Policy Text
Policy
305Buena Park Police Department
Buena Park PD Policy Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/07/22, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Buena Park Police DepartmentOfficer-Involved Shootings and Deaths - 1Officer-Involved Shootings and Deaths
305.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The purpose of this policy is to establish policy and procedures for the investigation of an incident
in which a person is injured or dies as the result of an officer-involved shooting or dies as a result
of another action of an officer.
In other incidents not covered by this policy, the Chief of Police may decide that the investigation
will follow the process provided in this policy.
305.1.1 ACCREDITATION STANDARDS
This policy pertains to the following CALEA Standards: 4.2.3, 11.3.4, 41.2.4, 11.33
305.2 POLICY
The policy of the Buena Park Police Department (BPPD) is to ensure that officer-involved
shootings and deaths are investigated in a thorough, fair and impartial manner.
This Department conforms to the Orange County Chiefs of Police and Sheriff's Association
protocol for investigating officer-involved shootings. (The protocol is attached as an addendum
to this policy.)
305.3 TYPES OF INVESTIGATIONS
Officer-involved shootings and deaths involve several separate investigations. The investigations
may include:
•A criminal investigation of the suspect's actions.
•A criminal investigation of the involved officer's actions.
•An administrative investigation as to policy compliance by involved officers.
•A civil investigation to determine potential liability.
305.4 CONTROL OF INVESTIGATIONS
Investigators from surrounding agencies may be assigned to work on the criminal investigation of
officer-involved shootings and deaths. This may include at least one investigator from the agency
that employs the involved officer.
Jurisdiction is determined by the location of the shooting or death and the agency employing the
involved officer. The following scenarios outline the jurisdictional responsibilities for investigating
officer-involved shootings and deaths.
305.4.1 CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION OF SUSPECT ACTIONS
The investigation of any possible criminal conduct by the suspect is controlled by the agency in
whose jurisdiction the suspect's crime occurred. For example, the Buena Park Police Department
would control the investigation if the suspect's crime occurred in Buena Park.
Buena Park Police Department
Buena Park PD Policy Manual
Officer-Involved Shootings and Deaths
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/07/22, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Buena Park Police DepartmentOfficer-Involved Shootings and Deaths - 2If multiple crimes have been committed in multiple jurisdictions, identification of the agency that
will control the investigation may be reached in the same way as with any other crime. The
investigation may be conducted by the agency in control of the criminal investigation of the involved
officer, at the discretion of the Chief of Police and with concurrence from the other agency.
305.4.2 CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION OF OFFICER ACTIONS
The control of the criminal investigation into the involved officer's conduct during the incident
will be determined by the employing agency's protocol. When an officer from this department is
involved, the criminal investigation will be handled according to the Criminal Investigation section
of this policy.
Requests made of this department to investigate a shooting or death involving an outside agency's
officer shall be referred to the Chief of Police or the authorized designee for approval.
305.4.3 ADMINISTRATIVE AND CIVIL INVESTIGATION
Regardless of where the incident occurs, the administrative and civil investigation of each involved
officer is controlled by the respective employing agency.
305.5 INVESTIGATION PROCESS
The following procedures are guidelines used in the investigation of an officer-involved shooting
or death.
305.5.1 UNINVOLVED OFFICER RESPONSIBILITIES
Upon arrival at the scene of an officer-involved shooting, the first uninvolved BPPD officer will be
the officer-in-charge and will assume the responsibilities of a supervisor until properly relieved.
This officer should, as appropriate:
(a)Secure the scene and identify and eliminate hazards for all those involved.
(b)Take reasonable steps to obtain emergency medical attention for injured individuals.
(c)Request additional resources from the Department or other agencies.
(d)Coordinate a perimeter or pursuit of suspects.
(e)Check for injured persons and evacuate as needed.
(f)Brief the supervisor upon arrival.
305.5.2 SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES
Upon arrival at the scene, the first uninvolved BPPD supervisor should ensure completion of the
duties as outlined above, plus:
(a)Attempt to obtain a brief overview of the situation from any uninvolved officers.
1.In the event that there are no uninvolved officers who can supply adequate
overview, the supervisor should attempt to obtain a brief voluntary overview from
one involved officer.
Buena Park Police Department
Buena Park PD Policy Manual
Officer-Involved Shootings and Deaths
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/07/22, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Buena Park Police DepartmentOfficer-Involved Shootings and Deaths - 3(b)If necessary, the supervisor may administratively order any BPPD officer to
immediately provide public safety information necessary to secure the scene, identify
injured parties and pursue suspects.
1.Public safety information shall be limited to such things as outstanding suspect
information, number and direction of any shots fired, perimeter of the incident
scene, identity of known or potential witnesses and any other pertinent
information