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__________________________________________ __________________________ _______________________________ General Order B-39 Response to Resistance and Other Duty Related Actions Resulting in Serious Injury or Death Page 1 of 16 TEMPLE TERRACE POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDER EFFECTIVE DATE 11/07 /08 FILE INDEX NO. B-39 SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO RESISTANCE AND OTHER DUTY RELATED ACTIONS RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH RESCINDS: REVISES: B-39 DATE REVISED: 11/27/2025 DISTRIBUTION : ALL MEMBERS I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this general order is to establish procedures for the use of lethal and less- lethal response to resistance by sworn members engaged in the lawful execution of a legal duty. II. SCOPE: All Members III. DISCUSSION: The T emple Terrace Police Department recognizes that officers may encounter situations where response to resistance may be necessary to achieve a specific law enforcement objective . The goal of the Temple Terrace Police Department is to provide department personnel with a response to resistance policy that is easily understood and consistent with prevailing law, to include F.S. §776.05, when acting within the capacity of a law enforcement off icer. When off duty and not acting within the capacity of a law enforcement officer, officers must act in accordance with current Florida State Statutes in reference to any response to resistance. At the forefront of every response to resistance situat ion, officers must remain committed to the following principals : 1. Officers , while engaged in the lawful execution of a legal duty, will only use the least amount of force reasonably necessary to effect their objective. 2. Unnecessary or excessive force shall not be tolerated. 3. In the event a member of the agency witnesses unnecessary or excessive force, the member shall immediately inte rvene, summon medical assistance, and/or administer medical treatment commensurate their level of training , if needed, and notify a supervisor as soon as practical. __________________________________________ __________________________ _______________________________ General Order B-39 Response to Resistance and Other Duty Related Actions Resulting in Serious Injury or Death Page 2 of 16 Nothing in this general order should be interpreted to restrict an authorized member from utilizing any readily available object as a weapon of opportunity , during exigent circumstances, when response to resistance is authorized . This applies to both lethal and less-lethal response to resistance. 1. As with all response to resistance situations, the utilization of a particular “weapon of opportunity” must be a reasonable response given the specific situation and circumstances necessitating its use. IV. DEFINITIONS: A. COMPLIANCE - A subject(s) verbal and/or physical yielding to an officer’s authority without apparent threat of resistance or violence. B. CHOKEHOLD - The intentional and prolonged application of force to the throat, windpipe, or airway of another person that prevents the intake of air. The term does not include any hold involving contact with another person’s neck that is not intended to prevent the intake of air. C. ESCALATION, DE -ESCALATION, AND DISENGAGEMENT - Escalation, de -escalation, and disengagement are important concepts in making legally and tactically sound, reasonable responses to resistance. Escalation is increasing the use of force or resistance. De-escalation is decreasing the use of force or resist ance. Disengagement is discontinuing a command or physical use of force, for example, by breaking away from a subject. Officers are legally permitted to escalate their use of force as the subject escalates his or her level of resistance. The officer’s choi ces are determined by the subject’s actions and the risk of physical harm posed to the officer or others. Once the officer achieves control or compliance, he or she must de -escalate the use of force. Under certain circumstances, disengagement may be the b est tactical option, for example, when the officer is waiting for backup, when the officer is injured or outnumbered, or when the suspect has superior firepower D. EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES - Something arising suddenly out of the current events; any event or occasional combination of circumstances, calling for immediate action or remedy. A sudden and unexpected happening or an unforeseen occurrence or condition. E. FORCE GUIDELINES - A framework for making decisions involving the reasonable use of force by law enforcement officers . F. GREAT BODILY INJURY - An injury that may create a considerable risk of death, causes serious permanent disfigurement, or results in long -term loss or impairment of the functioning of any bodily member or organ. The phrases “great bo dily injury ”, “serious physical injury” and “serious physical harm” are considered synonymous for the purpose of this order . G. LESS -LETHAL MUNITIONS - Projectiles (stinger pellets, bean bags, and rubber pellets) that require a designated shotgun, launcher, o r hand -thrown delivery system. H. LESS-LETHAL RESPONSE - A response , other than that which is considered deadly force, that involves physical effort to control, restrain or overcome the resistance of another. I. LETHAL RESPONSE - A response likely to result in death or great bodily injury. The phrase “lethal response” and “deadly force” are considered synonymous for the purpose of this order . J. LESS -LETHAL WEAPONS - Weapons that are