Skip to Content

Changes for page AE 01 Use of Force

Last modified by Ryan Larkin on 2022/03/01 17:09
From version 4.1
edited by Ryan Larkin
on 2022/03/01 17:09
Change comment: Policy Review
To version 2.1
edited by Ryan Larkin
on 2016/09/02 20:29
Change comment: There is no comment for this version

Summary

Details

Page properties
Content
... ... @@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
18 18  
19 19  Replaces and/or Supersedes:
20 20  
21 -PJ 40, PJ 41, PJ 42, PJ 44a, PJ 44b, PZ 201, AE 01 08/31/2010
21 +PJ 40, PJ 41, PJ 42, PJ 44a, PJ 44b, PZ 201
22 22  
23 23  Published:
24 24  
... ... @@ -26,60 +26,77 @@
26 26  
27 27  Review Date:
28 28  
29 -03/01/2022
29 +08/31/2010 County Commission
30 30  
31 31  
32 -Sheriff Nate Brooksby
32 +Sheriff Kirk Smith County Attorney's Office
33 33  
34 -Undersheriff Barry Golding
34 +Undersheriff Jake Adams
35 35  
36 36  
37 37  **__TABLE OF CONTENTS__**
38 38  
39 -AE 01_101 Definitions
39 +AE 01_101 Distribution
40 40  
41 -AE 01_102 References
41 +AE 01_102 Definitions
42 42  
43 -AE 01_103 General
43 +AE 01_103 References
44 44  
45 -AE 01_104 Appropriate Level and Form of Force
45 +AE 01_104 General
46 46  
47 -AE 01_105 Use of Weapons and Control Devices
47 +AE 01_105 Appropriate Level and Form of Force
48 48  
49 -AE 01_106 Deadly Force
49 +AE 01_106 Use of Weapons and Control Devices
50 50  
51 -AE 01_107 Animals
51 +AE 01_107 Deadly Force
52 52  
53 -AE 01_108 Medical Follow-up
53 +AE 01_108 Animals
54 54  
55 -AE 01_109 Justification and Documentation
55 +AE 01_109 Medical Follow-up
56 56  
57 -AE 01_110 Verbal Warnings
57 +AE 01_110 Justification and Documentation
58 58  
59 -AE 01_111 Warning Shots
59 +AE 01_111 Verbal Warnings
60 60  
61 -AE 01_112 Video Recording
61 +AE 01_112 Warning Shots
62 62  
63 -AE 01_113 Sample Force Decision Wheel
63 +AE 01_113 Video Recording
64 64  
65 +AE 01_114 Sample Force Decision Wheel
65 65  
66 -**AE 01_101 __DEFINITIONS__**
67 67  
68 +**AE 01_101 __DISTRIBUTION__**
69 +
70 +1. Standard distribution
71 +
72 +
73 +**AE 01_102 __DEFINITIONS__**
74 +
68 68  1. WCSO: Washington County Sheriff's Office
69 69  1. PCF: Purgatory Correctional Facility
70 70  1. Force: Physical or mechanical exertion to overcome or restrain an individual against his/her will.
71 71  1. Deadly Force (a.k.a. Lethal Force): Any force that is reasonably likely to cause death or serious bodily injury.
72 -1. Force Decision Wheel: A guide for the application of force that provides staff an array of force options to control or subdue prisoners. The force wheel does not require incremental steps. Instead, it guides the level of force to be appropriate and specific to the need for force to be used.
79 +1. Force Decision Wheel: A guide for application of force which provides staff an array of force options to control or subdue prisoners. The force wheel does not require incremental steps. Instead, it guides the level of force to be appropriate and specific to the need for force to be used.
73 73  1. Restraint Device: Any device used to secure or control the hands, arms, feet, legs, head, or torso of a prisoner.
74 74  
75 -**AE 01_102 __REFERENCES__**
76 76  
83 +**AE 01_103 __REFERENCES__**
84 +
77 77  1. Utah Counties Insurance Pool:
78 78  11. ML-IV.A.1.
87 +1. Utah Sheriff's Association Jail Standards:
88 +11. F05.01.01: Written Use of Force Policies and Procedures Required
89 +11. F05.01.02: Use of Force Policy Content
90 +11. F05.02.01: Purpose of Use of Force
91 +11. F05.02.02: Use of Deadly Force
92 +11. F05.02.03: Prohibited Use of Force
93 +11. F05.04.01: Medical Examination and Treatment Following Use of Force/Restraint
94 +11. F05.04.02: Documentation Requirements
79 79  
80 -**AE 01_103 __GENERAL__**
81 81  
82 -1. Policy:
97 +**AE 01_104 __GENERAL__**
98 +
99 +1. It is the policy of the WCSO that:
83 83  11. Force shall be used in a reasonable manner consistent with state and federal laws.
84 84  11. The use of force is authorized for the purposes of:
85 85  111. Self-defense;
... ... @@ -86,19 +86,21 @@
86 86  111. Protection of others;
87 87  111. Preventing escapes;
88 88  111. Restoring and maintaining order and discipline;
89 -111. Overcoming resistance to lawful orders; and
90 -111. Protection of property.
106 +111. Overcoming resistance to lawful orders;
107 +111. Protection of property;
108 +111. As detailed in section: MEDICAL FOLLOW-UP.
91 91  11. Officers shall not use force:
92 92  111. As a punishment;
93 93  111. In a purposeless, malicious, or sadistic manner; or
94 94  111. For the very purpose of causing harm.
95 95  1. Rationale:
96 -11. The constitutions and laws of the United States and State of Utah protect individuals from excessive and unreasonable use of force. Use of force that exceeds the allowances of law and/or policy may subject WCSO to civil liability and its officials to civil and/or criminal sanctions.
97 -11. Situations often occur which require the use, or threatened use, of force to protect persons, protect property, to respond to disturbances, to respond to escape attempts, and/or respond to physical resistance to the lawful orders of WCSO staff. Situations requiring the use of force may not always provide staff with adequate time to fully consider the benefits and drawbacks of all possible options. Comprehensive directives and training will help to ensure better preparation of staff to make rational judgments under circumstances that may require the use of force. Policies and procedures should assist officials to identify circumstances that may require the use of force and the formulation of strategies and options in advance of the crisis.
114 +11. The constitutions and laws of the United States and State of Utah protect prisoners from excessive and unreasonable use of force. Use of force which exceeds the allowances of law and/or policy may subject WCSO to civil liability and its officials to civil and/or criminal sanctions.
115 +11. Situations often occur which require the use, or threatened use, of force to protect persons, protect property, to respond to disturbances, to respond to escape attempts, and/or respond to physical resistance to the lawful orders of WCSO staff. Situations requiring the use of force may not always provide staff with adequate time to fully consider the benefits and drawbacks of all possible options. Comprehensive directives and training will help to ensure better preparation of staff to make rational judgments under circumstances which may require the use of force. Policies and procedures should assist officials to identify circumstances which may require the use of force and formulate strategies and options in advance of the crisis.
98 98  11. Use of force in violation of the limitations herein may violate the constitutional rights of the individual against whom the force is used.
99 99  
100 -**AE 01_104 __APPROPRIATE LEVEL AND FORM OF FORCE__**
101 101  
119 +**AE 01_105 __APPROPRIATE LEVEL AND FORM OF FORCE__**
120 +
102 102  1. Policy:
103 103  11. Staff shall use the lowest level of force necessary to accomplish the lawful intentions of the use of force.
104 104  1. Rationale:
... ... @@ -105,46 +105,50 @@
105 105  11. Use of force in excess of the lowest level of force necessary to accomplish the lawful intentions of the force could result in an increase in liability for the individual officer and/or the WCSO.
106 106  1. Procedure:
107 107  11. WCSO staff are trained to be guided by the Force Decision Wheel in order to make appropriate decisions regarding the level of force to be used.
108 -11. The options available by the Force Decision Wheel should be specific to the training of the individual officer.
127 +11. The options available by the Force Decision Wheel should be specific to the training of the individual officer. For example: An officer should not ordinarily consider using an electronic control device if the officer has not received specialized training for the device.
109 109  
110 -**AE 01_105 __USE OF WEAPONS AND CONTROL DEVICES__**
111 111  
112 -1. Policy:
113 -11. Officers should include all weapons and control devices that they have received training for in their individualized Force Decision Wheel.
114 -11. Officers should not ordinarily use weapons and control devices that they have not received training on.
130 +**AE 01_106 __USE OF WEAPONS AND CONTROL DEVICES__**
115 115  
116 -**AE 01_106 __DEADLY FORCE__**
132 +1. Officers should include all weapons and control devices that they have received training for in their individualized Force Decision Wheel.
133 +1. Officers should not ordinarily use weapons and control devices that they have not received training on.
117 117  
135 +
136 +**AE 01_107 DEADLY FORCEU**
137 +
118 118  1. Policy:
119 119  11. Deadly force shall be limited to:
120 120  111. Self-defense or defense of a third party when the officer reasonably believes that deadly force is necessary to prevent death or serious bodily injury;
141 +111. Protecting or rescuing a hostage;
121 121  111. Preventing an escape from custody when the officer reasonably believes that deadly force is necessary to prevent escape and the officer has probable cause to believe that the prisoner poses an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury to the officer or to a third party if apprehension is delayed; or
122 -111. As detailed in the following section: (% class="marker" %)AE 01_107 Animals(%%).
143 +111. As detailed in the following section (AE 01_02.05).
123 123  1. Rationale:
124 124  11. Deadly force is such an extreme action that the justification for its use is narrowly limited to situations in which the officer reasonably believes that it is necessary to protect himself or another's life.
125 125  
126 -**AE 01_107 __ANIMALS__**
127 127  
128 -1. Policy:
129 -11. Officers may use deadly force to destroy an animal when the animal:
130 -111. Presents a threat to public safety;
131 -111. Is seriously injured (humane action).
132 -11. Deadly force to destroy an animal shall only be used when the officer reasonably believes that deadly force can be used without causing harm to the officer or others.
133 -11. When destroying an animal as a humane action, the officer shall use the safest means available at the time of need. Undue delay may be considered inhumane.
148 +**AE 01_108 __ANIMALS__**
134 134  
135 -**AE 01_108 __MEDICAL FOLLOW-UP__**
150 +1. Officers may use deadly force to destroy an animal when the animal:
151 +11. Presents a threat to public safety;
152 +11. Is seriously injured (humane action).
153 +1. Deadly force to destroy an animal shall only be used when the officer reasonably believes that deadly force can be used without causing harm to the officer or others.
154 +1. When destroying an animal as a humane action, the officer shall use the safest means available at the time of need. Undue delay may be considered inhumane.
136 136  
156 +
157 +**AE 01_109 __MEDICAL FOLLOW-UP__**
158 +
137 137  1. Policy:
138 138  11. Following the use of force, any person against whom physical force was employed should be given an opportunity for a medical examination and, if needed, medical treatment in a timely manner.
139 139  1. Rationale:
140 -11. Timely treatment of serious medical needs is constitutionally required for all individuals. The medical examination shall be provided for involved persons as soon as reasonably feasible following a use of force action to:
162 +11. Timely treatment of serious medical needs is constitutionally required for prisoners. Medical examination shall be provided for involved prisoners as soon as reasonably feasible following a use of force action to:
141 141  111. Identify obvious injuries requiring treatment;
142 142  111. Discover and treat undetected injuries;
143 143  111. Document the absence of injuries; and
144 144  111. Provide medical documentation to protect staff members from false or exaggerated claims of injury.
145 145  
146 -**AE 01_109 __JUSTIFICATION AND DOCUMENTATION__**
147 147  
169 +**AE 01_110 __JUSTIFICATION AND DOCUMENTATION__**
170 +
148 148  1. Policy:
149 149  11. Documentation in the Spillman computer system shall be completed for:
150 150  111. Use of force events;
... ... @@ -171,25 +171,24 @@
171 171  111. The extent of any injuries suffered by the non-officer person(s) involved.
172 172  11. Documentation in use of force reports shall include, at a minimum, detailed information related to the above five criteria.
173 173  
174 -**AE 01_110 __VERBAL WARNINGS__**
175 175  
176 -1. Policy:
177 -11. Verbal warnings are recommended in order to help temper the circumstances of a situation.
178 -11. It is understood that verbal warnings may not be possible and/or appropriate in all situations.
179 -11. The use of verbal warnings shall be at the discretion of the individual officer.
198 +**AE 01_111 __VERBAL WARNINGS__**
180 180  
181 -**AE 01_111 __WARNING SHOTS__**
200 +1. Verbal warnings are recommended in order to help temper the circumstances of a situation.
201 +1. It is understood that verbal warnings may not be possible and/or appropriate in all situations.
202 +1. The use of verbal warnings shall be at the discretion of the individual officer or incident commander (if applicable).
182 182  
183 -1. Policy:
184 -11. Warning shots should not be used.
185 185  
186 -**AE 01_112 __VIDEO RECORDING__**
205 +**AE 01_112 __WARNING SHOTS__**
187 187  
188 -1. Policy:
189 -11. All use of force situations should be video recorded whenever possible.
207 +1. Shall not be used.
190 190  
191 -**AE 01_113 __SAMPLE FORCE DECISION WHEEL__**
192 192  
193 -Attached
210 +**__AE 01_113 VIDEO RECORDING__**
194 194  
212 +1. All use of force situations should be video recorded whenever possible.
213 +
214 +
215 +**AE 01_14 __SAMPLE FORCE DECISION WHEEL__**
216 +
195 195  [[image:Use of Force Wheel.png||height="420" width="579"]]