NEW ALBANY POLICE DEPARTMENT - New Albany, Ohio

1.1.4 Use of Authorized Less-Than-Lethal Weapons
A less-than-lethal weapon is any instrument that may be used to defend the officer from physical
harm and to gain control when effecting a lawful arrest.
A. New Albany Police Department officers shall be certified biennially in the use of the ASP
Tactical Baton and chemical irritant. All Officers are required to carry their ASP Tactical
Baton and chemical irritant while on duty in uniform. Officers also have access to and
may use a flashlight as a baton. These weapons will be used in accordance with
established training standards as outlined by the department’s self defense instructors.
B. Any object that an employee uses to assist in subduing an individual will, for the purpose
of this policy, be considered a less-than-lethal weapon (i.e. portable radio, rock, stick,
etc.).
C. Officers shall carry only those less-than-lethal weapons approved by the Department.
D. Like other incidents, use of less than lethal force will be judged by the reasonable officer
doctrine (Graham v Connor, 1989).
1.1.5 Use of Knives
Knives are primarily to be used as emergency cutting tools. Knives may be used as a defensive
weapon in accordance with Directive 1.1.2 (Use of Deadly Response).
A. General Use – the use and deployment of knives or tactical folding knives for routine
uses by on- and off-duty officers shall be done as unobtrusive as possible so as not to
alarm any bystanders. The officer should take care not to exhibit the knife in a careless
manner. It is the individual officer’s responsibility to use the knife or the tactical folding
knife as a tool in a safe and responsible manner.
B. Defensive Use – It is recognized that the officer, in the course of his or her duties, may
require the use of his or her knife or tactical folding knife as a weapon of defense under
extraordinary circumstances. The New Albany Police Department requires any use of
force by its officers to be objectively reasonable and comply with the requirements of
applicable sections of the Ohio Revised Code and previously mentioned Directives.
1.1.6 Rendering Aid After Use of Weapons
When it is safe to do so, the New Albany Police Department will render immediate medical aid to
any individual who sustains injury by a lethal or less-than-lethal weapon. Aid may include:
first aid administered by sworn Departmental personnel;
treatment on the scene by medics or squads;
transportation to a medical facility by squad or medic; and/or
decontamination of a subject that has been contaminated with chemical irritant.
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