Policy Text
CATEGORY DATE ADOPTED LAST REVIEW NEXT REVIEW
2 05/01/2013 09/01/201 8 09/01/201 9
TUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDERS
302 – Critical Incident Review Board 1 POLICY 302 CRITICAL INCIDENT REVIEW BOARD (CIRB)
302.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The purpose of this policy is to establish the role and responsibilities of the Critical Incident Review Board
(CIRB) . The CIRB has two primary functions. First, the board will review all uses of deadly force by
members of this department and secondarily , the Board will review other critical and unusual incidents .
302.1.1 ACCRE DITATION STANDARDS
This policy pertains to the following CALEA standards: 1.3.7 , 4.2.2
302.2 POLICY
The Tustin Police Department is charged with the important responsibility of objectively evaluating the use
of deadly force and other critical and/or unusual incidents . It is the policy of this department to convene
the CIRB when the use of force by an employee results in injury or death to a person. The CIRB will also
review the circumstances surrounding every discharge of a firearm, including an accidental or unintentional
discharge of a firearm, whether the employee is on or off duty, excluding range training or recreational use.
The CIRB will also be used to review other critical and/or unusual incidents, such as in -custody deaths,
unusual use of force incidents, use of force incidents resulting in serious injury to a member of the
department, pursuits resulting in serious injuries , or any other major incident with training and /or policy
implications . The Chief of Police or his/her designee has the discretion to request the board meet to review
an incident .
302.2.1 COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD
The Critical Incident Review Board shall be comprised of the following persons:
a) Bureau Commander ;
b) A Patrol Division Lieutenant ;
c) The Professional Standards Division Lieutenant ;
d) Range Master Sergeant ;
e) Use of Force Instructor Sergeant;
f) Field Support Services Manager (as needed)
g) Legal Advisor (as needed)
The Bureau Commander will serve as chairperson. In the event one of the members of the board is in the
chain of command of the involved employee(s), another Bureau Commander or Division Commander may
substitute for the members of the board. When reviewing critical incidents involving civilian personnel,
such as communication officers or police service officers, civilian supervisors and managers will be added
to the Board as needed.
The Bureau Commander will convene the board as necessary or at the direction of the Chief of Police. It
will be the responsibility of the Division Commander or Unit Supervi sor of the involved employee(s) to
notify the appropriate Bureau Commander of any incidents requiring board review. The Division
Commander or Unit Supervisor will also ensure that all relevant reports, documents, and materials are
CATEGORY DATE ADOPTED LAST REVIEW NEXT REVIEW
2 05/01/2013 09/01/201 8 09/01/201 9
TUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDERS
302 – Critical Incident Review Board 2 available for considerati on and review by the board. The involved Division Commander or Unit Supervisor
will also notify the involved employee that the board will review the use of force incident or other critical
incident prior to the board convening.
302.3 RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD
The Critical Incident Review Board is empowered to conduct a review of the circumstances of a use of
force resulting in injury or death to a person or any critical or unusual incident as deemed appropriate by
the Chief of Police . Although not required, t he employee(s) involved in the incident under review may be
interviewed by a member of the Professional Standards Division prior to the meeting of the board, in
conjunction with the procedures established in Policy Manual § 340.4, § 1020.3, and § 1020.6 . The board
members may request further investigation, call persons to present information, and may request that the
involved employee(s) appear before the board. The involved employee(s) will be notified of the meeting
of the board and may be represented by legal counsel and/or other representation through all phases of
the review process.
Absent an expressed waiver from the employee, no more than two members of the board may ask
questions of the involved employee(s) (Government Code § 3303) .
The review shall be based upon those facts which were reasonably believed by the officer at the time of
the incident, applying legal requirements, department policy and procedures, and approved training to
those facts. Facts later discovered but unkno wn to the officer at the time, can neither justify nor call into
question an officer’s decision (s).
The board does not have the authority to make a policy finding in regards to an incident or recommend
discipline. The board will discuss and make recommendations concerning applicable policies , practices
and/or training that should be eliminated, modified, and/or implemented , based upon the collective
experience and expertise of the board . The board may conduct further research outside the departme nt
as part of its review process.
After the board has concluded, the board chairperson will submit a written opinion of the board to the Chief
of Police. After review by the Chief of Police, a copy of the findings will be forwarded to the involved
employ ee’s Division Commander for review and appropriate action , when applicable .
If the