Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Use Of Force topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Police Commission adopts revised firearms policy, limits shooting at vehicle occupants
Summary
The San Francisco Police Commission unanimously adopted a revised department general order (DGO 5.02) tightening rules on use of firearms, including a near-total prohibition on shooting at occupants of moving vehicles and added training requirements, the commission heard on March 16, 2011.
The San Francisco Police Commission on March 16, 2011 unanimously approved a revised Department General Order 5.02 that narrows when officers may fire at occupants of moving vehicles and directs department training on the new standard.
Commissioners voted to adopt the DGO after a presentation by Commander Mahoney of the Police Department and remarks from Office of Citizen Complaints Director Joyce Hicks, who said the OCC had reached concurrence with the department but urged training language be included.
"The shooting of moving vehicles can only be done in the most extreme circumstances and under narrowly defined conditions," Commander Mahoney said, describing the change as a move to limit shooting when the vehicle itself is the only perceived threat. Director Joyce Hicks urged that training emphasize tactics to avoid placing officers in harms way, including not standing directly behind or reaching into an occupied moving vehicle.
Commission discussion focused on how the new DGO links to the departments reasonable-care standard in DGO 5.01, how scenarios will be used in Force Options training, and whether tactical guidance in transient bulletins would be preserved. Commissioner Angela Chan asked how the training language recommended by the OCC would be preserved after a department bulletin expires; Mahoney said the material is incorporated into an academy PowerPoint that will be taught in Force Options training.
Commissioner James Hammers, who led the revision effort with OCC staff and the Police Officers Association, said the policy change aims to reduce unintended harm to bystanders while still protecting officers. "The goal ... is to maximize everybody's safety," he said.
After brief public comment, Commissioner Hammers moved to approve the revised DGO as drafted; the motion passed unanimously.
The commission and department said they will incorporate the DGO language into Force Options training and continue to monitor training effectiveness as part of a broader tactical review scheduled in coming months.
