Response To Resistance - Special Techniques & Less Lethal Weapons - 2-2

Elevated ECD Deployment Risk Factors

• Elevated justification is required for ECD deployment when officers perceive factors that increase the risk of direct or secondary injury.
• Officers must balance the elevated injury risk with the need for immediate apprehension or control.
• Specific factors that elevate risk include the subject being in a high location, near a window or doorway, or known to be pregnant because these have a higher probability of injury from a fall.
• Other risk factors include the subject appearing to be suffering a medical or mental health crisis.
• Additional risk factors: Subject is in water deep enough to drown, is obviously frail or infirm, is very young or very old, or is running.
• If a subject is running, officers must evaluate the need for immediate apprehension before deploying an ECD, especially near roadways or traffic.

Prohibited Taser 7 ECD Applications

• ECDs should not be intentionally aimed at the head or groin.
• Usage on a handcuffed subject is prohibited unless there are extenuating circumstances that can be articulated.
• ECDs cannot be used to prevent a subject from swallowing contraband.
• Displaying the ECD to threaten or intimidate, or using it with a "come-along" technique, is prohibited.
• ECDs should not be deployed near highly flammable chemicals or materials due to ignition risk.
• Flammable personal defense sprays, hair gels, and butane lighters are examples of flammable materials to avoid
• ECDs must not be deployed from a moving vehicle, or in a way that could cause a subject to lose control of a vehicle.
• ECD use is prohibited while the officer is mounted on a horse.
• The primary Taser 7 function is cartridge deployment; drive stuns are a secondary function only used during exigent circumstances.
• The Taser 7 should only be used on one resistive subject at a time, unless exigent circumstances exist.
• Once both cartridges are deployed, the user cannot activate only one cartridge/bay at a time.

Taser 7 ECD Subject Medical Attention

• Officers must call for a rescue squad and offer medical attention to the subject after ECD deployment.
• Only certified officers or medical professionals are authorized to remove ECD probes.
• Each Taser 7 ECD officer will use a Probe Removal Tool when removing Taser 7 probes from a subject’s body.
• Used ECD probes and Probe Removal Tools are biohazards and must be handled with nitrile gloves and disposed of in biohazard containers.
• Probes in sensitive areas (face, groin, breast) should only be removed by medical professionals at a medical facility.

Impact Weapons

• Officers can use impact weapons against an Actively Resistive or higher subject.
• The officer must explain why lesser responses would have been ineffective.
• Medical attention will be provided to subjects struck with impact weapons, if necessary.
• Subjects will be advised that professional medical attention is available if requested.
• If treatment is requested, the subject shall be transported to the nearest medical facility as soon as circumstances allow.

Police Baton

• The police baton is an optional weapon for UPB officers if they are carrying an Electronic Control Device (ECD).
• Officers without an ECD shall carry a baton
• Officers must be trained in baton use.
• Officers who carry a baton shall carry either a wooden, composite, or OPD approved collapsible baton

Bokken Baton

• The Bokken baton is mandatory for Mounted Patrol officers.
• Mounted Patrol officers must have initial and ongoing training to remain certified.
• Officers performing Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) duties may carry the authorized Bokken baton upon receiving training in the appropriate techniques for use.

Improvised Impact Weapon

• Officers are authorized to use improvised impact weapons in extreme, life-threatening situations.
• Pocket knives and flashlights are not considered auxiliary weapons, but may be carried as a utility tool.

Less-Lethal Launchers and Projectiles

• Officers may use less-lethal weapon systems and projectiles when interacting with Actively Resistive or higher subjects.
• The officer shall be able to articulate that use of lesser officer response techniques was not appropriate or would prove to be ineffective.
• Officers must consider the safety of bystanders, other officers, and the subject before deployment.
• A SWAT Command Officer shall authorize deployment of kinetic energy impact rounds.
• A SWAT or RDF Command Officer’s authorization is NOT required for kinetic energy impact rounds fired from Pepperball weapon systems.
• Civil disturbance situations will require command authorization unless the interaction involves a direct threat to officer safety.
• Authorized systems include kinetic energy impact rounds/launchers and chemical agent rounds/launchers approved by the ERU Commander.
• Officers certified to use the Pepperball weapon system shall use a Department issued Pepperball launcher or an OPD authorized privately owned Pepperball launcher.
• The Training Unit maintains a list of chemical agent rounds and launchers authorized for non-ERU officers.
• The intent of less-lethal projectiles is a temporary psychological and physiological stunning effect without serious injury or deadly force.
• Less-lethal projectiles will be targeted in a manner in which potential for serious injury or death is limited.
• An officer will always seek to have a deadly force cover officer when deploying a less-lethal force weapon system.
• Officers will clearly announce, when possible, to other officers on the scene that less-lethal projectiles are about to be fired.
• As with all uses of force, the subject will be given loud verbal commands to comply with officer’s directions.
• Primary target areas for kinetic energy impact rounds are arms (above/below elbow), upper torso, and legs (above/below knee).
• The head, neck, chest, groin, spine, and joints should be avoided unless deadly force is justified.
• Chest is an authorized target area for kinetic energy rounds discharged from Pepperball weapon systems.
• Primary target areas for chemical agent projectiles are the entire body front and rear from shoulders to feet, excluding the groin and spine.
• Chemical agent projectiles can be deployed at a subject from 0-60 feet and to saturate an area up to 150 feet.
• This OPD trained tactic is not considered warning shots for the purposed of this policy.

Medical Attention for Less-Lethal Weapons/Projectiles

• Any subject impacted with a kinetic energy impact round shall be transported to a medical facility.
• Any subject impacted with or exposed to a chemical agent round shall be administered immediate first-aid and decontamination.
• Officers shall request an Omaha Fire Department (OFD) rescue squad to provide medical attention and assist with decontamination for any subjects impacted with a chemical agent round, such as a Pepperball projectile.
• Additional treatment at a medical facility is required if needed.

Certification and Annual Proficiency

• Only officers who complete an OPD approved training program and demonstrate annual proficiency in the use of less-lethal weapon systems are authorized to utilize and deploy less-lethal weapon systems.
• The Training Unit keeps lesson plans and lists of certified officers, except for ERU and RDF weapons.
• The ERU and RDF Commanders maintain lesson plans and lists of certified officers for their respective weapon systems.
• Recertification is annual, including practicals and policy overviews.

Storage of Less-Lethal Weapons and Projectiles

• Department-owned Pepperball weapon systems are stored in secured areas at OPD Precincts or in Sections and checked out by certified officers.
• Department-owned Pepperball launchers that are individually assigned to a Pepperball user will be stored in the assigned officer’s locker when the officer is off-duty.
• Officer-owned Pepperball weapon systems should be kept in a soft-sided case when not in use.
• When off-duty, officers are encouraged to store privately-owned Pepperball launchers in areas protected from extreme hot or cold temperatures. In addition, launchers should be stored in locations where they are safeguarded from theft and unauthorized use.
• On duty, the Pepperball weapon system shall be stored in its case in either the trunk or the inside of a police vehicle
• Members of ERU, RDF, and Fugitive Squad follow their Unit Manuals for storage and transportation.

Maintenance

• Maintenance and cleaning of less-lethal equipment shall be done per manufacturer’s specifications.
• Department-owned Pepperball launchers are maintained and cleaned by certified armorers or Pepperball instructors.
• A maintenance log shall be kept on each less-lethal weapon system documenting it care and test firing.
• Officers who purchase their own Pepperball launcher will maintain and clean their own launcher.
• Refilling SCUBA tanks for Pepperball systems is done by certified Pepperball instructors as needed.
• The Training Unit maintains records of yearly inspection of SCUBA tanks and hydrostatic inspections every 5 years.
• Each time an officer deploys Pepperball rounds that directly impact a person’s body, the officer shall have the Pepperball launcher chronographed by a Pepperball Instructor or Pepperball-certified UPB command officer.
• The Pepperball Blast launcher is not a kinetic impact launcher; therefore, Pepperball Blast users do not need to have it chronographed in this situation.

Test your knowledge of Pepperball weapon system storage, maintenance, and deployment guidelines. Also covers ECD (Electronic Control Device) deployment policies, restrictions, and safety considerations.