NEW ALBANY POLICE DEPARTMENT - New Albany, Ohio

NEW ALBANY POLICE DEPARTMENT
Directive 1.1 – Use of Reasonable Force/Action Response Policy
1.1.1 Use of Reasonable Force
A. Definitions
Deadly Force - any force which carries a substantial risk that it will proximately
result in the death of any person. (ORC §2901.01 A-2)
Force - actions taken by the employee designed and intended to control the
behavior of a person or persons.
Physical Force - contact with a person intended to subdue that individual until
resistance is overcome.
Progressive Force - The escalation of force used to control an individual’s
action.
B. Police Department personnel will use the amount of force reasonable to control a
situation or person, effect an arrest, overcome resistance to an arrest, and/or defend
him/herself or others from harm.
C. When force is required, the degree of force used should be reasonable to overcome the
amount of resistance or threat employed by the subject and to regain control as outlined
in the Action - Response Continuum (Addendum A).
D. The use of force by personnel will, when practical, be progressive in nature. This force
may be in the form of verbal commands, hands-on contact, use of less-than-lethal
weapons, and the use of deadly force.
E. Police Department personnel will not use unreasonable force toward any person.
1.1.2 Use of Deadly Response
A. New Albany Police Department officers, acting within the scope of their employment,
shall be justified in the use of a deadly response under the following circumstances:
to defend him/herself from what is reasonably believed to be an imminent threat of
serious physical harm or death;
to defend another person from what is reasonably believed to be an imminent threat
of serious physical harm or death;
when the officer reasonably believes that there is substantial risk of death or serious
physical harm to any person if the apprehension of the offender is delayed even if the
risk is not immediate.
B. A police officer shall not use deadly force on an unarmed, non-dangerous suspect
(Tennessee v. Garner, 1985). (471 U.S.1 (1985)).
An officer may employ a deadly response to stop a fleeing suspect if the officer has
Probable Cause to believe all of the following apply:
The suspect committed a Felony.
The response is necessary to prevent the escape of the suspect.
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