Policy Text
1 (06/23/2025 ) ST. PETERSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
Subject: DISCHARGE OF A FIREARM , POLICE -ACTION DEATH , OR SERIOUS
BODILY INJURY INVESTIGATIONS
Index as:
Accidental Discharge of a Firearm
Discharge of a Firearm
Discharge of a Firearm at an Animal
Everbridge Alert
Shooting Review Board Police -Action Death Investigations
Return to Duty Assignment
Serious Bodily Injury Special Investigations
Intentionally Discharging a Firearm
Use of Force
Pinellas County Use of Deadly Force Investigative Task Force
Accreditation Standards: 4.2.1, 4.2.2, 4.2.3, 11.3.4 , CFA 15.21
Cross Reference: G.O. I -03 Legal Authority of Police Officers
G.O. II-42 Use of Force
G.O. II -43 Lethal and Less -lethal Weapons
G.O. III -19 Death and Serious Injury Special Investigations
OPS SOP III -02 Firearms Investigations
§ 943.1740, F lorida Statutes
Replaces : G.O. III.42, Discharge of a Firearm, Police -Action Death , and Serious Bodily Injury
Investigations ( April 21, 2022 )
This Order consists of the following sections :
I. Policy
II. Reporting the Discharge of a Firearm
III. Discharge of a Firearm without injury or exposure to danger
IV. Police Action Resulting in Death or Seri ous Bodily Injury
V. Review of the Discharge of a Firearm
VI. Return to Duty Assignment
VII. Training
I. POLICY
A. It is recognized that an officer may encounter situations where force may be necessary to overcome resistance in
order to achieve a specific law enforcement objective. The force applied by an officer in any situation may range
from verbal direction to the use of deadly force, if co nfronted with a situation where the officer or some other person
is threatened with serious physical injury or death. It is further recognized that other members of the police
department may become involved in police actions that result in the death or ser ious bodily injury of a person, and
that these incidents also require criminal, administrative, and prosecutorial investigations.
B. The Pinellas -Pasco State Attorney’s Office , via the Pinellas County Use of Deadly Force Investigative Task Force,
will be pre sented for review , the results of any criminal investigation involving death or serious bodily injury as a
result of police action , or when the intentional discharge of their firearm results in injury or death, and will make a
final determination as to wha t charges, if any, will be brought forth against any member of the St. Petersburg Police
Department. DATE OF
ISSUE EFFECTIVE DATE NUMBER
March 2019 Immediately III-42
Distribution: All Employees
General Order III -42
2 (06/23/2025 ) C. The Pinellas County Use of Deadly Force Investigative Task Force will conduct the criminal investigation of police
action that has resulted in death or ser ious bodily injury.
II. REPORTING THE DISCHARGE OF A FIREARM
A. An officer discharging a firearm on or off duty, accidentally or intentionally, within or outside the City, except for
training or practice at a range or while involved in a hunting or sporting event, will make a report to the Emergency
Communications Center a s soon as circumstances permit.
B. The Emergency Communications Center will notify the Watch Commander wh o will go to the scene or contact the
person who reported the discharge.
C. An officer discharging a firearm under circumstances defined in this Order, in addition to verbally reporting the
discharge to the Emergency Communications Center, will complete a Blue Team report as outlined in GO II-42,
Use of Force .
III. DISCHARGE OF A OF A FIREARM WITHOUT INJURY OR EXPOSURE TO DANGER
A. Incidents involving the discharge of a firearm at an animal or an accidental discharge, will be investigated by the
affected officer’s supervisor, unless otherwise directed by the Office of Professional Standards.
All other firearms discharges will be inv estigated by the Office of Professional Standards.
B. If the incident arises as a result of an accidental discharge, and no one has been injured or exposed to danger, or
a firearm has been discharged at an animal, the Watch Commander will ensure the following procedures are
followed:
1. The listed persons will be notified immediately:
a. The Chief of Police via the involved officer’s Chain of Command,
b. The Major, Office of Professional Standards, and
c. The Manager, Community Awareness (PIO)
2. The involved officer’s firearm and gun belt, if necessary, will be taken for investigative purposes by the
investigator in charge of the scene , before it is unloaded or otherwise examined.
a. The weapon will be inspected by a Department armorer
b. The firearm will be made safe o nly at Police Headquarters.
c. An officer relieved of their firearm for investigatory purposes will be furnished with a replacement, unless
their emotional state indicates they should be relieved of a firearm.
d. If a replacement firearm is issued, the officer will be offered the opportunity to become familiar with the
newly issued firearm at the firing range.
3. Photographs will be taken of the firearm and of conditions related to the event.
4. Photographs will be taken of the scene.
5. Scene diagram will be completed by a member of the Forensic