Authorized Weapon.
A weapon approved by the city for official use by its officers. A firearm cannot be authorized unless it is registered with the city to a particular officer.
Deadly Force.
Force that is intended or known by the actor to cause, or in the manner of its use or intended use is capable of causing, death or serious bodily injury.
Nondeadly Force.
Force which, under the circumstances, is not reasonably capable of causing death or serious bodily injury.
Physical Strength and Skill.
Any physical actions by one (1) or more officers (e.g., holding, restraining, pushing and pulling) which may include special skills (e.g., boxing, karate and judo) but do not include the use of deadly force or any authorized or other weapon.
Probable Cause.
That total set of apparent facts and circumstances based on reasonably trustworthy information which would warrant a prudent person (in the position of and with the knowledge of the particular peace officer) to believe something, for example, that a particular person has committed some offense against the law.
Serious Bodily Injury.
Bodily injury that creates a substantial risk of death or causes death, serious permanent disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ.
(1981 Code of Ordinances Chapter 7, Section 19)
(a) 
In general, an officer must strive to achieve the following objectives:
(1) 
To defend himself or another against unlawful violence to his person or property;
(2) 
To preserve the peace, to prevent commission of offenses, and to prevent suicide or self-inflicted injury;
(3) 
To make lawful arrests and searches, to overcome resistance to such arrests or searches, and to prevent escapes from custody; and
(4) 
To prevent or interrupt an intrusion on or interference with the lawful possession of property.
However, an officer shall only use force when circumstances (e.g., resistance by the suspect) prevent him from making a peaceable arrest in time to achieve one (1) or more of the above objectives.
(b) 
Before an officer may use any force against any suspect, the officer must:
(1) 
Have probable cause to arrest that suspect;
(2) 
Manifest his purpose to arrest and identify himself as a peace officer (unless the officer has probable cause to believe that the suspect already knows his purpose and identity or unless the officer cannot reasonably make that information known to the suspect); and
(3) 
Give the reason for the arrest, unless impractical.
(c) 
The amount and degree of force which an officer may use to achieve an objective stated in (b)(1) must reflect the surrounding circumstances, for example:
(1) 
The nature and seriousness of the risk of injury to the officer or others;
(2) 
The age, physical condition and behavior of the subject of the force;
(3) 
Relevant actions by any third parties;
(4) 
Physical conditions (such as visibility) at the scene;
(5) 
The feasibility and availability of alternative actions; and
(6) 
The opportunity and actual ability of the suspect to injure the officer or others.
(d) 
An officer shall never use more force than is necessary and reasonable under the circumstances. An officer shall never use force in response to mere verbal provocation or abusive language directed at the officer. An officer shall never use deadly force except in the situations in Section 9.2104.
(e) 
An officer shall only apply force using the methods and weapons listed below. Unless impractical, an officer shall first exhaust every reasonable means of using the lowest level of force before escalating to a higher and more severe level of force.
(1) 
Physical strength and skill;
(2) 
Authorized chemical irritant;
(3) 
Authorized baton; and
(4) 
Authorized service revolver, or other approved firearm, with authorized ammunition.
However, an officer may use any unauthorized weapon (or use any weapon in an unauthorized manner) if emergency circumstances make it necessary to do so (e.g., using a baton if chemical irritant canister is inoperative or unavailable).
(f) 
Without departmental approval, no officer shall in any material way modify or alter an authorized weapon.
(g) 
An officer may draw and ready any of his authorized weapons for use only when he reasonably anticipates that he may have to use such weapon(s).
(h) 
An officer must register all of his firearms with this department and use an authorized weapon for which he has received proper training. (“Training” shall include both proficiency in technical and physical aspects of the use of the weapon, and also a thorough understanding of the law, these rules and any other regulation regarding use of that weapon.)
(i) 
An officer should always use handcuffs or other restraining device on an arrestee, unless unnecessary (e.g., for the elderly, young juveniles, crippled, injured or other appropriate suspect.) An officer should reasonably protect an arrestee from injury caused by handcuffs or other restraining devices. An officer shall not use a “straitjacket” unless he has received appropriate training.
(j) 
An officer has no obligation to retreat or back down before resorting to the approved use of force, including deadly force. However, if it would not increase the risks to himself or others, an officer should consider retreat or withdrawal where delay (e.g., to secure assistance) could make a more peaceable arrest more likely.
(1981 Code of Ordinances Chapter 7, Section 19)
(a) 
To the extent necessary and reasonable, and in accordance with this article, an officer shall only use physical strength and skill, chemical irritant or a baton to apply nondeadly force.
(b) 
An officer may use chemical irritant to protect himself or another from assault or to subdue a person unlawfully resisting arrest. The proper and most effective use of chemical irritant requires holding the canister upright and spraying a short burst (one second or less) at the subject’s face. An officer shall not use chemical irritant against someone already in custody in order to stop behavior (e.g., shouting) which does not physically endanger the officer or others.
(c) 
An officer may use his baton to protect himself or another from assault or to arrest a person who unlawfully and violently resists arrest, if lesser methods have failed or if circumstances warrant the immediate use of the baton. (An officer may also use the baton as a barricade or to repel or control crowds.) However, an officer should:
(1) 
Avoid making baton blows capable of inflicting permanent injury;
(2) 
Not raise the baton above the head to strike someone and use the baton as a club or bludgeon; and
(3) 
Deliver only short and snappy baton blows to vulnerable areas of the body to incapacitate the opponent temporarily.
(1981 Code of Ordinances Chapter 7, Section 19)
(a) 
To the extent necessary and reasonable (subject to emergency circumstances in accordance with Section 9.2102 and in accordance with this section) an officer shall apply deadly force only by using an authorized weapon.
(b) 
To the extent an officer has reasonable time for consideration, he shall never use deadly force (e.g., use his weapon) which creates a greater risk to himself and others (such as hostages, bystanders and other officers) of causing death or serious bodily injury than if he did not use such deadly force. This decision must reflect the circumstances, for example:
(1) 
The nature and seriousness of the risk of injury to the officer or others;
(2) 
The age, physical condition and behavior of the subject of the force;
(3) 
Relevant actions by the third parties;
(4) 
Physical conditions (such as visibility) at the scene;
(5) 
The feasibility and availability of alternative actions; and
(6) 
The opportunity and actual ability of the suspect to injure the officers or others.
(c) 
An officer shall not use deadly force except when immediately necessary to protect himself or another person from death or serious bodily injury.
(d) 
An officer shall not discharge a firearm as a warning or a threat.
(1981 Code of Ordinances Chapter 7, Section 19)
(a) 
An officer who discharges a weapon, applies force (other than physical strength and skill) or causes any injury to a suspect or other person must file the appropriate report with the chief of police as soon as practicable.
(b) 
This report will receive executive review to:
(1) 
Ensure that the officer’s particular use of force complied with state law and departmental policy;
(2) 
Determine if the officer’s particular use of force indicates a need for special counseling or training; and
(3) 
Determine whether the situation requires further action.
(1981 Code of Ordinances Chapter 7, Section 19)