Police SOPs
These are the Standard Operating Procedures for the Los Santos Police Department and Blaine County Sheriff's Department. These are not laws and are to be used as a guideline.
Use of Force Policy
Purpose and Scope
This policy provides guidelines on the reasonable use of force. While there is no way to specify the exact amount or type of reasonable force to be applied in any situation, every member of this department is expected to use these guidelines to make such decisions in a professional, impartial, and reasonable manner.
Definitions
Deadly force: Any use of force that creates a substantial risk of causing death or serious bodily injury, including but not limited to the discharge of a firearm (Penal Code § 835a).
Feasible: Reasonably capable of being done or carried out under the circumstances to successfully achieve the arrest or lawful objective without increasing risk to the officer or another person.
Force: The application of physical techniques or tactics, chemical agents, or weapons to another person. It is not a use of force when a person allows themselves to be searched, escorted, handcuffed, or restrained.
Serious bodily injury: A serious impairment of physical condition, including but not limited to: loss of consciousness; concussion; bone fracture; protracted loss or impairment of function of any bodily member or organ; a wound requiring extensive suturing; and serious disfigurement.
Totality of the circumstances: All facts known to the officer at the time, including the conduct of the officer and the subject leading up to the use of force.
Policy Statement
The use of force by law enforcement personnel is a matter of critical concern. Officers may use reasonable force in carrying out their duties and must understand their authority and limitations. The department values human life and dignity without prejudice. Officers are expected to balance public safety and individual rights, using sound judgment and professional standards.
Use of Force
Officers shall use only that amount of force that reasonably appears necessary, considering the totality of circumstances, to accomplish a legitimate law enforcement purpose. The reasonableness of force is judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on scene, often forced to make split-second decisions.
Officers may improvise responses in rapidly evolving situations, but such responses must still be objectively reasonable.
Important: Officers are not required to retreat or be exposed to possible physical injury before applying reasonable force.
Use of Force to Effect an Arrest
Any peace officer may use objectively reasonable force to effect an arrest, prevent escape, or overcome resistance. An officer need not retreat or desist from arrest efforts due to resistance or threat of resistance.
Factors Used to Determine Reasonableness of Force
(a) Immediacy and severity of the threat
(b) Subject’s behavior and compliance
(c) Ability to understand and comply with commands
(d) Proximity of weapons or dangerous items
(e) Subject’s ability to resist while restrained
(f) Other reasonable options and their effectiveness
(g) Seriousness of the offense
(h) Officer’s training and experience
(i) Risk of injury to all parties
(j) Resistance or attempts to flee
(k) Consequences of escape
(l) Need for immediate control or resolution
(m) Whether subject still poses a threat
(n) Prior violent history or behavior
(o) Any exigent circumstances
Deadly Force Applications
Before using deadly force, officers should:
Identify themselves as peace officers (if feasible)
Provide warning if deadly force may be used
Deadly force is only justified when:
There is an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury
A fleeing felon poses an imminent threat of death or serious injury
Not allowed: Using deadly force solely because a subject poses a danger to themselves, unless others are at imminent risk.
Definition of Imminent Threat
An imminent threat exists when a person has the present ability, opportunity, and apparent intent to cause death or serious injury. A vague fear of future harm does not justify deadly force.
Displaying Firearms
If no immediate threat is perceived, keep the weapon in a low-ready position.
If a threat is reasonably perceived, firearms may be directed toward the threat.
Once safe, all firearms should be secured.
Weapon Class
Officers should match the weapon class (e.g., rifle vs. handgun) when feasible. However, improvisation is allowed when circumstances demand, provided it remains objectively reasonable.
Shooting from Vehicles
Officers are not prohibited from shooting from or at moving vehicles if they are being shot at from that vehicle.
Use of Force Examples
Reasonable: Subject points firearm at officers during a robbery; officers return fire to neutralize threat.
Unreasonable: Subject flees unarmed from a shots fired scene with no indication of weapon possession; officer shoots them without cause.
Case Law References
Graham v. Connor
Tennessee v. Garner
Terry v. Ohio
Plakas v. Drinski
Thompson v. Hubbard
Forrett v. Richardson
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