Deputies shall adhere to the Department's established policy governing the use of firearms (Policy and Ethics Chapter). Personnel must maintain strict fire control discipline. The person in charge shall issue specific and appropriate instructions regarding use of weapons and all personnel shall scrupulously follow those instructions. The concept of "directed fire by selected marksmen" is valid.
Should the individual Deputy come under direct and deadly attack by the suspect, or if the suspect attacks or attempts to attack the hostage with deadly force, it is not required that a Deputy wait for instructions to protect himself or the hostage. However, individual action should be undertaken only under the gravest of circumstances. As previously stated, the safety of hostages and Deputies is of paramount concern