(A) Use of flashlight, baton, or night stick.
(1) A flashlight or baton may be used as a defensive weapon by a police officer to protect himself or herself or another person from physical harm. A blow to the head may not be struck with a flashlight or baton unless the situation is life threatening for the officer or another person.
(2) The flashlight or baton may be used when the individual violently resists arrest and assaults or attempts to assault the arresting officer(s).
(3) The general target area of the baton or flashlight shall be portions of the body that may be struck without causing permanent or fatal injuries. These locations are as follows:
(a) Muscular areas, back of the thighs, hamstring muscles, calves, and biceps;
(b) Areas where the skin is near the bone, hand, wrist, arm, and shins; and
(c) Highly sensitive areas: solar plexis (stomach areas).
(4) Officers shall refrain from striking persons in the head region, since the blow to this region may reasonably be expected to result in death or serious injury. Blows to the throat can also be lethal.
(5) The baton may be carried in its holder on the officer’s parson or in the patrol vehicle until a potentially dangerous situation arises or when a hostile person must be removed or subdued. The flashlight may be carried on the officer’s person or in the patrol vehicle as needed.
(B) Use of chemical mace (non-lethal weapon).
(1) Officers are authorized to carry non-lethal chemical mace issued by the Department. The mace may be carried on the officer’s person.
(2) Chemical mace may be used when necessary to accomplish an arrest when such force is reasonable and required to render the prisoner non-combative to avoid injury to the officer or another person.
(C) Use of the 12-gauge pump shotgun.
(1) The Police Department provides a 12-gauge pump shotgun as standard equipment for each marked patrol vehicle, along with ammunition.
(2) Officers shall familiarize themselves with the use of this weapon as required by the training officer.
(3) The use of the shotgun in the line of duty shall be at the officer’s discretion when circumstances warrant to provide for the protection and safety of the officer.
(Ord. 1991-7, passed - -)