USE OF FORCE
GENERAL ORDER

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2. The use of any department-owned firearm for sport/recreational use, or by anyone other than
the assigned officer unless approved by the officer’s commander via chain of command, is
prohibited.
3. The involved officer shall complete an initial police report and provide it to the assigned field
supervisor responsible for the investigation prior to the end of shift if on-duty and if off-duty, as
directed by the field supervisor.
4. All discharges of a department-authorized firearm shall be investigated to determine if the
shooting is within the law and department policy. The responsible supervisor will prepare a
Firearms Investigation Report (Other than Animal) or a Destruction of Animal (Firearm
Report). The summary section shall be completed in detail in lieu of completing a Supervisory
Special Report.
a. The Firearms Investigation Report, with one copy of the involved officer’s initial police report
will be forwarded through the chain of command to the chief of police.
b. The chief of police will assign the case to his/her Executive Staff designee for compilation,
review and filing and the case will be forwarded to the Firearms Review Board for their
recommendation to the chief of police (refer to G.O. 1.32 Firearms Review Board for
additional information regarding the administrative review process).
5. If an uninvolved department member has knowledge of an unreported shooting incident they
shall report the known facts to a supervisor.
6. Moving vehicles
Unless it reasonably appears that it would endanger officers or the public, officers are expected
to move out of the path of any approaching vehicle, however,
a. This is not intended to restrict an officer’s right to use deadly force directed at the operator
of a vehicle when it is reasonably perceived that the vehicle is being used as a weapon
against the officer or others.
b. Officers may use deadly force to stop a fleeing suspect when the officer has probable cause
to believe that the suspect has committed, or intends to commit, a felony involving the
infliction or threat of serious bodily injury and the officer reasonably believes that there is an
imminent or future potential risk of serious bodily injury to others if the suspect is not
immediately apprehended. Under such circumstances, a verbal warning should precede the
use of deadly force when feasible.
c. Officers shall not discharge a firearm from a moving vehicle, except in exigent
circumstances and in the immediate defense of life.

NOTE

This policy, in regards to discharging a firearm at or from a moving vehicle,
may not cover every situation that may arise. In all situations, officers are
expected to act with professional maturity, exercising sound judgment. Any
deviation from the provisions of this policy shall be examined on a case-bycase basis. The involved officer must be able to clearly articulate the
reasons for the use of deadly force.

WILLIAM D. LORAH – Chief of Police

JULY 6, 2012

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