Policy Text
OFFICE OF CHIEF OF POLICE
OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT
MEMORANDUM
TO: All Personnel DATE: 16 Oct 14
SUBJECT: Revised DGO K-4, REPORTING AND INVESTIGATING THE USE OF
FORCE (01 Aug 07)
The purpose of th is revision is to update policy consistent with th e revisions to DGO K -3, USE
OF FORCE and DGO K -9, POLICE CANINES and to incorporate previously issued Special
Orders .
SO 8 999, SO 8977, SO 8970 and SO 9057 have been incorporated in the policy revision and are
hereby cancelled.
The following is a summa ry of the substantive changes to DGO K -4. This summary s hall not
take the place of the review and understanding of the entire document :
Added l anguage raising a force level investigation to a Level 1
When the Watch Commander has raised a force a force l evel investigation to a Level
1, investigator preparing the Use of Force Report (TF -967) shall enter Force Type 8 -
XX (where “8” indicates the force investigation is being raised to a higher level and
“XX” indicates the actual force type applied) into the F orce Type # box in Part 2 of
the Use of Force Report .
Added language defining a restrained subject
a. A restrained subject is a person who has been fully placed in a Department
authorized restraint device such as both hands handcuffed, a WRAP or Rip
Hobb le.
b. A subject with only one handcuff on is not a restrained person.
Added a new Level 4 Use of Force for canine deployments
A canine deployment in which a suspect is located by the canine but no bite occurs.
a. This includes alert or detaining behav ior such as barking, growling circling or
making non -biting physical contact with the subject which does not result in
injury requiring emergency medical treatment (beyond first -aid) or hospital
admittance.
b. This does not include a canine deployment in which the suspect is located by
means other than the canine or where no suspect is located.
• Added language for the minimal information required in the appropriate report when a
member or employee has a use of force
Articulation of the reasonableness ofthe force
• Added requirement for transportation to a medical facility for evaluation
Any strike to the head with an impact weapon
Personnel shall acknowledge receipt, review, and understanding of this directive in accordance
with the provisions ofDGO A-I, DEPARTMENTAL PUBLICATIONS.
By order of
Sean Whent
Chief of Police Date Signed: _
DEPARTMENTAL
GENERAL
ORDER
K-4
Index as:
Reporting and Investigating the
Use of Force Effective Date
16 Oct 14
Evaluatio n Coordinator:
BFO Commander :
Evaluation Due Date:
16 Apr 15
Automatic Revision Cycle:
3 Years
TOC - i
REPORTING AND INVESTIGATING THE USE OF FORCE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. POLICY ................................ ................................ ................................ ....................... .1
II. FORCE LEVELS ................................ ................................ ................................ ......... 4
A. Level 1 ................................ ................................ ................................ ................ 4
B. Level 2 ................................ ................................ ................................ ................ 5
C. Level 3 ................................ ................................ ................................ ................ 5
D. Level 4 ................................ ................................ ................................ ................ 6
III. LEVEL 1 FORCE OR IN -CUSTODY DEATH INCIDENTS ................................ 7
A. Involved Personnel Responsibilities ................................ ................................ .. 7
B Uninvolved Personnel Responsibilities ................................ .............................. 7
C. Supervisor Responsibilities ................................ ................................ ................ 9
D. Follow -up Investigators Responsibilities ................................ ......................... 11
E. Watch Commander or Designee Responsibilities ................................ ............ 12
IV. LEVEL 2 FORCE INCIDENTS ................................ ................................ ............... 13
A. Involved Pe rsonnel Responsibilities ................................ ................................ 13
B. Uninvolved Personnel Responsibilities ................................ ............................ 13
C. Supervisor Responsibilities ................................ ................................ .............. 15
D. Watch Commander or Incident Commander Responsibilities ......................... 18
V. LEVEL 3 FORCE INCIDENTS ................................ ................................ ............... 19
A. Personnel Responsibilities ................................ ................................ ............... 19
B. Supervisor/Commander Responsibilities ................................ ......................... 19
VI. LEVEL 4 FORCE INCIDENTS ................................ ................................ ............... 23
A. Personnel Responsibilities ................................ ................................ ............... 24
B. Supervisor/Commander Responsibilities ................................ ......................... 25
DEPAR TMENTAL GENERAL ORDER
OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT K-4 Effective Date:
16 Oct 14
TOC - ii VII. LEVEL 1 FORCE INCIDENTS INVOLVING AN OUTSIDE AGENCY .......... 26
A. Incidents Occurring Outside the City of Oakland ................................ ............ 26
B. Incident Occurring Within the City of Oakland ................................ ............... 26
VIII. COMMAND REVIEW AND ENDORSEMENT ................................ .................... 27
A. All reviewers ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 27
B. Level 1 Force Review Res ponsibilities ................................ ............................ 28
C. Level 2 and 3 Force Review Responsibilities ................................ .................. 29
D. Level 4 Force Review Responsibilities ................................ ............................ 30
IX. RISK MANAGEMENT ................................ ................................ .............................