NCJ Number
144502
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 60 Issue: 8 Dated: (August 1993) Pages: 20,22-24,26
Date Published
1993
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Law enforcement managers must be able to develop and implement effective administrative guidelines regarding police use of force in order to ensure that force is used only when reasonable and necessary and when justified by the law.
Abstract
Every department must review its force policies, guidelines, and procedures both in written form and in actual practice. Force policy issues should be mandatory reading material for every officer, followed by hands-on training covering legal requirements, the continuum of force, and the practical application of techniques. Supervisors are responsible for monitoring the activity of the officers they oversee, controlling the use of force at the scene of an incident, documenting and investigating all occurrences of use of force, taking corrective action when force is inappropriately used, and maintaining a tracking system for all use of force incidents. All departments must have a disciplinary policy, aimed at correcting improper behavior, increasing the competency of the organization, maintaining consistency with agency policy and goals, and ensuring public confidence in the department.