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<br />SURPRISE POLICE DEPARTMENT
<br />
<br />USE OF FORCE / RESPONSE TO RESISTANCE/AGGRESSION UOF-01
<br />Effective Date Revised Date Last Review Date
<br />Page 1 of 38
<br />06-12-2003 11-22-2021 11-2021 (A)
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<br />I. PURPOSE
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<br />This policy establishes procedures for the use of force by Department members as
<br />prescribed by law, the fair and equal treatment of all persons with regard to using
<br />force and communication, the welfare of Department members involved in use of
<br />force incidents, use of force reporting requirements, and the investigation
<br />subsequent to any use of force incident.
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<br />II. PHILOSOPHY
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<br />While enforcing the law and protecting the public, officers are often forced to make
<br />split-second decisions in circumstances that are tense, uncertain, rapidly changing,
<br />and dangerous. Officers of the Surprise Police Department will encounter
<br />dangerous situations while engaged in the execution of their lawful duties. While
<br />there is no way to specify the exact degree and type of force that is reasonable to
<br />be applied in any situation, officers will respond to resistance/aggression with a
<br />degree of force and/or warning of force that is reasonable and necessary in
<br />accordance with the objectively reasonableness standard. When it is safe and
<br />prudent to do so, officers should employ techniques used to de-escalate situations
<br />to minimize the need to use force during a situation or to reduce the degree of force
<br />necessary to resolve a situation.
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<br />It is neither the policy of the Department, nor the intent of this policy, that officers
<br />unnecessarily or unreasonably endanger themselves or others. The type and
<br />degree of force used must be within the range of "objectively reasonable" options
<br />based on the totality of the circumstances. The use of unreasonable force
<br />degrades the confidence of the community we serve, and exposes the Department
<br />and officers to legal and physical hazards. Equally important, the failure to use the
<br />force that is reasonable and necessary to resolve a situation may endanger the
<br />officer, fellow officers, and the community.
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<br />III. POLICY
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<br />It is the policy of the Surprise Police Department that:
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<br />A. Department members shall treat all members of the public with whom they
<br />have contact fairly and equally, without bias, and in adherence with the legal
<br />rights afforded to them by the United States Constitution, federal law, and the
<br />Constitution and laws of the State of Arizona.
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