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HOMICIDE BUREAU / CHAPTER 4 EQUIPMENT

4-7 OLEORESIN CAPSICUM


4-3A VEHICLE PROTOCOL FOR 120-DAY REHIRE
CHAPTER 5 INTERNAL BUREAU OPERATIONS

HOMICIDE BUREAU

DETECTIVE DIVISION

BUREAU ORDERS

 

Bureau Order Number:  4-7

Subject:  OLEORESIN CAPSICUM

Effective Date:

09/01/1995

Last Date Revised:

11/04/2018

Last Date Reviewed:

04/15/2021

Next Review Date:

04/15/2022

I.   CONCEPT AND ISSUES

    A.  PURPOSE

The purpose of this order is to establish an order for the deployment of Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) spray in compliance with current Department Use of Force Policy.                        

    B.  BACKGROUND

Pepper Spray shall be carried by Homicide Bureau personnel while on duty.  Exceptions must have the approval of a Lieutenant and shall be granted on a case by case basis.

    C.  SCOPE OF POLICY

This policy is directed to all Homicide Bureau personnel and any other personnel assigned to Homicide Bureau in a temporary or permanent capacity.

    D.  TRAINING

Homicide Bureau sergeants and lieutenants shall ensure that all personnel under their supervision have been appropriately briefed on the contents of this policy.                       

    E.  ACCOUNTABILITY

The Unit Commander.

    F.  CONCLUSION

The intent of this policy is to establish procedures for the deployment of OC spray.

II. POLICY

The following procedures shall be followed by Homicide Bureau personnel regarding the carrying and use of “Pepper Spray”:

Personnel must attend Department sanctioned Oleoresin Capsicum (Pepper Spray) training prior to individual deployment.

Pepper Spray shall be carried by Homicide Bureau personnel while on duty.  Exceptions must have the approval of a Lieutenant and shall be granted on a case by case basis.

The deployment of Pepper Spray falls under the guidelines of “Less Significant Force and each use of Pepper Spray requires an immediate verbal notification to the immediate supervisor.  The supervisor shall then notify the Captain, interview the prisoner/person if practical, and complete and distribute a “Supervisor’s Report, Use of Force” (SH-R-438) for each member who used force.  A Department of Justice Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) Application Report must be completed and sent to the Force Training Unit following each use of Pepper Spray.  In addition, all individuals sprayed with Pepper Spray shall have medical clearance prior to booking.

Any time there is a substantial use of the Pepper Spray, consideration should be given to replacing the canister to insure sufficient Pepper Spray is available for subsequent encounters.

Pepper Spray is optional to carry off-duty.