USE OF FORCE

Model Policy
Effective Date
February 2006

Number

Subject
Use of Force
Reference

Special Instructions

Distribution

Reevaluation Date

I.  PURPOSE

No. Pages
2

IV.  PROCEDURES

The purpose of this policy is to provide law
enforcement officers of this agency with guidelines for
the use of deadly and nondeadly force.

A.  Use of Deadly Force
1.  Law enforcement officers are authorized to use
deadly force when one or both of the following
apply:
a.  To protect the officer or others from what
is reasonably believed to be a threat of
death or serious bodily harm.
b.  To prevent the escape of a fleeing violent
felon who the officer has probable cause
to believe will pose a significant threat
of death or serious physical injury to the
officer or others. Where practicable prior
to discharge of the firearm, officers shall
identify themselves as law enforcement
officers and state their intent to shoot.
B.  Deadly Force Restrictions
1.  Officers may use deadly force to destroy an animal that represents a threat to public safety, or
as a humanitarian measure where the animal is
seriously injured, when the officer reasonably
believes that deadly force can be used without
harm to the officer or others.
2.  Generally, warning shots should not be fired.
3.  Firearms shall not be discharged at a moving vehicle unless a person in the vehicle is
immediately threatening the officer or another
person with deadly force by means other than
the vehicle. The moving vehicle itself shall not
presumptively constitute a threat that justifies
an officer’s use of deadly force. An officer
threatened by an oncoming vehicle shall move
out of its path instead of discharging a firearm
at it or any of its occupants.

II.  POLICY
It is the policy of this law enforcement agency
that officers use only the force that reasonably appears
necessary to effectively bring an incident under control,
while protecting the lives of the officer and others. It
must be stressed that the use of force is not left to the
unfettered discretion of the involved officer. This is not
a subjective determination. The use of force must be
objectively reasonable. The officer must only use that
force which a reasonably prudent officer would use
under the same or similar circumstances.

III.  DEFINITIONS
Deadly Force: Any use of force that creates a
substantial risk of causing death or serious bodily
harm.
Nondeadly Force: Any use of force other than that
which is considered deadly force. This includes any
physical effort used to control or restrain another, or to
overcome the resistance of another.
Objectively Reasonable: This term means that, in
determining the necessity for force and the appropriate
level of force, officers shall evaluate each situation in
light of the known circumstances, including, but not
limited to, the seriousness of the crime, the level of
threat or resistance presented by the subject, and the
danger to the community.

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 C.  Use of Nondeadly Force
1.  Where deadly force is not authorized, officers
may use only that level of force that is objectively reasonable to bring an incident under
control.
2.  Officers are authorized to use department-approved, nondeadly force techniques and issued
equipment when one or more of the following
apply:
a.  To protect the officer or others from physical harm.
b.  To restrain or subdue a resistant individual
c.  To bring an unlawful situation safely and
effectively under control.
D.  Training
In addition to training required for firearms
qualification, officers shall receive agencyauthorized training designed to simulate actual
shooting situations and conditions and, as
otherwise necessary, to enhance officers’ discretion
and judgment in using deadly and nondeadly force
in accordance with this policy.

Every effort has been made by the IACP National Law
Enforcement Policy Center staff and advisory board to
ensure that this document incorporates the most current
information and contemporary professional judgment on
this issue. However, law enforcement administrators should
be cautioned that no “model” policy can meet all the needs
of any given law enforcement agency. Each law enforcement
agency operates in a unique environment of federal court
rulings, state laws, local ordinances, regulations, judicial
and administrative decisions and collective bargaining
agreements that must be considered. In addition, the
formulation of specific agency policies must take into
account local political and community perspectives and
customs, prerogatives and demands; often divergent law
enforcement strategies and philosophies; and the impact of
varied agency resource capabilities among other factors.

This project was supported by a grant awarded by
the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice
Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs,
which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the
National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice
and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime,
and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring,
Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking. Points of view or
opinions in this document are those of the author and do not
necessarily represent the official position or policies of the
U.S. Department of Justice or the IACP.
IACP National Law Enforcement Policy Center Staff:
Philip Lynn, Manager; Sara Dziejma, Project Specialist;
and Vincent Talucci, Executive Director, International
Association of Chiefs of Police.
© Copyright 2006. Departments are encouraged to use this policy
to establish one customized to their agency and jurisdiction.
However, copyright is held by the International Association of
Chiefs of Police, Alexandria, Virginia U.S.A. All rights reserved
under both international and Pan-American copyright conventions.
Further dissemination of this material is prohibited without prior
written consent of the copyright holder.

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