ARREST:
Risk Involved: Members shall distinguish between foolhardiness and courage in
3.11 ______
making ari'est and investigating suspicious persons. While a certain degree of risk in
involved in all police seiwice, officers should not unnecessarily jeopardize their lives or
the lives or others. Since their purpose is to apprehend criminals, they shall summon
assistance when unaided arrest seems unlikely or dangerous.
Unnecessary Force: Members shall not use unnecessary force or violence in
3.12 _________________
making an arrest or in dealing with a prisoner or any person. Members shall not strike or
use any other form of physical force on a prisoner or other person except when necessary
to prevent an escape, self defense, to overcome actual physical resistance or to prevent
violence to another person. However, he must be firm, resolute and energetic, exercising
the necessary means to properly perform their duty.
3.13 Degree of Force to be Used in Making an Arrest: In making an arrest, an officer
must be careful not to submit their prisoner to any greater severity or indignity than is
necessary to effect the arrest and bring the prisoner safely to the police building for
booking.

XXIV

 The statutes require the officer to do their duty under all hazards, but in the perfonnance
of their duty they require officers to be considerate as circumstances will permit. The
officer must remember that they are responsible for their prisoner and are required to do
what is necessary to secure him. The officer must use their own good discretion and if
they do their duty in a consistent, careful and prudent manner, they will be justified.
While the officer is required to be as gentle and considerate in making an arrest as
circumstances will permit, they must also remember that they are a representative of the
law, to whose lawful demands all must submit. The officer is charged with the duty and
armed with the power to compel such submission.
3.14 Report to be Made on Any Force Used: Whenever it is necessary to use an
unusual physical force or other means, said member shall report same as soon as possible
to their Commanding Officer, and a written report to the Chief of Police, through
channels, relating all circumstances, shall be included with the arrest report on the case.
Should he have to use physical force or other means to overcome actual physical
resistance, the officer will, on approval of their Commanding Officer, also charge the
subject with resisting arrest and/or assault, as the case may be.

XXV

 FIREARMS AND WEAPONS
4.19 Authorized Use: A member shall not draw or display their firearm except for
legal use, or official inspection. A member should never draw or display their firearm
unless they plan to and are ready to use it.
A member may discharge their firearm in connection with the performance of their
official police duty;
A.

To defend themselves from death or serious injuiy, or to affect a felony
arrest according to Alabama Criminal Code Title 13A, Chapter 3.

B.

To defend another person, unlawfully attacked, from death or serious
injury, according to Alabama Criminal Code Title 13A, Chapter 3.

C.

At the pistol range for target practice, or when authorized for training
purposes.

D.

To give an alarm or to call for assistance for an important purposes
no other means can be used.

XXXIX