UNIT ORDER #68 - DEPUTY INVOLVED SHOOTINGS



PURPOSE OF THIS DIRECTIVE:

To establish Bureau standards for the handling of Shooting Reviews

SCOPE:

This management directive applies to Internal Affairs Bureau (IAB) Shooting Reviews of deputy involved “Hit” and “Non-Hit” shootings, where a Department member intentionally shoots at a person.

PROCEDURES:

Interviews of non-hit shooters should be conducted as soon as practical following the shooting and after all reports have been received.  Investigators should confer with the handling detective responsible for the criminal aspect of the case prior to any interviews.  To this end, interviews of non-hit shooters should be scheduled within three (3) working days of the incident to provide time for the shooters to obtain legal representation, if desired, before the interview.  The interviews of non-hit shooters should take place within 14 days of the incident.  The Non-Hit Shooting Review should be completed within eight (8) months of the initial incident.  The same time frames apply to “Hit” shootings and are calculated from the date of the District Attorney’s Office Letter of Opinion.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The investigator is responsible for adhering to the established Bureau standards for scheduling interviews of shooters, completing interviews of shooters, and completion of the Shooting Review.  If the investigator is unable to meet any of the established time frames, the investigator and team lieutenant are responsible for apprising the IAB Unit Commander with the reason(s) for the delay, and the estimated date of completion.

A list of issues that should be addressed in interviews of shooters in non-hit shootings may be found in Management Directive #59, Interview of Shooters in Hit Shootings.