Pursuant to I.C. 35-41-3-2 and 35-41-3-3, concerning the use of force, the following guidelines shall be the policy of the town’s Police Department. These guidelines are intended to be an extension or further explanation of the state statutes and are consistent with the state code.
(A) Minimum use of force. Officers shall use only the minimum amount of force which is necessary to accomplish an arrest after they provide the person with a reasonable opportunity to comply with the arrest procedure. Necessary action taken by a town police officer effecting an arrest, defending himself or herself or another person, will be considered justified, provided each of the following is present, given the special circumstances at hand:
(1) The officer is acting officially as a police officer within the boundaries of his or her legal authority and has properly identified himself or herself as a police officer;
(2) The means and the force employed are not excessive, unreasonable, or unnecessary under the specific circumstances; and
(3) The police officer has no acceptable alternative available to him or her, considering his or her sworn obligation not to retreat from his or her official mission and his or her individual right of self-protection or the protection of others.
(B) Care of injured prisoner. Whenever it becomes necessary to use force against any person in order to overcome resistance to arrest to ward off physical attack or for other reasons, the injured prisoner shall be taken to Kings Daughters Hospital either by ambulance or by the officer depending upon the extent of the injuries. If the injury is minor and the prisoner is taken to the county jail, a picture of the prisoner depicting the injury shall be taken by the supervisor in charge of the shift.
(Ord. 1991-7, passed - -)