🔫Use of Force | Firearm

Use of Firearm

An officer may use a firearm as outlined in VeraCity General Statutes – Use of Force
Anytime an officer is faced with the possibility of firing a weapon, he/she should remain aware of the direction the firearm will be discharged, have the target in sight and identified, be conscious of other persons in the area, and the dangers of discharging a firearm while running or moving.
An officer may draw his/her weapon when he/she has reasonable grounds to suspect that the use of deadly physical force may be necessary:

The officer need not be under immediate attack, but need only be reasonably apprehensive that a deadly force situation could occur.
The officer may have his/her weapon “at the ready” in such circumstances as answering a silent alarm, conducting a building search, confronting a subject who the officer has reasonable grounds to believe may be armed, or who may otherwise cause the officer to reasonably fear for his/her life.
The display of a weapon will only be done by an officer in the performance of his/her duties when reasonably necessary.

NOTE: The mere display of a weapon is not considered a use of force for the purpose of this order.

Except for general maintenance, storage, or authorized training, officers should not draw, point, or exhibit their firearm unless circumstances create a reasonable cause to believe that it may be necessary to lawfully use the weapon in conformance with state law and departmental policy.
Warning shots are prohibited.
Officers will not discharge a firearm at or from a moving vehicle except when reasonably necessary to prevent serious bodily injury or death to an innocent person or officer, and it reasonably appears that no innocent bystander will be seriously injured or killed by such action.

Officers using deadly physical force directed at a moving vehicle must consider and believe that the use of deadly force will serve to eliminate the threat of death or serious injury to the innocent public as opposed to creating that threat.

When it’s time to shoot, shoot! Aiming at anything other than center mass is misguided. You shoot till the "threat" is stopped.

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Last updated 1 year ago

Use of Firearm

An officer may use a firearm as outlined in VeraCity General Statutes – Use of Force

Anytime an officer is faced with the possibility of firing a weapon, he/she should remain aware of the direction the firearm will be discharged, have the target in sight and identified, be conscious of other persons in the area, and the dangers of discharging a firearm while running or moving.

An officer may draw his/her weapon when he/she has reasonable grounds to suspect that the use of deadly physical force may be necessary:

The officer need not be under immediate attack, but need only be reasonably apprehensive that a deadly force situation could occur.

The officer may have his/her weapon “at the ready” in such circumstances as answering a silent alarm, conducting a building search, confronting a subject who the officer has reasonable grounds to believe may be armed, or who may otherwise cause the officer to reasonably fear for his/her life.

The display of a weapon will only be done by an officer in the performance of his/her duties when reasonably necessary.

NOTE: The mere display of a weapon is not considered a use of force for the purpose of this order.

Except for general maintenance, storage, or authorized training, officers should not draw, point, or exhibit their firearm unless circumstances create a reasonable cause to believe that it may be necessary to lawfully use the weapon in conformance with state law and departmental policy.

Warning shots are prohibited.

Officers will not discharge a firearm at or from a moving vehicle except when reasonably necessary to prevent serious bodily injury or death to an innocent person or officer, and it reasonably appears that no innocent bystander will be seriously injured or killed by such action.

Officers using deadly physical force directed at a moving vehicle must consider and believe that the use of deadly force will serve to eliminate the threat of death or serious injury to the innocent public as opposed to creating that threat.

When it’s time to shoot, shoot! Aiming at anything other than center mass is misguided. You shoot till the "threat" is stopped.