GARFIELD COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
POLICY / PROCEDURE
PATROL
SUBJECT: USE OF FORCE
EFFECTIVE DATE: January 01, 2004
Revised: January 01, 2008
POLICY:
Garfield County Sheriff’s deputies will use the minimum amount of
force necessary to compel compliance in accordance with State and
Federal law.
PURPOSE:
To ensure that deputies use the appropriate level of force necessary
in the performance of their duties.
DEFINITIONS:
Physical Force: Any degree of
physical force exceeding verbal persuasion. .
Non-Lethal Force:
Physical force and/or non-lethal weapons that are of a non-deadly nature
or that normally do not result in the death of a subject.
Lethal Force:
The intentional use of force which can cause death or serious bodily
injury or which creates a degree of risk that a reasonable and prudent
person would consider likely to cause death or serious bodily injury.
It includes, but is not limited to, use of firearms, baton strikes to
the head area, and intentional intervention with a vehicle (forcible
stops or ramming
Intermediate
Weapons: Authorized non-lethal weapons for use, including, but not
limited to:
Excessive Force:
Any physical force which exceeds the degree of physical force permitted
pursuant to 18-1-707 C.R.S. The use of excessive physical force shall
be presumed when an officer continues to apply physical force in excess
of the force permitted by section 18-1-707 C.R.S. to a person who has
been rendered incapable of resisting arrest.
METHOD:
The Garfield County Sheriff’s Office adheres to a use of force policy
that follows a progressive continuum scale. As a general rule, the
deputy will follow the listed steps in sequence in the escalation and
de-escalation of force. Whenever possible or practical, initial attempts
to control a subject shall be made through verbal means. However, in
situations where physical resistance or a threat of bodily injury is
encountered, and/or reasonable alternatives to physical force have
failed, physical force many be used.
It is not mandatory to follow in sequence each step in every situation.
Deputies must be able to articulate the basis for the amount of force
used and how that force relates to the progressive continuum. The
application and degree of such force shall be consistent with Colorado
Revised Statutes (18-1-701 thru 18-1-710 C.R.S.), Sheriff’s Office
standards and the member’s training.
Use of Force
Continuum:
- Deputy Presence
and bearing in which Deputies present themselves in uniform, or with
proper identification
- Use of verbal
skills in which Deputies control a situation by communicating verbal
instructions
- Application of
Physical Force without the use of Intermediate Weapons
- Application of
Intermediate Weapons including impact weapons and the use of
chemical irritants used together with verbal instructions to gain
compliance in a non-lethal manner
- Application of
Lethal Force
Care and
Treatment: Appropriate medical treatment shall be rendered as soon
as possible after any use of force resulting in injury or complaint of
medical concerns.
Documentation:
All incidents which involve use of force above the level of verbal
compliance shall be documented on a
Sheriff’s Office Use of Force Form and in a written report. A
Supervisor will be notified as soon as possible in accordance with the
Garfield County Sheriff’s Office notification policy.
Duty to Report
Excessive Use of Force: In accordance with 18-8-802, C.R.S.: A
peace officer who, in pursuance of such officer’s law enforcement
duties, witnesses another peace officer, in pursuance of such other
peace officer’s law enforcement duties in carrying out an arrest of any
person, placing any person under detention, taking any person into
custody, booking any person, or in the process of crowd control or riot
control, use physical force which exceeds the degree of physical force
permitted pursuant to section 18-1-707 C.R.S. must report such use of
force to the officer’s immediate supervisor.
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