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SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDERS GO 580.0 3 Page 1 of 12 580.03 USE OF FORCE REPORTING, INVESTIGATIONS AND RESPONSE 12-16-2 1 PURPOSE This policy establishes guidelines for the reporting, investigation and review of incidents after an application of force. POLICY It shall be the policy of the Sacramento Police Department (SPD) to promptly report and objectively evaluate peace officer or authorized non-sworn uniformed Department personnel use of force incidents to ensure that force is used lawfully, appropriately and is consistent with training and policy. Any use of force by a member of this Department shall be documented promptly, completely and accurately in an appropriate report, depending on the nature of the incident. The officer should articulate the factors perceived and why they believed the use of force was reasonable under the circumstance. To collect data for purposes of training, resource allocation, analysis and related purposes, the Department may require the completion of additional report forms, as specified in Department policy, procedure or law. PROCEDURE A.DEFINITIONS 1.Force Investigation Team (FIT) – Ancillary position within the Professional Standards Unit (PSU), which conducts use of force investigations and reviews. Members are the lead administrative investigators for officer involved shootings, in custody deaths and uses of force resulting in serious bodily injury. 2.Serious Bodily Injury – Bodily injury that involves a substantial risk of death, unconsciousness, protracted and obvious disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member or organ. B.RESPONSE 1.Employees’ Responsibilities a.Employees shall notify the field district supervisor or watch commander as soon as practical anytime any employee uses force in compliance with General Order 580.02. b.A reportable use of force (UOF) is one in which any of the following apply: (1)The UOF involves: a)The discharge of a firearm. b)A canine bite. c)The use of an impact weapon. d)The use of a chemical agent. e)The application caused a visible injury. f)The subject subjected to the force complained of injury or continuing pain. g)Any application of a Conducted Energy Device (CED) . h)The subject of the UOF was rendered unconscious. i)The use of personal body weapons. j)Any UOF as outlined in Appendix #1 with the corresponding reporting requirements in Appendix #2 (refer to Appendix #1 and #2 at end of policy). k)A subject alleges any of the above has occurred. (2)The UOF deviates from the techniques taught or the equipment provided by the Department (see in section G.4. & G.5.). (3)The UOF causes injury. a)For the purpose of determining if a UOF is reportable, an injury is defined as any visible bodily injury or complaint of bodily injury (non-visible injury). The injury must be reasonably related SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDERS GO 580.0 3 Page 2 of 12 to the UOF applied. The temporary pain associated with the proper application of control holds and/or restraints is not an injury for purposes of determining if a UO F is reportable. c.If an employee is in doubt as to whether a UOF is reportable, the employee shall notify their district supervisor or watch commander , who will be responsible for making the determination. d.Whether or not a UOF is reportable under Department policy, any UOF used to overcome a combative, physically aggressive, or fleeing subject who has delayed, obstructed, or fought with a peace officer shall be documented in a crime, casualty, or incident report. The peace officer’s district supervisor or wa tch commander shall be notified. Brief resistance to the application of departmentally approved control holds does not require a report. e.A peace officer booking an arrested subject shall notify the appropriate jail medical staff employee of the injury and type of force used. 2.Supervisors’ Responsibilities a.Upon notification of a reportable UOF, the district supervisor shall: (1)Respond to the location of the incident to ensure that a thorough investigation takes place. A thorough investigation into a UOF by an employee should include, but is not limited to, an area canvass (for witnesses, evidence and surveillance video), witness statements (which should be obtained b y a supervisor or peace officers not involved in the UOF), subject statements, and photographs of the scene and any injuries. If the supervisor is unable to respond to the location of the arrest, the supervisor shall notify the Watch Commander . (2)Review the incident with the employee who used force and any witnessing employees if present . (3)Review all recordings (both audio and video) of the event, including In -Car Camera, Body Worn Camera video, and any available surveillance video. (4)Assess the appropriateness of the UOF and any charge(s) against the subject. (5)Consider arranging for other peace officers to transport and book the subject in the event the subject continues to display hostile, confrontational, or oppositional behavior toward the arresting officer(s) . (6)Immediately notify the Watch Commander . 3.Command Responsibilities a.The Watch Commander shall review with the field supervisor any uses of force. If, after the review, the Watch Commander determines that the UOF was inconsistent with Department policy, the Watch Commander shall contact the employee