Policy Text
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
GO 580.02
Page 1 of 14
580.02
USE OF FORCE
12-16-21
PURPOSE
This policy establishes guidelines for the use and application of force, as well as the procedures for after-
force medical care.
POLICY
The Sacramento Police Department (SPD) values the sanctity of human life and the freedoms guaranteed by
the United States and California constitutions. Use of force (UOF) by peace officers is of important concern to
the community. The role of law enforcement is to safeguard life, dignity, and liberty of all persons, without
prejudice to anyone. Peace officers shall carry out duties, including UOF, in a manner that is fair and unbiased.
This policy will be regularly reviewed and updated by the Professional Standards Division to reflect developing
practices and procedures.
It is the policy of the Department that a peace officer is justified in using deadly force upon another person only
as a last resort when reasonable alternatives have been exhausted or are not feasible and the officer
reasonably believes, based on the totality of the circumstances, that such force is necessary.
This policy is based upon Assembly Bill 392 as codified in Penal Code 835a which states :
(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 furthe r 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 the particul ar 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 thoroughly, 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.
(4)That the decision by a peace officer to use fo rce 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 totality 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 grea ter 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.
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
GO 580.02
Page 2 of 14
(b)Any peace officer who has reasonable c ause to believe that the person to be arrested has committed a
public offense may use objectively reasonable force to effect the arrest, to prevent escape, 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 totality of the circumstances, that such force is
necessary for either of the following reasons:
(A)To defend against an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury to the officer or to another person.
(B)To apprehend a fleeing person for any felony that threatened or resulted in death or serious bodily
injury, if th e officer reasonably believes that the person will cause death or serious bodily injury to
another unless immediately apprehended. Where feasible, a peace officer shall, prior to the use of
force, make reasonable efforts to identify themselves as a peace o fficer and to warn that deadly force
may be used, unless the officer has objectively reasonable grounds to believe the person is aware of
those facts.
(2)A peace officer shall not use deadly force against a person based on the danger that person poses to
themselves, if an objectively reasonable officer would believe the person does not pose an imminent
threat of death or serious bodily injury to the peace officer or to another person.
(d)A peace officer who makes or attempts to make an arrest need not ret reat or desist from their efforts by
reason of the resistance or threatened resistance of the person being arrested. A peace officer shall
not be deemed an aggressor or lose the right to self -defense by the use of objectively reasonable force
in compliance with subdivisions (b) and (c) to effect the arrest or to prevent escape or to overcome
resistance. For the purposes of this subdivision, “retreat” does not mean tactical repositioning or other
de-escalation tactics.
(e)For purposes of this section, the f ollowing definitions shall apply:
(1)“Deadly force” means any use of force that creates a substantial risk of causing death or serious bodily
injury, including, but not limited to, the discharge of a firearm.
(2)A threat of death or serious bodily injury is “imminent” when, based on the totality of the circumstances,
a reasonable officer in the same situation would believe that a person has the