Policy Text
Page 1 of 11 2/11 (REV 11/20)
Use of Force Policy
The purpose of this General Order is to provide officers with guidelines for the
reasonable use of force , as well as procedures for after -force medical care, and
reporting of the incidents after an application of force This Order recognizes the use of
force is a serious responsibility and requires constant evaluation.
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
(Government Code § 7286).
In addition to those methods, techniques, and tools set forth below , the guidelines for
the reasonable application of force contained in this policy shall apply to all policies
addressing the potential use of force, including but not limited to the Control Devices
and Techniques and Conducted Energy Device policies.
I. General
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office recognizes and respects the value of all
human life. Officers are involved in numerous encounters daily with a variety of
people and may be called upon to use reasonable force in carrying out their
duties in a manner that is fair and unbiased . Officers must understand the
limitations of their authority with respect to overcoming resistance from those with
whom they come in official contact. Vesting officers with the authority to use
reasonable force and p rotect the public welfare requires a careful balancing of all
human interests .
II. Policy
A. It is the policy of this Office that officers shall use only that force which is
reasonable, given the facts and circumstances perceived by the officer at
the time of the event, to effectively bring an incident under control. The
reasonableness of the force shall be evaluated from the perspective of a
reasonable officer in the same situation , based on the totality of the
circumstances known to or perceived by the offic er at the time, rather than
with the benefit of hindsight, and that the totality of the circumstances shall
account for occasions when officer may be forced to make quick
judgments about using force.
Page 2 of 11 2/11 (REV 11/20) B. Given that no policy can realistically predict every po ssible situation an
officer might encounter, officers are entrusted to use well -reasoned
discretion in determining the appropriate use of force in each incident.
Officers may only use a level of force that they reasonably believe is
proportional to the ser iousness of the suspected offense or the reasonably
perceived level of actual or threatened resistance .
1. Officers may use force in the performance of their duties when they
reasonably believe any of the following conditions exist:
a. In self -defense;
b. In defense of another person;
c. To prevent the commission of a public offense;
d. To effect a lawful arrest, prevent escape, or overcome
resistance;
e. To protect a person from injuring themselves ;
f. To prevent the destruction of evidence.
2. Officers may use forc e in the performance of their duties pursuant to PC
835a:
835a. (a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(1) That the authority to use physical force, conferred on peace
officers by this section, is a serious responsibility that shall be
exercised judiciously and with respect for human rights and dignity
and for the sanctity of every human life. The Legislature further
finds and declares that every person has a right to be free from
excessive use of force by officers acting under color of law.
(2) As set forth below, it is the intent of the Legislature that peace
officers use deadly force only when necessary in defense of human
life. In determining whether deadly force is necessary, officers shall
evaluate each situation in light of th e particular circumstances of
each case, and shall use other available resources and techniques
if reasonably safe and feasible to an objectively reasonable officer.
(3) That the decision by a peace officer to use force shall be
evaluated carefully and th oroughly, in a manner that reflects the
gravity of that authority and the serious consequences of the use of
force by peace officers, in order to ensure that officers use force
consistent with law and agency policies.
Page 3 of 11 2/11 (REV 11/20) (4) That the decision by a peace offi cer to use force shall be
evaluated from the perspective of a reasonable officer in the same
situation, based on the totality of the circumstances known to or
perceived by the officer at the time, rather than with the benefit of
hindsight, and that the tot ality of the circumstances shall account
for occasions when officers may be forced to make quick
judgments about using force.
(5) That individuals with physical, mental health, developmental, or
intellectual disabilities are significantly more likely to experience
greater levels of physical force during police interactions, as their
disability may affect their ability to understand or comply with
commands from peace officers. It is estimated that individuals with
disabilities are involved in between one -third and one -half of all
fatal encounters with law enforcement.
(b) Any peace officer who has reasonable cause to believe that the
person to be arrested has committed a public offense may use
objectively reasonable force to effect the arrest, to prevent e scape,
or to overcome resistance.
(c) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), a peace officer is justified in
using deadly force upon another person only when the officer
reasonably believes, based on the tot