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:

• Baton/Collapsible Baton

• Chemical Irritants

• Electronic restraining devices

• Projectiles

• Other non-lethal weapons as defined by the Sheriff’s Office and consistent with individual/team training.

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.