12.5 Deadly Force Investigations
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Centreville Police Department Title: Deadly Force Investigations Directive #: 12.5 Issued: 10.1.2016 Revised: 1.28.2019 / Rev. #1 Authorized by: Kenneth N. Rhodes Chief of Police A. Policy
1. The CPD will conduct criminal investigations when an officer is accused of violating criminal law within its
jurisdiction. In addition, the CPD will also conduct administrative investigations when an officer is accused of violating criminal law or has a use of force incident while on duty, which results in life-threatening injury or death.
B. Definitions
CRIME OF VIOLENCE:
• committing or attempting to commit: murder in any degree; manslaughter; kidnapping; rape in any
degree; assault in any degree; robbery in any degree; burglary in any degree; escape in the first degree; or theft.
DEADLY FORCE:
• force which may cause death or grave injury or which creates some specified degree of risk that a
reasonable and prudent person would consider likely to cause death or grave injury.
LIFE-THREATENING INJURY:
• an injury involving a substantial risk of death; loss or substantial impairment of the function of a bodily
member, organ, or mental faculty that is likely to be permanent; or an obvious disfigurement that is likely to be permanent.
C. Procedures
1. Criminal allegations against an Officer
a. An officer accused of a criminal act will be subject to a criminal investigation conducted by the CPD or the police department with jurisdiction over the case.
b. Once notified of a criminal allegation against an officer, the Chief will direct the Lieutenant to open an Internal Administrative Investigation.
Page 1 of 2 c. Depending on the specific criminal allegation against the officer, the Chief may place the officer on leave with or without pay as outlined in the Law Enforcement Officer’s Bill of Rights.
2. Life-Threatening Injury or Death Incidents
a. If an officer, acting as a representative of the CPD, has significant involvement in an incident in which life-threatening force has been used or in which another officer or law enforcement officer sustained life-threatening injuries or was killed, the senior officer on the scene will:
(1) remove the officer to another location; and
(2) notify the Chief and Lieutenant.
b. The officer may be removed from his full-duty assignment until permitted to return to full-duty after consultation with a qualified medical or psychological doctor.
c. If an officer uses force which results in life-threatening injury or death to another person, he may be placed on administrative leave until cleared to return to duty by the Chief.
d. The Chief will contact:
(1) MSP Homicide Unit to investigate incidents where an officer’s actions cause serious injury to or
the death of another person.
(2) The Town Manager and Council and advise them of the incident
(3) The appropriate Critical Incident Stress Team.
3. Incidents Involving a Officer’s Firearm
a. If an officer’s firearm was used, the senior officer on the scene will:
(1) secure the firearm, magazines and ammunition for safekeeping and investigative integrity;
(2) complete a Chain of Custody form; and
(3) only relinquish the items to a member of the investigative team.
b. The removal of a weapon should:
(1) occur when the situation is safe; and
(2) be done so as not to cause additional stress to the officer.
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