POLICY- ELECTRONIC CONTROL DEVICE

The purpose of this policy is to provide officers with guidance and direction on the use of electronic control devices.

It is the policy of the Lawrence Police Department to use only that level of force that is reasonably necessary to prevent harm to an officer or another person or to effect a lawful arrest. ECDs may be used by authorized and trained personnel in accordance with the use of force policy and additional guidelines established herein.

DEFINITIONS:

Electronic Control Device (ECD): A device designed to disrupt a subject’s central nervous system by deploying a battery-powered electrical energy sufficient to cause uncontrolled muscle contractions and override voluntary motor responses.

AFIDs: Confetti-like pieces of paper that are expelled from the cartridge when fired. Each anti-felon identification (AFID) tag contains an alphanumeric identifier unique to the cartridge used.

PROCEDURES:

Only officers who have satisfactorily completed the Lawrence Police Department’s approved training course shall be authorized to carry ECDs.

Weapon Readiness:

1. The device will be carried in an approved holster on the side of the body opposite the service handgun.
2. The device shall be carried fully armed with the safety on.
3. Officers authorized to use the device shall be issued a minimum of one spare cartridge as a backup in case of cartridge failure, the need for redeployment, or in case the first cartridge’s leads break during engagement. The spare cartridges shall be stored and carried in a manner consistent with training and the cartridges replaced consistent with the manufacturer’s expiration requirements.
4. Only Lawrence Police Department approved battery power sources and cartridges shall be used in the ECDs.

DEPLOYMENT:

1. It is forbidden to use the device as follows:

A. When the use of the device is not reasonably necessary to prevent harm to an officer or another person or to effect a lawful arrest.

B. In a punitive manner or to unlawfully coerce another.

C. On a handcuffed or secured prisoner, unless such prisoner is actively resisting lawful detention or attempting escape and he or she poses a threat of immediate harm to the officer or another person.

D. In any environment where an officer knows that a potentially flammable, volatile, or explosive material is present (including but not limited to OC spray with volatile propellant, gasoline, natural gas, or propane).

E. In any environment where the subject’s fall would reasonably likely result in great bodily harm or death unless the use of force that could cause great bodily harm or death is reasonable and justified.

2. As in all uses of force, certain individuals maybe more susceptible to injury. Officers should be aware of the greater potential for injury when using an ECD against children, the elderly, persons of small stature irrespective of age, or those who the officer has reason to believe are pregnant, equipped with a pacemaker, or in obvious ill health.

3. Upon firing the device, the officer shall energize the subject the least number of times necessary and no longer than needed to accomplish the lawful objective.

4. The subject should be secured as soon as practical while disabled by the ECD power to minimize the number of deployment cycles. In determining the need for additional energy cycles, officers should be aware that an energized subject may not be able to respond to commands during or immediately following exposure.

5. In preparation for firing, the ECD shall be pointed in a safe direction, taken off safe, and then aimed. Center mass of the subject’s back should be the primary target where reasonably possible; center mass of the chest or the legs are the secondary targets.

6. Fixed sights should be used as the primary aiming device and the laser dot as the secondary aiming device.

7. When the device is used in touch stun mode, it may be less effective than a cartridge deployment.

8. The ECD shall be pointed at the ground in a safe direction with the safety on during loading, unloading, or when handled in other than an operational deployment.

AFTERCARE:

1. The ECD darts should be removed from the person following the procedures outlined in training.

2. Whenever reasonably possible, individuals who have been incapacitated by an ECD should be taken to an emergency medical facility for evaluation.

3. The following persons shall be transported to a medical facility for examination following exposure to an ECD. Any person who:

A. requests medical attention; officers shall ask persons if they desire medical attention.

B. is hit in a sensitive area (e.g., face, head, female breasts, male groin),

C. from whom officers have difficulty removing the probes (owing to probe or barb separation),

D. does not appear to recover properly after being hit,

E. is in potentially susceptible population category as defined in this policy,

F. has been energized more than three times,

G. has had more than one ECD effectively used against him or her in any given incident,

H. has been subjected to a continuous energy cycle of 15 seconds or more, or

I. has exhibited signs of extreme uncontrolled agitation or hyperactivity prior to ECD exposure.

4. Photographs of the affected area should be taken after the darts are removed.

5. When the device has been used operationally, the officer shall collect the cartridge, wire leads, darts, and AFIDs as evidence.

REPORTING:

1. The deploying officer shall notify his or her supervisor as soon as practical after using the device and complete the appropriate report.

2. In the report, officers shall specifically articulate the rationale in the deployment of the ECD.