Directive 2.01 Revised 12/30/17 Page 1 of 11
EFFECTIVE NUMBER
REVISED TOTAL PAGES
Columbus Police
Division Directive
Aug. 01, 1987 2.01
Dec. 30, 2017 11
Use of Force
I. Definitions
A. Use of Force
The exertion of energy or the actions of personnel in the performance
of their duties used to direct or control another’s movements or actions.
A use of force may be implemented to control resistive or aggressive
behavior toward the involved personnel, other personnel, third parties,
or property.
B. Use of Force Levels of Control
1. Levels of Control used by the Division of Police for reporting purposes
are:
Level 0: Officer presence, verbal and non-verbal commands, searching, handcuffing, sparking a taser for compliance, and using
flashbangs and multiple baton rounds as diversions
Level 1: Empty hand control, pressure points, grounding techniques, and
joint manipulations
Level 2: Use of chemical spray
Level 3: Use of electronic device (electronic custody belt, taser or
Electronic Control Weapon (ECW))
Level 4: Hard empty hand control (strike/punch/kick)
Level 5: Use of impact weapon (baton/flashlight)
Level 6: Police K-9 bite
Level 7: Less lethal weapons (beanbag/multiple baton rounds
Level 8: Deadly force
C. Deadly Force
Any force which carries a substantial risk that it will proximately result
in the death of any person.
D. Injury
1. For the purposes of this directive, injuries are classified as:
a. Minor Injury
An injury that does not require transport to a medical facility.
b. Serious Injury
An injury that requires transport to a medical facility for treatment.
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Note: If a Division supervisor classifies an injury as minor, refusal at the
county jail does not require a Use of Force-Injury to Prisoner administrative investigation.
E. Taser Application
One full or partial five-second cycle of the taser.
II. Policy Statements
A. General
1. When reasonable, sworn personnel should try to de-escalate
a situation by using trained techniques, such as building rapport, communication skills, taking cover, etc. This is not an all
inclusive list.
2. It is well established that police officers may use force to effect an arrest,
to defend themselves, or to defend others. An officer should not desist
from any official duty merely because resistance is offered. Police officers
shall not use more force than is reasonable in a particular incident.
3. Factors to be considered when determining the reasonableness of a
use of force are:
a. The severity of the crime at issue.
b. Whether the subject poses an immediate threat to the safety of the
officer or others.
c. Whether the subject is actively resisting arrest.
d. Whether the subject is attempting to evade arrest by flight.
4. Force may be used during a medical emergency if:
a. The person experiencing a medical emergency is incapable
of making a rational decision under the circumstances and
poses an immediate threat of serious harm to himself, herself,
or others.
b. Some degree of force is reasonably necessary to minimize the
immediate threat.
c. The force being used is reasonably necessary under the circumstances.
5. Sworn personnel should take into consideration an unarmed
person’s known mental health status prior to using force.
6. Officers shall use their training to guide them through a use of force incident. The preferred response to resistance and aggression is a trained
technique reasonable for the circumstances. However, during a
situation involving the infliction or threatened infliction of serious physical harm, the use of an untrained response, such as neck restraints,
while not normally authorized, may be reasonable to end the threat and
survive the encounter. The proper exertion of physical force used to
control the subject shall be consistent with Division policy.
Directive 2.01 Revised 12/30/17 Page 3 of 11
7. All uses of force shall be reported consistent with Division policies.
Involved personnel shall notify an available on-duty Division supervisor
in the following descending order:
a. Their immediate supervisor;
b. Another sworn supervisor within their chain of command; or
c. Any other sworn Division supervisor, who may personally conduct the
investigation or may notify a supervisor in the involved officer’s chain
of command to conduct the investigation.
8. The Internal Affairs Bureau (IAB) shall forward a monthly report to the
Training Bureau that summarizes all Level 2 through Level 8 Use of
Force Reports, form U-10.128, received.
9. The Training Bureau shall review the monthly summary of Use of Force
Reports received from IAB along with the original Levels 0 and 1 Use of
Force Reports to monitor techniques for their effectiveness and to make
approved changes in trained techniques and lesson plans.
10.All sworn Division personnel shall receive annual in-service training in
the Division’s use of force policy.
11. Division supervisors conducting use of force investigations shall photograph involved persons as detailed in the Supervisor’s Manual.
12.Restrictions on Supervisors Conducting Investigations
a. Division supervisors who actively participate in or order a use of force
shall not conduct any subsequent investigation. This restriction does
not apply to tactical situations, for example, those involving SWAT,
In-Tac, or field forces.
b. When a Division supervisor is prohibited from conducting the investigation, the involved supervisor’s immediate supervisor or, if unavailable,
another Division supervisor of a higher rank than the involved supervisor shall be contacted. The contacted supervisor may conduct the
investigation or may assign it to an alternate supervisor.
13.If requested, IAB shall conduct an administrative investigation.
Note: Personnel who are the focus of a criminal investigation may invoke
their constitutional rights. This does not apply if the investigation is
strictly administrative in nature. Information compelled from the focus
employee in an administrative investigation shall not be shared with, or
in any manner released to, any unit conducting a criminal investigation,
except as pursuant to the Ohio Public Records Act.
14.Sworn personnel shall not use any force for a retaliatory or
punitive purpose.
B. Deadly Force
1. Sworn personnel may use deadly force when the involved personnel
have reason to believe the response is objectively reasonable to protect
themselves or others from the imminent threat of death or serious physical harm.
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2. Sworn personnel may use deadly force upon a human being to prevent
escape when there is probable cause to believe that the subject poses
an immediate threat of serious physical harm to others.
3. Sworn personnel not in a vehicle should avoid positioning themselves
in the path of a moving vehicle or in a position vulnerable to being
struck if the vehicle were suddenly moved.
a. Sworn personnel in the direct path or a position vulnerable to being
struck by a moving vehicle should attempt to take evasive action to
avoid being struck by the vehicle.
b. Sworn personnel may only fire a weapon at the driver or occupant of a
moving vehicle when there is an articulable, reasonable belief that the
subject poses an immediate threat of death or serious physical harm
to himself, herself, or others.
c. Sworn personnel should not extend their displayed firearm
inside the passenger compartment of an occupied vehicle.
d. Sworn personnel should avoid reaching into a vehicle and
position(s) that make them vulnerable to being dragged.
4. If reasonable, sworn personnel should give a verbal warning of the
intention to use deadly force.
5. While sworn personnel have an affirmative duty to use that degree of
force reasonable to protect human life, the use of deadly force is not reasonable merely to protect property interests. Only under circumstances
where it is reasonable to believe an infliction or threatened infliction of
serious physical harm to human life exists is the use of deadly force
justified.
6. The use of deadly force by sworn personnel should not create a danger
to the public that outweighs the benefits of its use.
7. Sworn personnel shall not fire a warning shot unless there is justification
to use deadly force and should ensure:
a. There are no bystanders in the line of fire or that could move
into the line of fire; and
b. The backstop is reasonably likely to contain or stop the discharged bullet.
8. Facts unknown to sworn personnel at the time deadly force is used cannot be considered in determining whether the involved personnel acted
in conformity with this policy.
9. Investigations of uses of force resulting in death shall be forwarded to
the county prosecutor in the county in which the incident occurred. That
prosecutor will determine if the case will be presented to a grand jury.
Directive 2.01 Revised 12/30/17 Page 5 of 11
C. Use of Firearm Against Dangerous Animals
1. Sworn personnel being threatened or attacked by a dangerous
animal should attempt to use trained techniques and/or intermediate weapons before using a firearm to protect themselves or
another person. If these attempts fail to halt the animal’s attack,
and when left with no alternative other than to use a firearm,
sworn personnel should determine whether the backstop is
able to control and contain any projectiles that may not find
their intended mark or that may ricochet. Consider the presence
of individuals and their actions relative to the proximity of the
dangerous animal. Grassy and/or dirt areas are the preferred
location for a backstop.
2. Sworn personnel shall not fire or deploy a weapon at a dangerous animal unless the animal poses an imminent threat to
personnel or others, use of the weapon is reasonable, and the
risk to human life is minimized.
3. Sworn personnel shall not use a firearm to prevent or disrupt
an animal attacking another animal.
Note: Pets are deemed to be property, and a firearm is not to be
used to protect property.
III. Procedures
A. Level of Control 0 (Sparking a Taser for Compliance) or Level of Control
1 with No Injury
1. Involved Personnel
Complete a Use of Force Report and forward it to your immediate supervisor by the end of your shift or by the beginning of your next shift if
the incident occurred outside of assigned duty hours. If your immediate
supervisor is unavailable, forward the report to any on-duty supervisor
within your chain of command.
2. Investigating Supervisor
a. Review and sign the Use of Force Report.
b. Forward the report directly to IAB.
c. Forward a copy of the report to the immediate supervisor of the involved
personnel.
3. Internal Affairs Bureau
Forward the original Use of Force Report to the Training Bureau.
B. Level of Control 0 or 1 with a Complaint of an Injury Caused by the Response – No Serious Physical Harm to a Human
1. Involved Personnel
a. Cause any needed medical aid to be rendered.
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b. Immediately notify, or cause notification of, an on-duty Division supervisor.
c. Complete a Use of Force Report and give it to the investigating supervisor.
2. Investigating Supervisor
a. Review and sign the Use of Force Report.
b. Minor Injury
(1) Complete a Data Processing Worksheet, form U-10.164, and attach the Use of Force Report; a copy of the Arrest Information, form
U-10.100; and any photographs taken.
(2) Forward the packet directly to IAB.
(3) Forward a copy of the report to the immediate supervisor of the involved personnel.
c. Serious Injury
(1) Complete an Injury to Prisoner administrative investigation and a
Data Processing Worksheet. Attach the Use of Force Report and a
copy of the Arrest Information form.
(2) Forward the packet through the chain of command to IAB.
3. Internal Affairs Bureau
a. If applicable, record the incident in the involved personnel’s IAB database record.
b. Maintain a file copy of the Use of Force Report.
c. Forward the original Use of Force Report to the Training Bureau.
C. Level of Control 2
1. Involved Personnel
a. Cause any needed medical aid to be rendered.
b. Immediately notify, or cause notification of, an on-duty supervisor.
c. Complete a Use of Force Report and give it to the investigating supervisor.
2. Investigating Supervisor
a. Review and sign the Use of Force Report.
b. Forward a copy of the report to the immediate supervisor of the involved
personnel.
c. If the subject is being arrested or issued a summons:
(1) Ensure that the arresting personnel include the facts necessitating the
use of chemical spray and details of the decontamination/treatment
rendered in the narrative section of the Arrest Information form.
(2) Include a brief statement indicating justification for the use of chemical spray, the effectiveness of the chemical spray, and details of the
decontamination process and treatment rendered on the Use of Force
Report.
Directive 2.01 Revised 12/30/17 Page 7 of 11
(3) Ensure that an “X” is placed in both the “Chemical Spray” box on the
top left corner and the “Use of Force” box on the top right corner on
the front of the Arrest Information form.
(4) Complete a Data Processing Worksheet, attach the Use of Force
Report and a copy of the Arrest Information form, and forward the
packet through the involved personnel’s chain of command to IAB.
d. If no arrest is made, add comments to the back of the Use of Force
Report, and forward it along with a Data Processing Worksheet through
the involved personnel’s chain of command to IAB.
e. If circumstances indicate that the use of chemical spray was not within
Division policy, complete an investigation as indicated on the Use of
Force Report, and forward it along with a Data Processing Worksheet
through the involved personnel’s chain of command to IAB.
f. For a Level of Control 2 against a handcuffed subject:
(1) Identify and interview the following:
(a) Involved Division personnel
(b) All available witnesses
(c) The subject upon whom chemical spray was used
(2) Review and sign the Use of Force Report.
(3) Complete an administrative investigation.
(4) Complete a Data Processing Worksheet; attach the Use of Force
Report, a copy of the Arrest Information form, and the administrative
investigation;and forward the packet through the involved personnel’s
chain of command to IAB.
3. Commander
Make a final determination for Level of Control 2 (not against a handcuffed subject) unless deviation from progressive discipline and/or
departmental charges are recommended. Forward the investigative
packet to IAB.
4. Deputy Chief
a. Make a final determination for Level of Control 2 against a handcuffed
subject unless deviation from progressive discipline and/or departmental
charges are recommended.
b. Forward the investigative packet to IAB.
c. Cause the involved personnel to be notified of the final determination
when no discipline or progressive discipline not resulting in departmental
charges is the result.
5. Internal Affairs Bureau
a. Record the incident in the involved personnel’s IAB database record.
b. Maintain the original Use of Force Report.
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D. Level of Control 3
1. Involved Personnel
a. Cause any needed medical aid to be rendered.
b. Immediately notify, or cause notification of, an on-duty supervisor.
c. Complete a Use of Force Report and a Use of Taser Report, form U10.128T, and give them to the investigating supervisor.
2. Investigating Supervisor
a. Identify and interview the following:
(1) Involved Division personnel
(2) All available witnesses
(3) The subject upon whom the taser was used
b. Review and sign the Use of Force Report and the Use of Taser Report.
c. Complete the Data Processing Worksheet; attach the Use of Force
Report, Use of Taser Report, any photographs taken, and a copy of the
Arrest Information form; and forward the packet through the involved
personnel’s chain of command to IAB.
d. For a Level of Control 3 against a handcuffed subject, when three or
more cycles of the taser are applied to one subject, when one taser is
applied to multiple subjects during the same incident, or when multiple
tasers are applied to the same subject:
(1) Complete an administrative investigation.
(2) Attach the administrative investigation to the Data Processing Worksheet, Use of Force Report, Use of Taser Report, any photographs
taken, and a copy of the Arrest Information form, and forward the
packet through the involved personnel’s chain of command to IAB.
3. Deputy Chief
a. Make a final determination for Level of Control 3 unless deviation from
progressive discipline and/or departmental charges are recommended.
b. Forward the investigative packet to IAB.
c. Cause the involved personnel to be notified of the final determination
when no discipline or progressive discipline not resulting in departmental
charges is the result.
4. Internal Affairs Bureau
a. Record the incident in the involved personnel’s IAB database record.
b. Maintain the original Use of Force Report.
E. Level of Control 4 through 7
1. Involved Personnel
a. Cause any needed medical aid to be rendered.
b. Immediately notify, or cause notification of, an on-duty supervisor.
c. Complete a Use of Force Report and give it to the investigating supervisor.
Directive 2.01 Revised 12/30/17 Page 9 of 11
2. Investigating Supervisor
a. Identify and interview the following:
(1) Involved Division personnel
(2) All available witnesses
(3) The subject upon whom the use of force was used
b. Review the Use of Force Report.
c. Complete an administrative investigation.
d. Complete a Data Processing Worksheet; attach the Use of Force
Report, a copy of the Arrest Information form, and the administrative
investigation; and forward the packet through the involved personnel’s
chain of command to IAB.
3. Deputy Chief
a. Make a final determination for Levels of Control 4 through 7 unless
deviation from progressive discipline and/or departmental charges are
recommended.
b. Forward the investigative packet to IAB.
c. Cause the involved personnel to be notified of the final determination
when no discipline or progressive discipline not resulting in departmental
charges is the result.
4. Internal Affairs Bureau
a. Record the incident in the involved personnel’s IAB database record.
b. Maintain the original Use of Force Report.
F. Use of Force Resulting in Serious Physical Harm to or Death of a Human
Note: If the use of force involves the discharge of a firearm other than a gas
gun, follow the procedures set forth in the “Discharged Firearms” directive.
If the use of force involves the discharge of a gas gun, follow the procedures set forth in the “Gas Guns and Grenades” directive.
1. Involved Personnel
a. Cause any needed medical aid to be rendered.
b. Immediately cause Communications Bureau personnel to be notified.
c. Secure the scene.
2. Communications Bureau
a. Dispatch personnel to render assistance or to secure the scene.
b. Notify the Columbus Division of Fire and those listed on the
Emergency Notification Guide.
Note: The Investigative Duty Desk will contact the Critical Incident Response Team.
3. Officer Support Team
Provide the involved personnel with any assistance, information, or
other support they may desire.
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Note: Officer Support Team members are subject to being subpoenaed to
attend legal proceedings and testify to what they are told by the involved
personnel. Therefore, Officer Support Team members are cautioned not
to discuss the incident.
4. Critical Incident Response Team
a. Conduct a criminal investigation.
b. Advise personnel who are the focus of the investigation of their constitutional rights.
Note: The involved personnel may invoke their constitutional rights at any
time during the criminal investigation.
c. Complete the Use of Force Report and Data Processing Worksheet
and attach both to the original investigative packet.
d. File the original investigative packet.
e. Forward copies of the investigative packet as follows:
(1) One copy to the appropriate county prosecutor
(2) Three copies to the Firearms/Police-Involved Death Review Board if a
firearm was used or if death occurred under circumstances involving
a police action
5. Firearms/Police-Involved Death Review Board
a. Review all information concerning the incident.
b. Determine whether the police action was within Division policy.
c. Prepare and forward a summary of the findings, together with the original
investigative packet, the Use of Force Report, and the Data Processing
Worksheet, through the involved personnel’s chain of command to the
deputy chief.
Note: If there is a dissenting opinion between the Firearms/Police-Involved
Death Review Board members, the dissenting member will include a
letter of finding with the investigative packet and route it through the
involved personnel’s chain of command to the Chief of Police.
6. Immediate Supervisor
a. Review the entire investigative packet and make recommendations.
b. Forward the investigative packet through the chain of command.
7. Chain of Command
Review the entire investigative packet and make recommendations.
8. Deputy Chief
a. Review the investigative packet.
b. Make a final determination concerning the incident unless deviation from
progressive discipline and/or departmental charges are recommended.
Note: If the recommendation of the deputy chief is in disagreement with the
finding of the Firearms/Police-Involved Death Review Board, forward
the investigative packet to the Chief of Police.
Directive 2.01 Revised 12/30/17 Page 11 of 11
c. Forward the investigative packet to IAB.
d. Cause the involved personnel to be notified of the final determination
when no discipline or progressive discipline not resulting in departmental
charges is the result.
9. Chief of Police
a. Make the final determination when a recommendation to bypass progressive discipline is made.
b. Make a final determination if there are dissenting opinions between
the Firearms/Police-Involved Death Review Board and the involved
personnel’s deputy chief.
c. Cause the involved personnel to be notified of the determination.
10. Internal Affairs Bureau
a. Record the disposition of the incident in the involved personnel’s IAB
database.
b. Maintain the original Use of Force Report.
