600-17 Use of Force Flashcards
Employees are authorized by law to
use force to protect themselves or others, to effect an arrest, or to maintain custody of those arrested.
When dealing with
members of the community, suspects, or prisoners
When dealing with members of the community, suspects, or prisoners, employees must use
only the amount of force reasonably necessary to protect themselves or others, to effect an arrest, or to bring an incident under control, even if under the circumstances the law would allow the use of greater force.
Deadly Force
Force intended or known to cause or in the manner of its use or intended use is capable of causing death or serious bodily injury
Force
Force is meant to describe actions taken to compel a person to comply with law enforcement objectives
Involved Officer
An officer (regardless of rank) who used reportable force
On-Duty Supervisor
For purposes of this General Order, an on-duty supervisor is one that is on duty and who did not use reportable force
Reportable force (RF)
Reportable force (RF) is force that requires specific notification and documentation of the RF incident.
Use of force must be
objectively reasonable based on the totality of the circumstances.
It is the duty of all employees to
constantly assess the situation and adjust the use of force accordingly.
Employees who use force against any person must
detail the specific reasons for using such force.
Officers shall not display any intermediate weapon or firearm
in an unprofessional or unsafe manner.
Anytime an employee uses reportable force, whether on duty, off duty, or at extra employment, a supervisor
must be notified as set forth herein.
Any employee present and observing another employee using force that is beyond that which is reasonable under the circumstances shall
when in a position to do so, safely intercede to prevent the use of such force. Employees shall immediately report these observations to an on-duty supervisor.
Reportable force (RF) does not include
mere police presence, including the presence of a K-9, verbal commands, handcuffing, or escorting without resistance, or when an OC device is pointed at a person.
Reportable force includes, but is not limited to
Empty hand tactics, Baton when a person is struck, OC spray (intentional or accidental), Conducted energy device (intentionally discharged and directed at a person or , accidental, or pointed at a person), Soft-impact weapon (except when the discharge is directed toward an animal and does not result in bodily injury to a person), Firearm ((except when the discharge is directed toward an animal and does not result in bodily injury to a person), K-9 with bites, Interlocking
Before carrying or using any intermediate weapon, an officer must be
currently certified with the intermediate weapon by the Training Division
The Training Division is responsible for
maintaining a list of approved intermediate weapons and carrying devices.
Intermediate weapons shall be
carried or used as issued or authorized by the department.
Officers shall always carry a baton when
Responding to disturbance calls or working an event where there are a large number of persons.
Supervisors responding to situations requiring a baton are responsible for
ensuring each officer at the scene complies with this policy.
Unless deadly force is warranted, baton strikes shall be made only
to areas of the body below the shoulders and only with the degree of force necessary to counter resistance or establish control of the suspect.
Uniformed officers carrying OC shall
store the canisters on their duty belts in an appropriate case
On each shift, soft-impact weapons shall be
assigned to, and stored in, designated patrol sergeants’ vehicles.
As part of their daily vehicle inspection, the patrol sergeants shall inspect the soft-impact weapon for
damage.
An officer ____ check out a soft impact weapon if there is one available. Those officers that choose to check out a soft-impact weapon _____ notify the dispatcher at the beginning of their shift.
may, shall
If the sergeant or officer observes any new damage, missing parts, or defective equipment, the sergeant or officer, as applicable, shall
notify his supervisor before signing on duty.
Unless deadly force is warranted, officers shall not target soft-impact weapons for
munition impacts above a person’s shoulders.
Officers in specialized divisions needing a soft-impact weapon shall coordinate with
an appropriate district patrol sergeant.