Policy Text
CONCORD POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
OFFICER INVOLVED CRITICAL INCIDENTS
GENERAL ORDER: 05.03 CREATED: August 28, 2020 ISSUE DATE: December 23, 2025
CALEA STANDARD: 4.2.3, 22.1.5
NCLEA STANDARD: EFFECTIVE DATE: December 23, 2025
ACTION: Amends general order dated March 20, 2023 . REVIEW DATE:
05.03.0 PURPOSE
The purpose of this general order shall be to provide guidelines for the investigation of
officer -involved shootings, in -custody deaths or uses of force resulting in serious bodily
injury.
05.03.1 POLICY
It shall be the policy of the Concord Police Department th at critical incidents involving
officers, whether on or off duty, are properly investigated to determine if the actions of
the officer were within the guidelines of N.C. General Statutes and departmental policy
and procedures.
05.03.2 DEFINITIONS
A. CRITICAL INCIDENT
An incident that results in death or serious bodily injury to an individual caused by
the actions or inaction of an officer of the Concord Police Department, while an
individual is in police custody, or any incident that the Chief or Pol ice, or designee,
proclaims to be a critical incident.
B. CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS DEBRIEF
A confidential group discussion of a traumatic experience.
C. IN-CUSTODY DEATH
The death of an individual while in custody or while attempts to restrain or take the
individual into custody are being made.
D. INVOLVED OFFICER(S)
An officer of the Concord Police Department that during the course of executing their
duties has direct involvement in an officer involved shooting, in -custody death or a
use of force that results in serious bodily injury, or are direct witnesses to such events
by another officer.
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E. OFFICER -INVOLVED SHOOTING
The intentional or accidental discharging of a department issued or personally owned
firearm at a person by an officer of the Concord Police Department while in the
execution of their duties, while on-duty or off-duty, regardless of injuries to suspects,
officers, or third parties.
F. PUBLIC SAFETY STATEMENT
A brief, mandatory statement on scene from the involved officer covering the
information necessary to focus the initial police response and direct the preliminary
investigation.
G. SERIOUS USE OF FORCE
Any use of force against an individual that results, or is reasonably likely to result, in
death, permanent or substantial injury, loss of any body part or function, or
permanent disfigurement. Also included are situations where an individual is admitted
to a medical facility for treatment as a result of police use of force.
05.03.3 INVOLVED OFFICER(S)
A. Immediately following the incident, the involved officer shoul d, to a reasonable
degree:
1. Take necessary steps to protect their safety;
2. Advise the communications center of the event;
3. Call for/render medical assistance if needed;
4. Call for supervisory assistance and additional officers if needed;
5. Secure the area.
B. Officer(s) involved in a deadly force incident or use of force causing serious injury to
an individual or an instance involving the in -custody death of an individual shall be
placed on administrative duty by the Chief of Police upon submission of the ir
preliminary statement. Reinstatement to full duty shall occur at the discretion of the
Chief of Police.
05.03.4 SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES
A. Upon establishing that a critical incident has occurred, the supervisor shall obtain a
Public Safety Statement. Public Safety Statement questions are intended to achieve
an initial baseline of the events that occurred. Examples of Public Safety Statement
questions are, but not limited to:
1. Are you injured?
2. Do you know if anyone else is injured? If so where are they?
3. What type of force was used?
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4. If you fired your weapon, what direction did you discharge it?
5. If the suspect fired, what direction did they discharge it?
6. If any suspects/vehicles fled the scene, what are their descriptions?
7. Do you know the location of any firearms/evidence that needs to be secured?
8. Are there any witnesses? If so, do you know where they are located?
NOTE: Once the Public Safety Statement is obtained the involved officer(s)
shall, if applicable, refrain from discussing the incident with anyone
other than their legal counsel or those investigating the incident,
whether that be the SBI or the Concord Pol ice Department.
B. The involved officer(s) should be relieved of their duties as soon as practicable and
transported to police headquarters.