Policy Text
Policy
300Placentia Police Department
Placentia PD Policy Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2019/01/02, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Placentia Police DepartmentUse of Force - 1Use of Force
300.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This policy provides guidelines on the reasonable use of force. While there is no way to specify
the exact amount or type of reasonable force to be applied in any situation, every member of
this department is expected to use these guidelines to make such decisions in a professional,
impartial and reasonable manner.
300.1.1 DEFINITIONS
Definitions related to this policy include:
Deadly force - Force reasonably anticipated and intended to create a substantial likelihood of
causing death or very serious injury.
Force - The application of physical techniques or tactics, chemical agents or weapons to another
person. It is not a use of force when a person allows him/herself to be searched, escorted,
handcuffed or restrained.
300.2 POLICY
The use of force by law enforcement personnel is a matter of critical concern, both to the public
and to the law enforcement community. Officers are involved on a daily basis in numerous and
varied interactions and, when warranted, may use reasonable force in carrying out their duties.
Officers must have an understanding of, and true appreciation for, their authority and limitations.
This is especially true with respect to overcoming resistance while engaged in the performance
of law enforcement duties.
The Department recognizes and respects the value of all human life and dignity without prejudice
to anyone. Vesting officers with the authority to use reasonable force and to protect the public
welfare requires monitoring, evaluation and a careful balancing of all interests.
300.2.1 DUTY TO INTERCEDE
Any officer present and observing another officer using force that is clearly beyond that which
is objectively reasonable under the circumstances shall, when in a position to do so, intercede
to prevent the use of unreasonable force. An officer who observes another employee use force
that exceeds the degree of force permitted by law shall promptly report these observations to a
supervisor.
300.3 USE OF FORCE
Officers shall use only that amount of force that reasonably appears necessary given the facts
and circumstances perceived by the officer at the time of the event to accomplish a legitimate law
enforcement purpose.
The reasonableness of force will be judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the
scene at the time of the incident. Any evaluation of reasonableness must allow for the fact that
officers are often forced to make split-second decisions about the amount of force that reasonably
Placentia Police Department
Placentia PD Policy Manual
Use of Force
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2019/01/02, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Placentia Police DepartmentUse of Force - 2appears necessary in a particular situation, with limited information and in circumstances that are
tense, uncertain and rapidly evolving.
Given that no policy can realistically predict every possible situation an officer might encounter,
officers are entrusted to use well-reasoned discretion in determining the appropriate use of force
in each incident.
It is also recognized that circumstances may arise in which officers reasonably believe that it
would be impractical or ineffective to use any of the tools, weapons or methods provided by
the Department. Officers may find it more effective or reasonable to improvise their response
to rapidly unfolding conditions that they are confronting. In such circumstances, the use of any
improvised device or method must nonetheless be reasonable and utilized only to the degree that
reasonably appears necessary to accomplish a legitimate law enforcement purpose.
While the ultimate objective of every law enforcement encounter is to avoid or minimize injury,
nothing in this policy requires an officer to retreat or be exposed to possible physical injury before
applying reasonable force.
300.3.1 USE OF FORCE TO EFFECT AN ARREST
Any peace officer may use reasonable force to effect an arrest, to prevent escape or to overcome
resistance. A peace officer who makes or attempts to make an arrest need not retreat or desist
from his/her efforts by reason of resistance or threatened resistance on the part of the person
being arrested; nor shall an officer be deemed the aggressor or lose his/her right to self-defense
by the use of reasonable force to effect the arrest, prevent escape or to overcome resistance
(Penal Code § 835a).
300.3.2 FACTORS USED TO DETERMINE THE REASONABLENESS OF FORCE
When determining whether to apply force and evaluating whether an officer has used reasonable
force, a number of factors should be taken into consideration, as time and circumstances permit.
These factors include, but are not limited to:
(a)Immediacy and severity of the threat to officers or others.
(b)The conduct of the individual being confronted, as reasonably perceived by the officer
at the time.
(c)Officer/subject factors (age, size, relative strength, skill level, injuries sustained, level
of exhaustion or fatigue, the number of officers available vs. subjects).
(d)The effects of drugs or alcohol.
(e)Subject’s mental state or capacity.
(f)Proximity of weapons or dangerous improvised devices.
(g)The degree to which the subject has been effectively restrained and his/her ability to
resist despite being restrained.
(h)The availability of other options and their possible effectiveness.
Placentia Police Department
Placentia PD Policy Manual
Use of Force
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2019/01/02, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by Placentia Police DepartmentUse of Force - 3(i)Seriousness of the suspected offense or reason for contact with the individual.
(j)Training and experience of the officer.
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