 THE ANAHEIM POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS NEVER APPROVED A CHOKE OR STRANGLEHOLD AS AN APPROPRIATE TECHNIQUE.
APD previously allowed for the application of a carotid control hold only. However, effective June 8, 2020, APD suspended the use of the carotid control hold as an approved technique, except during lethal force encounters to be deployed in defense of an officer’s life or the life of another.  THE BENEFITS DERIVED FROM OUR CONTEMPORARY CURRENT POLICY, A FORCE OPTIONS MODEL, OUTWEIGH THE BENEFITS OF INSTITUTING A USE OF FORCE CONTINUUM.
Our policy is based on the reasonableness of the force used by officers during the circumstances they faced at the time and based on the information they knew at the time of the incident. Our current force options model reflects the objective reasonableness standard. It is the best policy to address the need for officers to respond to tense, rapidly evolving situations.  THE REQUESTED POLICY SHIFT OFTEN CITED AS THE DUTY TO INTERVENE IS ALREADY ADDRESSED BY APD’S DUTY TO INTERCEDE POLICY THAT COMMANDS ANY OFFICER WITNESSING UNREASONABLE FORCE TO STOP THAT FORCE AND REPORT THE INCIDENT IMMEDIATELY TO A SUPERVISOR (APD POLICY SECTION 300.2.1).
 |  PROVIDING A WARNING BEFORE SHOOTING IS ADDRESSED BY STATE LAW (CALIFORNIA PENAL CODE SECTION 835A(B) AND APD POLICY (APD POLICY SECTION 300.4(B).
Both state law and our policy reflect that a warning before the deployment of lethal force should be given, when feasible. It should be noted, this policy was adopted by the APD in 2011, and the training principal is regularly reinforced through range training days and department force on force training days.  APD POLICY FORBIDS OFFICERS FROM SHOOTING AT VEHICLES IN AN ATTEMPT TO DISABLE A VEHICLE AND GENERALLY DISCOURAGES SHOOTING AT OCCUPANTS OF A VEHICLE UNLESS THERE ARE NO OTHER WAYS TO STOP A THREAT FACED BY THE OFFICERS OR OTHERS (APD POLICY SECTION 300.4.1)
Banning an officer from shooting at a moving vehicle is an issue of reasonableness. Recently, our officers received training backed by an internal study on ballistics which provided them a better understanding of the limitations of firing at vehicles.  APD CURRENTLY PRACTICES A COMPREHENSIVE REPORTING REQUIREMENT MANDATING OFFICERS TO DOCUMENT A VARIETY OF CIRCUMSTANCES, INCLUDING ANYTIME AN OFFICER POINTS A GUN AT ANYONE (APD POLICY SECTION 324.2.2(A).
APD Officers are also required to document anytime handcuffs are applied to a person, regardless of whether that person is ultimately arrested or released (APD policy section 303.8). |  THE ANAHEIM POLICE DEPARTMENT CURRENTLY HAS A ROBUST DE-ESCALATION TRAINING PROGRAM COUPLED WITH INVALUABLE PARTNERSHIPS.
Our internal department training also emphasizes the use of de-escalation. Our training philosophy on de-escalation is reinforced by our recent investment in a state of the art use of force simulator where an officer’s performance is met with real-time feedback in an environment that accurately recreates situations faced by officers. The Anaheim Police Department is at the forefront of de-escalation practices, partnering with Orange County Mental Health Clinicians and Psychiatric Emergency Response Team (PERT) members who ride with our officers in the field to provide services to those in crisis. Additionally, all Anaheim Patrol Officers attend 16-hour Crisis Intervention Training and all Field Training Officers are required to attend an additional 8-hour Mental Health Crisis training class.  THE REQUIREMENT TO EXHAUST ALL ALTERNATIVES BEFORE SHOOTING IS NOT A THEORY CONSIDERED TO BE A PUBLIC SAFETY BEST PRACTICE; THE DELAY CREATED WOULD SUBJECT OFFICERS AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE TO A HIGHER RISK OF HARM IN FORCE ENCOUNTERS.
The use of force is a reasonableness issue, and our current policy addresses the reasonableness of the force used. Our policy is based on established legal doctrine that applies to law enforcement officers and citizens alike. It reads:
Officers shall use only that amount of force that reasonably appears necessary given the facts and circumstances perceived by the officer at the time of the event to accomplish a legitimate law enforcement purpose (APD policy section 300.3). |
