To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: KEITH KAUFFMAN, CHIEF OF POLICE
TITLE
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DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON THE USE OF FORCE POLICY OF THE REDONDO BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recent events across the U.S. have sparked a renewed community interest and examination of police use of force and use of force policies. Use of force is one of the most critical aspects of policing and its reasonable application is the foundation for the safety of the community, the safe enforcement of the law, and our ability to maintain a high level of trust between our citizens and the police. The laws and policies surrounding police use of force are extremely complex, ever changing, and under continual examination by the Courts. Tactics and training are often adjusted to conform with state mandates or added technologies and having a philosophy of constant improvement increases the safety and effectiveness of our force applications. RBPD Policy Section 300 - Use of Force (attached) includes seven detailed pages that describe when and how force should be used in the course and scope of our duties as police officers.
BACKGROUND
To enter into a proper discussion on police use of force, it is important to understand the laws that have formed the basis for our policy, and subsequently, our tactics and training. State laws regarding use of force may vary and oftentimes, as is the case in California, reach beyond the standards set forth by federal law.
In the case of Graham v. Conner (490 U.S. 386, 1989), the United States Supreme Court established that the standard for the application of force by a peace officer must be "objectively reasonable" based on the totality of the circumstances and judged from the "perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, rather than with the 20/20 vision of hindsight." The Court also outlined a list of factors for determining if an officer's level of force was objectively reasonable. We commonly refer to those...
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