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Policy 300Santa Ana Police Department Santa Ana PD Policy Manual Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2026/01/05, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Santa Ana 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 (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. Retaliation prohibitions for reporting suspected violations are addressed in the Anti-Retaliation Policy. 300.1.1 DEFINITIONS Definitions related to this policy include: Deadly force - 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 (Penal Code § 835a). Feasible - Reasonably capable of being done or carried out under the circumstances to successfully achieve the arrest or lawful objective without increasing risk to the officer or another person (Government Code § 7286(a)). 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. Serious bodily injury - A "serious bodily injury" means a 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. (Government Code § 12525.2). Great bodily injury - For the purposes of this policy; "great bodily injury" is defined as follows: Loss of consciousness, concussion, broken bones and/or fractures, not including dislocations, obvious disfigurement, protracted loss of function of any bodily member or organ, or wound requiring ten (10) or more sutures/staples as a direct result of the force used. Totality of the circumstances - All facts known to the officer at the time, including the conduct of the officer and the subject leading up to the use of force (Penal Code § 835a). 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. Santa Ana Police Department Santa Ana PD Policy Manual Use of Force Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2026/01/05, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by Santa Ana Police DepartmentUse of Force - 2Officers 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 law enforcement officer or an employee using force that is clearly beyond that which is necessary, as determined by an objectively reasonable officer under the circumstances, shall, when in a position to do so, intercede (as defined by Government Code § 7286) to prevent the use of unreasonable force. When observing force used by a law enforcement officer, each officer should take into account the possibility that other law enforcement officers may have additional information regarding the threat posed by the subject (Government Code § 7286(b)). 300.2.2 FAIR AND UNBIASED USE OF FORCE Officers are expected to carry out their duties, including the use of force, in a manner that is fair and unbiased (Government Code § 7286(b)). See the Bias-Based Policing Policy for additional guidance. 300.2.3 DUTY TO REPORT EXCESSIVE FORCE Any officer who observes a law enforcement officer or an employee use force that potentially exceeds what the officer reasonably believes to be necessary shall immediately report these observations to a supervisor (Government Code § 7286(b)). As used in this subsection, "immediately" means as soon as it is safe and feasible to do so. 300.2.4 FAILURE TO INTERCEDE An officer who has received the required training on the duty to intercede and then fails to act to intercede when required by law, may be disciplined up to and including in the same manner as the officer that committed the excessive force (Government Code § 7286(b)). 300.3 USE OF FORCE Officers shall use only that amount of force that reasonably appears necessary given the facts and totality of the circumstances known to or perceived by the officer at the time of the event to accomplish a legitimate law enforcement purpose (Penal Code § 835a). 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