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Manual of Policy and Procedures / Volume 3 - Policy and Ethics / Chapter 2 - Personnel

3-02/140.30 - Commendable Restraint Commendation


3-02/140.28 - Physical Fitness Pin
3-02/140.35 - Career Achiever's Award

The Commendable Restraint Commendation shall be awarded in recognition of an employee who used an alternative to deadly force when confronted with a situation which could have resulted in the taking of a human life.

Whenever a supervisor becomes aware of an incident where a member was faced with a life-taking decision and was successful in resolving the incident by means other than deadly force, he shall complete a Commendable Restraint Commendation (Form SH-AD-658).  Copies of all supporting documentation and the Commendable Restraint Commendation shall be submitted to the employee's unit commander.

The unit commander shall review the Commendable Restraint Commendation form and all supporting documents.  Upon reviewing this information the unit commander shall make his personal recommendations and then forward all documentation to the division chief or division director.

In addition to the Commendable Restraint Commendation form, a Division Commendation Scroll shall be forwarded to the division chief or division director for signature (available via the Department’s eForms).

The division chief or division director shall review and evaluate all documentation, upon which he shall do one of the following:

  • Commend the member;
  • Forward the recommendation to the Office of the Sheriff;
  • Return correspondence to the initiating unit commander for disposition.

The division chief's or division director’s recommendation may also include a range of other options from a Valor Award to a Board of Supervisors' recognition.  Copies of all submitted recommendations for Commendable Restraint Commendations shall be forwarded to the assistant sheriff's office and to the Sheriff's legal advisor by the division chief or division director.

Upon approval by the division chief or division director, a copy of the SH-AD-658 and the supporting documentation shall be sent to the Training Bureau.  The Training Bureau shall review the incident to determine if training curriculum about potential deadly force situations can be enhanced.

The Sheriff's Information Bureau shall, at the direction of the Office of the Sheriff, prepare and coordinate any action to be taken above that of a division-level commendation.