RESOLUTION 190.

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230
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4 A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A POLICY

5 FOR THE USE OF DEADLY FORCE.

7 WHEREAS, the City of Little Rock' s current policy for the

8 use of deadly force has many different criteria which must be
9 weighed by police officers within only a moment' s notice, raising
10 the potential for confusion and misinterpretation in

11 life- threatening situations; and

12 WHEREAS, a new and more restricted policy adopted by many

13 other police departments is concise, easily understood, and

14 contains specific guidelines to enhance the safety of both the

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officers involved and the general public.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF

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THE CITY OF LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS:

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SECTION 1. Philosophy - -The Little Rock Police Department,

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19 in establishing a philosophy for the use of deadly force, places

the ultimate value on human life, while considering the legal,

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moral and ethical implications of its application.
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The citizens of Little Rock have vested their police

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23 officers with the responsibility to protect life and property and

apprehend criminal offenders. The apprehension of criminal
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offenders and protection of property must at all times be
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26 secondary to the protection of life. Therefore, the use of deadly

27 force is not allowed to protect property interests.

Police officers are confronted daily with situations where
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control must be exercised to effect arrests and to protect the
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30 public safety. The officers may achieve control of situations by

the use of verbal warnings or the use of reasonable physical
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force. The use of any reasonable physical force must be based on
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reasonable alternatives that have been considered and would be
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ineffective. The use of deadly force shall be the last
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alternative, but the officer' s responsibility to protect human
life must include his own.
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1 The purpose of this directive is:

2 A. To state the department' s policy regarding a police

3 officer' s use of deadly force.
4 B. To establish policies under which the use of deadly
5 force by police officers is permissible.
6 SECTION 2. Definition of Deadly Force -- " Deadly Force" as

7 used in this policy is defined as that force which creates some

8 specified degree of risk that a reasonable and prudent person

9 would consider likely to cause death or serious physical injury.

10 SECTION 3. Avoiding the Use of Deadly Force- -
11 1. Regardless of the nature of the crime or the

12 justification for directing deadly force at a suspect,

13 officers must remember that their basic responsibility

14 is to protect life. Officers shall not fire their

15 weapons under conditions that would unnecessarily

16 subject bystanders or hostages to death or possible

injury, except to preserve life or to prevent serious

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physical injury. Deadly force is an act of last

19 resort and will be used only when other reasonable

alternatives are impractical or have failed.

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2. To every extent possible, officers will plan ahead and
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consider alternatives which will reduce the
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23 possibility of needing to use deadly force.

SECTION 4. Authorization to Use Deadly Force -- Officers may
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use deadly force to protect themselves or others from what they

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26 reasonably believe to be an immediate threat of death or serious

27 physical injury.
SECTION 5. Discharging Firearms at Moving Vehicles- -
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1. Discharging firearms at a moving or fleeing vehicle is
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prohibited unless it is necessary to prevent imminent

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death or serious physical injury to the officer or
another person.
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2. Officers will not voluntarily place themselves in a

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position in front of an oncoming vehicle where deadly
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force is the probable outcome. When confronted by an

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1 oncoming vehicle, officers will move out of its path,

2 if possible, rather than fire at the vehicle.

3 SECTION 6. Drawing, Displaying Weapons and Warning Shots- -

4 1. Officers will not fire warning shots.
5 2. Officers may draw or display. firearms when there is a
6 threat or reasonable belief that there is a threat to

7 life or when they have a reasonable fear for their own

8 safety and / or the safety of others.
9 3. Officers will not fire into a building or through
10 doors unless the officer or someone else is drawing
11 fire and the suspect can be identified and is clearly
12 visible.

13 SECTION 7. Resolution No. 7, 334 is hereby repealed. This

14 Resolution shall be in force from and after is passage.

15 ADOPTED: April 18, 1959

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ATTEST: APPROVED:
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19 fu X, UgL' g
20 Cit Clerk Ja-ng Czech Mayor F ovd G. Villines, III

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22 AS Td FORM:

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25 Mark Stodofa, City Attorney

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