Council hears overview of 'duty to intervene' — staff says officers must step in or report improper force

City staff presented a policy update covering a "duty to intervene" requirement for officers who witness unjustified use of force, describing its intent and some practical considerations for on- and off-duty situations.

An agency official explained the policy would require an officer observing another officer using what a reasonable person might consider unjustified force to step in to stop it when it is safe to do so, or, if physical intervention is unsafe, to report the incident to the chain of command. "If an off-duty officer were to see an on-duty officer violating use-of-force policies and he or she were not able to intervene physically, at a minimum they would have a duty to report to the chain of command," the staff member said.

Why it matters: Council members framed the policy as a response to excessive-force concerns and as part of training and accountability expectations for the department. Speakers said off-duty situations are fact-specific and that officers must weigh safety for themselves and family members when deciding whether to physically intervene.

Next steps: Staff invited questions and suggested further discussion at a later agenda item; no final policy adoption or vote occurred at the work session.