USE OF FORCE

Model Policy
Effective Date Number
February 2006
Subject
Use of Force
Reference Special Instructions

Distribution Reevaluation Date No. Pages

2

I. PURPOSE 1. Law enforcement officers are authorized to use

The purpose of this policy is to provide law enforce- deadly force when one or both of the following
ment officers of this agency with guidelines for the use apply:
of deadly and nondeadly force. a. To protect the officer or others from what is
reasonably believed to be a threat of death
or serious bodily harm.
II. POLICY b. To prevent the escape of a fleeing violent
It is the policy of this law enforcement agency that felon who the officer has probable cause to
officers use only the force that reasonably appears nec- believe will pose a significant threat of
essary to effectively bring an incident under control, death or serious physical injury to the offi-
while protecting the lives of the officer and others. It cer or others. Where practicable prior to
must be stressed that the use of force is not left to the discharge of the firearm, officers shall iden-
unfettered discretion of the involved officer. This is tify themselves as law enforcement officers
not a subjective determination. The use of force must and state their intent to shoot.
be objectively reasonable. The officer must only use B. Deadly Force Restrictions
that force which a reasonably prudent officer would 1. Officers may use deadly force to destroy an ani-
use under the same or similar circumstances. mal that represents a threat to public safety, or
as a humanitarian measure where the animal is
seriously injured, when the officer reasonably
III. DEFINITIONS believes that deadly force can be used without
Deadly Force: Any use of force that creates a sub- harm to the officer or others.
stantial risk of causing death or serious bodily harm. 2. Generally, warning shots should not be fired.
Nondeadly Force: Any use of force other than that 3. Firearms shall not be discharged at a moving
which is considered deadly force. This includes any vehicle unless a person in the vehicle is immedi-
physical effort used to control or restrain another, or to ately threatening the officer or another person
overcome the resistance of another. with deadly force by means other than the vehi-
Objectively Reasonable: This term means that, in cle. The moving vehicle itself shall not presump-
determining the necessity for force and the appropri- tively constitute a threat that justifies an officer’s
ate level of force, officers shall evaluate each situation use of deadly force. An officer threatened by an
in light of the known circumstances, including, but not oncoming vehicle shall move out of its path
limited to, the seriousness of the crime, the level of instead of discharging a firearm at it or any of its
threat or resistance presented by the subject, and the occupants.
danger to the community. C. Use of Nondeadly Force
1. Where deadly force is not authorized, officers
may use only that level of force that is objective-
IV. PROCEDURES ly reasonable to bring an incident under control.
A. Use of Deadly Force 2. Officers are authorized to use department-
 approved, nondeadly force techniques and
issued equipment when one or more of the fol- Every effort has been made by the IACP National Law Enforcement Policy
Center staff and advisory board to ensure that this model policy incorporates the
lowing apply: most current information and contemporary professional judgment on this issue.
a. To protect the officer or others from physi- However, law enforcement administrators should be cautioned that no “model”
policy can meet all the needs of any given law enforcement agency. Each law
cal harm. enforcement agency operates in a unique environment of federal court rulings, state
b. To restrain or subdue a resistant individual laws, local ordinances, regulations, judicial and administrative decisions and col-
lective bargaining agreements that must be considered. In addition, the formula-
c. To bring an unlawful situation safely and tion of specific agency policies must take into account local political and communi-
effectively under control. ty perspectives and customs, prerogatives and demands; often divergent law
enforcement strategies and philosophies; and the impact of varied agency resource
D. Training capabilities among other factors.
In addition to training required for firearms quali-
fication, officers shall receive agency-authorized
training designed to simulate actual shooting situ-
ations and conditions and, as otherwise necessary, This project was supported by Grant No. 2000-DD-VX-0020 awarded by the
to enhance officers’ discretion and judgment in Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.
The Assistant Attorney General, Office of Justice Programs, coordinates the activi-
using deadly and nondeadly force in accordance ties of the following program offices and bureaus: the Bureau of Justice Assistance,
with this policy. the Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Institute of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice
and Delinquency Prevention, and the Office of Victims of Crime. Points of view or
opinions in this document are those of the author and do not represent the official
position or policies of the United States Department of Justice or the IACP.

© Copyright 2006. International Association of Chiefs of Police, Alexandria,

Virginia U.S.A. All rights reserved under both international and Pan-American
copyright conventions. No reproduction of any part of this material may be made
without prior written consent of the copyright holder.