Policy Text
University of California, San Francisco Police
Department General Orders
4.3 Use of Force
4.3.17 Electronic Control Device (Revised: 2/20/25 )
INTERIM POLICY
A. Purpose and Scope
1. This policy provides guidelines for the issuance and use of an Electronic Control
Device (ECD).
2. The ECD is intended to control a violent or potentially violent individual while
minimizing the risk of serious injury. The appropriate use of such a device is
intended to result in fewer serious injuries to officers and suspects.
3. These are the guideli nes for the deployment and use of an ECD by officers of the
UCSF Police Department. All sworn personnel must comply with the requirements
of this policy. The decision to use force shall be reviewed in light of information
reasonably available to the office r(s) at the time the decision is made.
4. The intent is for officers to deploy and use the ECD to maximize the safety of all
individuals involved in an incident.
B. Definitions
1. Activation : Depressing the trigger of the ECD causing an arc or firing of the probes.
2. Active Aggression : A threat or overt act of an assault (through physical or verbal
means), coupled with the present ability to carry out the threat or assault, which
reasonably indicates that an assault or injury to a person is im minent.
3. Active Resistance : Intentional and unlawful opposition of the lawful order of a
peace officer in a physical manner. This includes employing physically evasive
movements made to defeat an officer's attempt at control, such as bracing, tensing
or running away, or verbally or physically signaling an intention to avoid or prevent
being taken into or retained in custody.
4. AFID : Anti -Felon Identification system, which provides accountability for each use
of the ECD device via the dispersal of tiny u nique coded tags every time the device
is probe deployed, i.e., when a cartridge is discharged .
5. Cartridge : Refers to an ECD cartridge, which contains probes.
6. Deployment : Removal of the ECD from the holster, regardless of where the ECD
is held or po inted.
7. Electronic Control Devic e (ECD) : An ECD is a handheld device that discharges an
electronic current to override a subject's central nervous system causing temporary
incapacitation (probe mode) or discomfort (drive stun mode).
8. ECD Modes
1. Probe Deployment or Probe Mode – Two darts on wires are propelled from
a cartridge to contact a subject's body. The ECD sends an electrical signal
to the probes via wires, which can disrupt the subject's body's ability to
communicate messages from the brain t o the muscles and likely (depending
upon many factors, including the distance between the probes, probe
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Department General Orders
placement, the thickness of the subject’s clothing, etc.) usually disrupts
motor -skill function.
2. Drive Stun Mode – The ECD is brought into immediate contact with the
subject's body or clothing. Drive stun creates discomfort in the immediate
area around the point of contact , due to the narrow spread of the ECD
probes. Drive stun application will likely not cause motor skill dysfunction.
9. ECD Use
1. ECD Displayed – The ECD is withdrawn from the holster and is visible to
the subject. The subject complies or the incident concludes without actual
use of the ECD.
2. ECD Laser Pointed – The ECD ’s laser targeting mechanism is activated and
pointed in the direction of the subject. In response to the subject's
observation of the laser pointing, the subject complies or the incident
concludes without further use of the ECD.
3. ECD Demonstrated – The ECD is withdrawn from the holster, and the
electrica l arcing is demonstrated to the subject , in an attempt to gain
voluntary compliance, by pressing the ARC switch.
4. ECD Deployed – The ECD probes contact the subject’s body or clothing
and/or a drive stun is used to attempt to gain compliance.
10. Office r(s): Any sworn peace officer regardless of rank.
Passive Resistance : Physical actions that do not prevent the officer’s attempt to
control a subject. For example, a subject who remains in a sitting, standing, limp or
prone position with no physical cont act (e.g., locked arms) with other individuals.
A subject in handcuffs meets the definition of passive resistance if the subject :
1. Is in a sitting, standing or prone position as directed by the officer and is not
engaged in any motion intended to injure, resist or remove the handcuffs or
2. Is walking accompanied by and following the directions of an officer.
A subject who, while sitting or standing, has locked arms with another subject is
not engaged in passive resistance but is engaged in proac tive action to obstruct.
A subject who has previously engaged in passive resistance but who subsequently
engages in behavior such as flailing, kicking, elbowing, head butting, biting,
shoving, jerking, pulling away, twisting or other action that an offic er interprets as
a threat or actual act of active resistance is no longer considered to be engaging in
passive resistance.
Sensitive Areas : Areas of a subject’s body such as the head (face, side, back), neck,
groin, genitalia or female’s breast.
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Verbal Warning Reference : Any verbal notification to a subject(s) that an officer