information flow, and the psychological volatility of large groups have rendered improvisation and experience-based approaches increasingly obsolete.
In the United States, analyses by the Department of Justice (“After-Action Assessment of the Police Response to the 2020 Protests,” 2022) and the National Institute of Justice (“Police Response to Mass Demonstrations,” 2020) identified three recurring structural weaknesses: 1) absence of a unified doctrine; 2) fragmented interagency training; and 3) psychological vulnerability of commanders under collective stress.
Unlike the US approach – rooted largely in local response and individual initiative – the Italian Polizia di Stato’s Mobile Units operate from a very different premise: discipline as a collective structure. Their model shifts crowd control work from reactive problem-solving to a predictive, systematized discipline.
Organizational Structure of the Mobile Unit
The Italian Brigade Unit operates as a full-time, highly specialized formation dedicated to crowd management and public order missions. Each squad functions as a self-contained, ten officer module with fixed, nonnegotiable roles and daily collective training to maintain precision and cohesion.
- The team leader directs tactics; sets the psychological tone; and controls formation shape, distance, and timing.
- The deputy leader maintains rear-line discipline, spacing and internal stability.
- Three rectangular shield operators form the primary containment and pressure core.
- Two round shield operators provide lateral protection and handle rotational or pivoting maneuvers.
- The grenadier is authorized to deploy smoke, irritants or other chemical agents as required.
- The logistics/comms operator manages vehicle integration, communications and on the move coordination.
- Two free operators handle extractions, targeted arrests and flanking actions.
Each position is permanent. Improvisation is not acceptable. The formation moves as one coordinated system; every officer maintains precise awareness of spacing, tempo and alignment. The unit functions as an integrated network – fast, accurate and unified in action.
Tactical Formations and Geometric Logic
Formations aren’t static poses; they’re geometric solutions to pressure, distance and threat. Each configuration serves a specific function within a predictable tactical rhythm.
- Line: provides a controlled forward push and structured contact with a crowd;
- Tortoise: delivers maximum overhead and frontal protection against thrown or falling objects;
- Circle: creates a 360° protective shell for extractions, medical recovery or isolating a threat;
- Compact: a tight, reinforced posture designed for narrow streets, choke points or heavy resistance; and
- Pair (Shield + Free): a mobile two-person tactical cell suited for rapid movement, urban angles and dynamic problem-solving.
Formation choice depends on three variables: physical environment, crowd density and emotional temperature. Transitions are executed instinctively, using hand signals and synchronized movement rather than verbal commands.
Evolution of Doctrine – From Compact Formations to Modular Pairs
Until the early 2000s, Italian public order doctrine centered on rigid ten officer blocks – effective for mass control, but slow to adapt. Lessons from major operations in Rome, Turin and Genoa drove a major evolution: the introduction of the binomial module.
A binomial is a two officer team – one shielded, one unshielded – which acts as an autonomous tactical pair. These pairs can maneuver independently, combine with others, or recombine back into the original formation as conditions change.
This shift replaced the old logic of “mass equals control” with “modularity equals efficiency.” The result is a scalable, highly agile system which performs in both open areas and fractured, urbanized terrain.
Responsibility becomes distributed without losing tempo or command coherence. Discipline becomes intelligence in motion.
Psychology and Command Language
The strength of the system is primarily mental, not mechanical. Every movement, pause and glance transmits intent. A commander who relies on shouting projects uncertainty; one who commands through posture, pacing and presence signals control.
Operational communication operates on three synchronized channels:
- Verbal: short, standardized commands delivered with steady cadence (“Advance,” “Hold,” “Stop”);
- Gestural: broad, easily repeatable hand or arm signals which carry down the formation; and
- Kinetic: a shared movement rhythm – about 60–70 BPM (Beats Per Minute) —which stabilizes breathing, reduces stress and keeps perception aligned across the unit.
The core principle is universal: Crowds respond to rhythm sooner than they respond to force. Predictable, steady movement lowers collective tension; erratic or chaotic movement instantly escalates it.
In this dynamic, commanders function as emotional thermostats. Their tone, timing and decisions raise or lower the temperature of the entire environment.
Equipment and Logic of Use
Every tool carries both tactical and psychological impact. The shield defines space and tempo; the baton shapes flow; chemical agents are used to create separation, not act as punishment. Across all equipment, the guiding principle is simple: Project control, never aggression.
- Rectangular shields provide a flexible barrier which sets spacing, cadence and forward pressure.
- Round shields enable rapid maneuvering, pivots and rotational movements.
- Batons are employed only from behind shield protection to maintain discipline and proportionality.
- Grenade launchers are used sparingly and only once the line has reformed to ensure precision and accountability.
- Mobile barriers guide, channel or absorb crowd momentum.
- Riot control vehicles are treated as geometric tools rather than blunt force instruments. They shape crowd movement, protect the rear and create visual order.
Water cannons are operated from safe stand-off distances with indirect aim – designed to shift the crowd’s center of gravity, not to target individuals. Mounting and dismounting vehicles are rehearsed daily to ensure speed and cohesion.
The enduring rule: Apply force technically, never emotionally.
Training and Performance Metrics
Training is daily, mandatory and highly structured. Drills cover shield synchronization, binomial (pair) maneuvers, rapid mounting and dismounting from vehicles, barrier deployment, and stress conditioning designed to preserve rhythm under pressure. Performance is measured continuously through objective indicators:
- Formation transition time – how quickly the unit can shift from one configuration to another;
- Shield alignment precision – maintained within approximately ±4 inches;
- Command-to-action latency – team response must occur in under 1.5 seconds; and
- Injured-officer extraction time – completed in under ten seconds.
After-action reviews are mandatory and must be completed within 14 days. Mistakes are not treated as failures – they’re analyzed, documented and integrated back into doctrine so the entire unit improves.
K-9 Integration
The police dog is an integral component of the formation, not a mere accessory. In crowd scenarios, its role is primarily deterrence and containment, not offense. Effectiveness relies on careful selection, consistent training and precise integration with the human unit.
- Selection: Dogs must be physically robust, tolerant of stress and pain, temperamentally steady and capable of controlled drive. While Belgian Malinois excel in tactical or detection roles, their high reactivity can make them less suitable for mass environments. Larger, calmer and physically imposing breeds with stable energy profiles offer stronger deterrence.
- Training: Handlers and dogs train daily with the unit to synchronize with shield rhythm, movement and spacing.
- Muzzles: Recommended as standard; it allows the dog to maintain a psychological presence while ensuring safety for both officers and civilians.
- Deployment: K-9 teams advance and withdraw in cadence with the unit. Their roles include corridor security, targeted screening and visual deterrence. Physical engagement is strictly a last resort measure.
Psychological Foundation and Operational Principle
The doctrine is grounded in a single truth: Control gives purpose to force.
Discipline is not about punishment; it ensures safety and precision. Leaders exert authority through calm presence, not loud commands. Composure radiates through the formation as swiftly as fear can. When 100 officers move and breathe in unison, disorder collapses and control prevails.
Integrating the Doctrine in American Agencies
US law enforcement can adopt this approach without losing their unique identity by following three practical steps:
- Establish a unified modular doctrine: Develop a national framework for crowd and civil disturbance operations based on core principles – movement, rhythm and psychological influence – adaptable to state and local contexts. The IACP, through its platforms for policy, training, and resources could coordinate terminology, standards and modular structures.
- Institutionalize interagency training: Conduct quarterly joint exercises which include tactical teams, K-9 units, medics, and negotiators. The focus is not on uniformity, but on synchronizing timing, communication and operational language.
- Integrate command psychology into training standards: Embed instruction on collective behavior, stress communication and perceptual leadership into POST certification programs nationwide to ensure leaders can manage both people and rhythm effectively.
From Reaction to Systemic Control
Shifting from reactive response to systemic control requires no new funding – only a change in mindset. Courage alone is not enough; structure amplifies courage.
As the Italian experience and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Guidelines (2023) demonstrate, success in civil disturbance operations is measured not by arrests, but by predictability, restraint and cohesion. A unit that moves as a single, synchronized organism projects professionalism rather than aggression. In the eyes of the crowd, professionalism is the ultimate form of strength.
Andrea “Mahigun” Bogiatto is a deputy sheriff in Colorado and a former instructor with Italy’s Polizia di Stato, where he specialized in crowd operations, tactical coordination and K-9 integration.
With over 20 years of international experience in law enforcement, he has trained officers and tactical units across Europe and North America in leadership under stress, operational psychology and advanced K-9 deployment.
Bogiatto is the founder and director of Zero Earth Academy, focusing on multidisciplinary preparedness and modern public safety doctrine. He is also an author of professional articles and the host of training oriented podcasts dedicated to first responders, police leadership and K-9 management. Recognized by the US Department of Homeland Security with an O-1 visa for extraordinary ability in law enforcement and police training, Bogiatto continues to work internationally to bridge tactical science and human performance. His philosophy is clear: Control gives meaning to force.