Policy Text
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
1
4.3 Use of Force
4.3.2 Use of Deadly Physical Force in Defense of Human Life (Revised: 2/20/25)
INTERIM POLICY
A. The use of deadly force is justifiable only when an officer reasonably believes it is
necessary and under the following circumstances [PC § 835 (a)]:
1. An officer may use deadly force to protect him/herself or others from what the
officer reasonably beli eves is an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury
to the officer or another person.
2. An officer may use deadly force to apprehend a fleeing person for any felony that
threatened or resulted in death or serious bodily injury if the officer rea sonably
believes that the person will cause death or serious bodily injury to another person
if not immediately apprehended. See General Order 4.3.3, "Use of Force to
Apprehend a Fleeing Felon."
B. Officers must consider their surroundings and potential r isks to bystanders, to the extent
reasonable under the circumstances, before discharging a firearm (Government Code §
7286).
C. Officers shall not use deadly force against a person based on the danger the person poses
to him/herself if an objectively reas onable officer would believe the person does not pose
an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury to the officer or to another person [PC
§ 835 (a)].
D. When feasible, prior to using deadly force, an officer shall make a reasonable effort to
identify him/herself as a peace officer and warn that deadly force may be used, unless the
officer has objectively reasonable grounds to believe the person is aware of those facts [PC
§ 835 (a)].
E. If an objectively reasonable officer would consider it safe and feasible to do so, under the
totality of the circumstances, an officer shall evaluate and use other reasonably available
resources and techniques when determining whether to use deadly force. To the extent that
it is reasonably practical, officers sho uld consider their surroundings and any potential
risks to bystanders before discharging a firearm [Government Code § 7286 (b)].
F. An “imminent” threat of death or serious bodily injury exists when, based on the totality
of the circumstances, a reasonable officer in the same situation would believe that a person
has the present ability, opportunity and apparent intent to immediately cause death or
serious bodily injury to the officer or another person. An officer’s subjective fea r of future
harm alone is insufficient to represent an imminent threat. An imminent threat is one that,
from appearances, is reasonably believed to require instant attention [PC § 835 (a)].