Use of Force Policy

Table of Contents

1.0 PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to define use of force definitions, techniques, equipment, and medical procedures.  

2.0 Definitions

2.1 DEADLY FORCE

Deadly force is defined as any use of force that creates a substantial risk of causing death or serious bodily injury, including but not limited to, the discharge of a firearm.

2.2 FEASIBLE

Feasible means reasonably capable of being done or carried out under the circumstances to successfully achieve the arrest or lawful objective without increasing risk to the officer or another person.

2.3 IMMINENT

Pursuant to California Penal Code Section 835a(e)(2), “[A] threat of death or serious bodily injury is “imminent” when, based on the totality of the circumstances, a reasonable officer in the same situation would believe that a person has the present ability, opportunity, and apparent intent to immediately cause death or serious bodily injury to the peace officer or another person. An imminent harm is not merely a fear of future harm, no matter how great the fear and no matter how great the likelihood of the harm, but is one that, from appearances, must be instantly confronted and addressed.”

2.4 NECESSARY

In addition to California Penal Code 835(a), the Department shall evaluate whether deadly force was necessary by looking at:

1. The totality of the circumstances from the perspective of a reasonable Los Angeles Police Officer with similar training and experience;

2. The factors used to evaluate whether force is objectively reasonable;

3. An evaluation of whether the officer exhausted the available and feasible alternatives to deadly force; and

4. Whether a warning was feasible and/or given.

2.5 OBJECTIVELY REASONABLE

The legal standard used to determine the lawfulness of a use of force is based on the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution. See Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386 (1989). Graham states, in part, “The reasonableness of a particular use of force must be judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, rather than with the 20/20 vision of hindsight. The calculus of reasonableness must embody allowance for the fact that police officers are often forced to make split-second judgments in circumstances that are tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving about the amount of force that is necessary in a particular situation. The test of reasonableness is not capable of precise definition or mechanical application.” The force must be reasonable under the circumstances known to or reasonably believed by the officer at the time the force was used. Therefore, the Department examines all uses of force from an objective standard rather than a subjective standard.

2.6 SERIOUS BODILY INJURY

Pursuant to California Penal Code Section 243(f)(4) Serious Bodily Injury includes but is not limited to:

1. Loss of consciousness;

2. Concussion;

3. Bone Fracture;

4. Protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ;

5. A wound requiring extensive suturing; and

6. Serious disfigurement.

2.7 TOTALITY OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES

All facts known to or reasonably perceived by the officer at the time, including the conduct of the officer and the subject leading up to the use of force.

2.8 WARNING SHOTS

The intentional discharge of a firearm off-target, not intended to hit a person but to warn others that deadly force is imminent.

3.0 Procedure

3.1 USE OF DE-ESCALAION TECHNIQUES

It is the policy of this Department that, whenever feasible, officers shall use techniques and tools consistent with Department de-escalation training to reduce the intensity of any encounter with a suspect and enable an officer to have additional options to mitigate the need to use a higher level of force while maintaining control of the situation.

3.2 VERBAL WARNINGS

Where feasible, a peace officer shall, prior to the use of any force, make reasonable efforts to identify themselves as a peace officer and to warn that force may be used unless the officer has objectively reasonable grounds to believe that the person is aware of those facts.

3.3 PROPORTIONALITY

Officers may only use a label of force that they reasonably believe is proportional to the seriousness of the suspected offence or the reasonably perceived level of actual or threatened resistance.

3.4 FAIR AND UNBIASED POLICING

Officers shall carry out their duties, including use of force, in a manner that is fair and unbiased. Discriminatory conduct on the basis of race, religion, colour, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, housing status, or disability while performing any law enforcement activity is prohibited.

3.5 USE OF FORCE — NON-DEADLY

It is the policy of this Department that personnel may use only force which is “objectively reasonable” to:

1. Defend themselves;

2. Defend others;

3. Affect an arrest or detention;

4. Prevent escape; or

5. Overcome resistance.

3.5.1 Use of beanbag shotgun

Officers should not utilize or fire upon any suspect(s) that are actively fleeing from an law enforcement officer with the beanbag shotgun.

3.6 DRAWING OR EXHIBITING FIREARMS

Unnecessarily or prematurely drawing or exhibiting a firearm limits an officer’s alternatives in controlling a situation, creates unnecessary anxiety on the part of citizens, and may result in an unwarranted or accidental discharge of the firearm. Officers shall not draw or exhibit a firearm unless the circumstances surrounding the incident create a reasonable belief that it may be necessary to use the firearm. When an officer has determined that the use of deadly force is not necessary, the officer shall, as soon as practicable, secure or holster the firearm. Any drawing or exhibiting of a firearm shall conform with this policy on the use of firearms. Moreover, any intentional pointing of a firearm at a person by an officer shall be reported. Such reporting will be published in the Department's year-end use of force report.

3.7 USE OF FORCE — DEADLY

It is the policy of this Department that officers shall use deadly force upon another person only when the officer reasonably believes, based on the totality of circumstances, that such force is necessary for either of the following reasons:

1. To defend against an immediate threat of death or serious bodily injury to the officer or to another person; or

2. To apprehend a fleeing person for any felony that threatened or resulted in death or serious bodily injury, if the officer reasonably believes that the person will cause death or serious bodily injury to another unless immediately apprehended.

In determining whether deadly force is necessary, officers shall evaluate each situation in light of the particular circumstances of each case and shall use other available resources and techniques if reasonably safe and feasible. Before discharging a firearm, officers shall consider their surroundings and potential risks to bystanders to the extent reasonable under the circumstances.

NOTE:

• Because the application of deadly force is limited to the above scenarios, an officer shall not use deadly force against a person based on the danger that person poses to themselves if an objectively reasonable officer would believe the person does not pose an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury to the officer or another person.

3.8 DEPARTMENT'S EVALUATION OF DEADLY FORCE

The Department will analyze an officer’s use of deadly force by evaluating the totality of the circumstances of each case consistent with California Penal Code Section 835(a) as well as the factors articulated in Graham v. Connor.

3.9 RENDERING AID

After any use of force, officers shall promptly provide basic and emergency medical assistance to all members of the community, including victims, witnesses, subjects, suspects, persons in custody, subjects of a use of force, and fellow officers:

1. To the extent of the officer’s training and experience in first aid/CPR/AED; and

2. To the level of equipment available to an officer at the time assistance is needed.

3.10 WARNING SHOTS

It is the policy of this Department that warning shots shall only be used in exceptional circumstances where it might reasonably be expected to avoid the need to use deadly force. Generally, warning shots shall be directed in a manner that minimizes the risk of injury to innocent persons, ricochet dangers, and property damage.

3.11 SHOOTING AT OR FROM MOVING VEHICLES

It is the policy of this Department that firearms shall not be discharged at a moving vehicle unless a person in the vehicle is immediately threatening the officer or another person with deadly force by means other than the vehicle. The moving vehicle itself shall not presumptively constitute a threat that justifies an officer’s use of deadly force. An officer threatened by an oncoming vehicle shall move out of its path instead of discharging a firearm at it or any of its occupants. Firearms shall not be discharged from a moving vehicle, except in exigent circumstances and consistent with this policy regarding the use of Deadly Force.

NOTE:

• It is understood that the policy regarding discharging a firearm at or from a moving vehicle may not cover every situation that may arise. In all situations, officers are expected to act with intelligence and exercise sound judgment, attending to the spirit of this policy. Any deviations from the provisions of this policy shall be examined rigorously on a case-by-case basis. The involved officer must be able to clearly articulate the reasons for the use of deadly force. Factors that may be considered include whether the officer’s life or the lives of others were in immediate peril and there were no reasonable or apparent means of escape.

3.12 REQUIREMENT TO REPORT POTENTIAL EXCESSIVE FORCE

An officer who is present and observes another officer using force that the present and observing officer believes to be beyond that which is necessary, as determined by an objectively reasonable officer under the circumstances based upon the totality of information actually known to the officer, shall report such force to a superior officer.

3.13 REQUIREMENT TO INTERCEDE WHEN EXCESSIVE FORCE IS OBSERVED

An officer shall intercede when present and observing another officer using force that is clearly beyond that which is necessary, as determined by an objectively reasonable officer under the circumstances, taking into account the possibility that other officers may have additional information regarding the threat posed by a subject.