Policy Text
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
BATON MANUAL
RM 580.08
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
REFERENCE MANUAL
12-19-07
BATON MANUAL
TO: ALL PERSONNEL
General Orders 580.08 implements this manual and requires personnel know its contents
and follow its guidelines when using the police baton or Expanda ble Straight Baton
(ESB). This manual is for departmental use only and does not apply to the standard of
care, in an evidentiary sense in criminal or civil proceedings . The instructions,
guidelines, and policies contained in this ma nual are not intended to nor should they be
construed as a creation of a le gal standard of safety or care higher than the minimum the
law requires with respect to third party claims. The Baton/ESB Manual, RM 580.08, has been produced to assist office rs in establishing
and maintaining law enforcement professionalism regarding the use of the police baton/ESB. Once an officer has determin ed through judgment and knowledge that the
baton/ESB should be used, the bato n/ESB must be used properly.
Used properly, the baton/ESB is one of the most effective and humane weapons in the
police arsenal. Use of the police baton/ESB is proper in situations requiring a degree of force greater than that readily provided by w eaponless control techniques, but less than
that provided by resorting to deadly force.
This manual illustrates and explains appr oved police baton/ESB techniques which are
easy to learn and simple to apply when a ttempting to control a violent, hostile, and
aggressive individual.
This manual serves as the basic guide and sourcebook when reviewing, developing or
teaching department approved baton/ESB technique s and/or courses. Officers wishing to
develop, maintain or enhance baton/ESB skills should not only refer to this basic manual, but should also seek competent instruc tion from department approved baton/ESB
instructors. Additionally, so that this manual shall rema in as contemporary, viable and useful as
possible, employees shall repo rt, through the chain of comma nd, to the Chief of Police
(COP), any discrepancies they discover between the contents of this manual, the law and
acceptable police procedures. Any procedural changes made to those outlined in this
manual shall be at the discretion of the COP.
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
REFERENCE MANUAL
CHAPTER I
GENERAL BATON/ESB GUIDELINES
A. POLICY GUIDELINES
1. Only those techniques taught in the depart ment approved course shall be used.
2. Injured persons shall be taken to a ny authorized medical facility for
examination and/or treatment required. See GO 522.02 and GO 580.02 .
B. TACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS It is impossible to try to establish absolute rules about when to use the baton/ESB.
1. The officer should continually assess the necessity of and level of force to be
applied in a particular situation. Some determining factors in making a decision to use or continue to use a baton/ESB include, but are not limited to,
the following:
a. Size of the assailant compared to the size of the officer.
b. The assailant’s relative strength, age, and skill level.
c. The officer’s inability to use weapon less control due to injury or level
of exhaustion.
d. The number of officers versus number of suspects.
e. The number of the assailants.
f. The violent aggressiveness of the assailant.
g. Whether the assailant possesses weapons or objects which can be used as weapons or his/her proximity to such objects.
h. The need for immediate control due to tactical considerations.
2. The duration of strikes sha ll be limited to the minimum required to effectively
control the subject.
BATON MANUAL
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SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
REFERENCE MANUAL
C. TERMINOLOGY
1. Baton: A smooth wooden staff, either 26 inches or 29 inches long, issued to
officers as a departmental approved weapon and used as a striking implement
to gain control over a viol ent, aggressive, hostile a ssailant. The baton has a
rubber grommet approximately seven (7) in ches from one end which serves to
keep the baton in the baton ring when worn on the equipment belt.
ESB – Expandable Straight Baton: A sm ooth telescoping metal shaft, either
26 inches or 29 inches long, issued to officers as a departmental approved weapon and used as a striking implemen t to gain control over a violent,
aggressive, hostile assailant.
2. Butt end: The baton end nearest th e grommet and the bottom of the ESB
handle (End Cap). The butt end may be used to deliver a strike or thrust to an
assailant.
3. Front end: The baton end opposite the grommet or butt end and the smaller
tip of the ESB (Strike tube cap). The front end may be used to deliver a strike or thrust to an assailant.
4. Forward end: The end of the baton which is pointing toward the assailant. This could be either the butt end or front end.
5. Rear end: The end of the baton/ESB whic h is held closest to the officer. This
could be either the butt end or the front end.
6. Shaft