Vacaville Police Department VacailaPD CA Poy Maru Use of Force 300.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE ‘This poliey provides guiddlines on the reasonable se of force. While there Is no way o speciy the exact amount or type of reasonable force to be applied in any situation, every member of this department is expected to use these guidelines to make such decisions in a professional, Imparial ond reasonable manner. 300.11. DEFINITIONS Definitions related to this policy include: Deadly foree - Force reasonably anticipated and intonded to croato a substantial kelInood of causing death or very seus injury Force - The application ofphysical techniques or tactics, chemical agents or weapons to another person. It is not a use of force when & person allows himMharslf to be searched, escorted, hhandouffed or restrained. 300.2 POLICY ‘The use of force by law exfoccement personnel is @ matter of critical concer, both tothe public and tothe law enforcement community, Ofees are Involved on a daly basis in numerous and ‘varied interactions and, wen warranted, may use reasonable force in carrying out thelr duties. (Officers must have an uncerstanding of. and true appreciation fr, their authority and limitations. This is especially rue with respect to overcoming resistance while engaged in the performance ‘of law enforeomont duties, ‘The Department recognizes and respects the valve of all human ife and dignity without prejudice to anyone. Vesting ofeers with the authority to use reasonable force and to protect the public welfare requices monitoring, evaluation and a careful balancing ofall Interests. 300.21. DUTY TO INTERCEDE Any offear present and ooservng anather officer using force that is clearly beyond that which 's objectively reasonable under the circumstaneos shal, when in @ positon to do so, intercede to provent the use of unreasonable force. An offeer who observes anther employee us force that exceeds the degree c force permitted by law should promptly repor these cbservations to 2 supervisor. 300.3. USE OF FORCE Dfcers shall use only thet amount of force that reasonably appoars necessary given the facts ‘and drcumstancos porosived by the ofcer a the time ofthe event to accomplish a legtimate aw enforcement purpose. “The reasonableness of force will be judged from the perspective ofa reasonable officer on the scene atthe time ofthe incident. Any evaluation of reasonableness must allow forthe fact that officers are often forced tomake spit-second decisions about the amount of force that reasonablyVacaville Police Department Use of Force ‘appears necessary ina paticular situation, with tinted information and in circumstances that are tenge, uncertain and rapid evolving. {Given that no policy can realistically predict every possible situation an officer might encounter, oficors are entusted to ute wellreasoned discration In determining the appropriate use of force in each incident. It i also recognized that circumstances may arse in which offiears reasonably beiove that it ‘would be impractical or ineffective to use any ofthe tools, weapons or methods provided by the Department, Officors nay find k more effective or reasonable to Improvise thelr response to rapidly unfolding conditons that they are confronting. In such circumstances, the use of any Improvised device or method must nonetheless he reasonable and ublized only othe degree that reasonably appears necessary to accomplish a legitmate law enforcement purpose. While the utimate objective of every law enforcement encounter Isto avold or minimize injury, nothing inthis policy requtes an officer to retreat or be exposed to possible physical jury belore applying reasonable force. 3003.1. USE OF FORCE TO EFFECT AN ARREST ‘Any peace officer may usereasonable force to elect an arrest, to prevent escape orto overcome resistance. A peace offce" who makes or allompts to make an arrest need not retreat or desist ‘rom histher eflos by reason of resistance ar theatened resistance on the part of the person being arrested; nor shall an officer be deemed the aggressor or lose hither right to seltdetense by the use of reasonable force lo effect the arrest, prevent escape or to overcome resistance (Penal Code § 8352), 2003.2 VEHICLE AS A WEAPON ‘The intentional eking of any person witha vehicle shall be considered asa use of deadly force, 00.3.3 FACTORS USED TO DETERMINE THE REASONABLENESS OF FORCE \Wnren datarmining whether to apply force and evaluating whether an officer has used reasonable force, a numberof factors should be taken into consideration, as time and creurstances pert, These factors Include, but re not ited to: {a} _Immediacy and sovery of the threat to officers or others. (0) The conduct ofthe individual boing confronted, as reasonably porceved by the officer atthe time, (6) Offcerisubjecttactors (age, size, relative strength, ski ove, injuries sustaine ‘of exhaustion cr fatigue, the number officers available ve, subject) (@) The effects of drugs or alcohol (2) Subjoct's mental state or capacty. (9 Proximity of weapons or dangorous improvised devices. Econom sareeVacaville Police Department Use of Force (6) The degree towhich the subjoct has been offecvely restrained and hissherabity to resist despite bing retrained, (b) The avaabity of other options and their possible effectiveness. (0) Seriousness othe suspected offense of reason for contac wth the individual 4) Training and experionce ofthe officer. (8) Potential for inury to officers, suspects and others. (Whether the person appears to be resisting, attempting to evade arest by fight or is attacking the afer (im) The risk and easonably foreseeable consequences of escape. (0) The apparent need for immediate conto of the subject or a prompt resolution ofthe siluation. (©) Whether the canduct of the individual being confronted no longer reasonably appoars {pose an imminent troat to the offcor or others. (©) Prior contacts withthe subject or awareness of any propensity for volonce (@)_Anyother exigent circumstances. 300.34 PAIN COMPLIANCE TECHNIQUES Pain compliance techniques may be effective in controling @ physically or activaly resisting Individual. Officers may only apply those pain compliance techniques for wich they have successfully completed dipartment-approved taining, Offers ulizing any paln compliance technique should consider (@) The degree to which the application ofthe technique may be controlled gen the level of resistance. (©) Whether the person can comply with the direction or orders ofthe officer. (©) Whether the person has been given sufficient opportunity to comply, ‘The application of any pain compliance technique shall be discontinued once the otcer determines that compliance has bean achieved. 00.8.5 CAROTID CONTROL HOLD ‘The proper application of the carotid contro! hold may be effoctie in restraining @ violent oF combative individual. Howaver, ue tothe potential for injury, the use ofthe cartié control hold Is subject to the following (2) Thooficor shal have successfully comploted dopartment-approved taining inthe use and application of the carotid control hal. ‘SEs nan at Coen