Use of Force Best Practices Review Project

 

The Mesa Police Department deeply values our relationship with the community and our continued partnerships to strengthen public safety.  We work hand-in-hand with community leaders to improve our service delivery.  Our commitment to improvement is also evidenced by our work with the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), Police Assessment Resource Center (Merrick Bob), former Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley, the Department of Justice (DOJ), Community Relations Service, and President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing.

Together with the community, we have been working tirelessly over the last 18 months to review all our policies related to discipline and use of force.  The Use of Force Review Committee was established, consisting of 12 community members and 12 members of the police department, to meet every two weeks for nine months to evaluate industry best practice use of force recommendations from the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). Each recommendation received an evidence-based evaluation by a member of the MPD leadership team and considered industry trends, relevant policy, training curriculum, and implementation requirements. This guidance was ultimately presented to the Chief of Police and Assistant Chiefs for approval.  As a result of this work, the following policy directions have been provided:

  • Implementation of concurrent investigations that ensure incidents involving force are promptly reviewed for legal, policy, and training issues.
  • The creation of the Critical Incident Review Board (CIRB) consisting of representation from the Labor Association(s), Advanced Training, a Legal Advisor, and three City of Mesa residents who serve as civilian members. The CIRB seeks to promote trust and legitimacy by fostering transparency in department actions, striving to improve police services, and helping hold the agency and its members accountable.
  • Provide an educational Critical Incident Community Briefing.
  • Prohibit shooting at or from a moving vehicle.
  • Prohibit strikes to the face, head, or neck other than when a suspect engages in active aggression or aggravated active aggression.
  • Prohibit the Carotid Control Technique except for when deadly force Is justified.
  • Require officers intervene when they observe objectively unreasonable force.
  • Emphasize that the policy of the Mesa Police Department is to value and preserve human life in all situations.

The examples listed above are just a fraction of the work that our department and community have accomplished together. We invite you to review each recommendation below, which includes the accompanying collaborative efforts from the committee, and the final guidance presented to the Chiefs, which are currently being implemented by the department.

Community Feedback Welcome!

Send your feedback to PDUFProjectFeedback@mesaaz.gov. Include the title of the Recommendation or Guidance presentation(s), along with your thoughts. Your feedback will be shared with the evaluators.

Use of Force Review: The Path to Implementing Best Practices(PDF, 9MB)
A comparative analysis of Departmental Use of Force Policies, Training and Operational Protocols measured against recommended best practices.

Committee Review Meetings 

September 11, 2019

 Recommendation Guidance Decision 
Concurrent Investigations(PDF, 142KB)  Recommendation 1(PDF, 113KB) Approved
Notifications(PDF, 116KB)  Recommendation 2(PDF, 116KB) Approved

September 25, 2019

Recommendation Guidance Decision
Scene Response(PDF, 102KB) Recommendation 3(PDF, 109KB) Approved
Scene Responsibility(PDF, 115KB) Recommendation 4(PDF, 110KB) Approved
Category 2 Incidents(PDF, 119KB) Recommendation 8(PDF, 105KB) Approved
Less-Lethal Shotguns(PDF, 153KB) Recommendation 37(PDF, 191KB) Approved

October 9, 2019

Recommendation Guidance Decision
Executive Debrief(PDF, 187KB) Recommendation 5(PDF, 104KB) Approved
Administrative Investigations(PDF, 213KB) Recommendation 6(PDF, 104KB) Approved
Electronic Control Weapon(PDF, 204KB) Recommendation 33(PDF, 133KB)
 Approved
Vehicle Pursuits(PDF, 121KB) Recommendation 42(PDF, 117KB) Approved

October 23, 2019

Recommendation Guidance Decision
Use of Force Review Board(PDF, 221KB) Recommendation 7(PDF, 116KB) Approved
Shooting At or From Vehicles(PDF, 133KB) Recommendation 21 & 32(PDF, 111KB) Approved
Neck Restraint(PDF, 215KB) Recommendation 26(PDF, 171KB)
 Approved

November 6, 2019

Recommendation Guidance Decision
Supervisor Scene Response(PDF, 91KB) Recommendation 22 & 39(PDF, 122KB) Approved
Mark Electronic Control Weapon(PDF, 146KB) Recommendation 36(PDF, 235KB) Approved
Blue Team Reports(PDF, 214KB) Recommendation 40(PDF, 158KB)
 Approved

November 20, 2019

Recommendation Guidance Decision
Persons Exposed to Taser Receive Medical Eval(PDF, 151KB) Recommendation 28(PDF, 828KB) Approved
Report When Taser is Pointed(PDF, 133KB) Recommendation 29(PDF, 816KB) Approved
Revise Drive Stun Definition(PDF, 258KB) Recommendation 34(PDF, 136KB) Approved
Revise Taser Deployment Procedures(PDF, 219KB) Recommendation 35(PDF, 96KB) Approved

December 4, 2019

Recommendation Guidance Decision
Release Use of Force Data Annually(PDF, 117KB) Recommendation 62(PDF, 140KB) Approved
Relocate Office for Professional Standards(PDF, 104KB) Recommendation 54(PDF, 102KB) Approved
Repository for Training Records(PDF, 135KB) Recommendation 38(PDF, 170KB)
 Approved
Track Trends and Emerging Issues(PDF, 135KB) Recommendation 58(PDF, 87KB) Approved

December 18, 2019

Recommendation Guidance Decision
Remove Warning on Making False Complaints(PDF, 104KB) Recommendation 49(PDF, 104KB) Approved
Update Definition of Deescalation(PDF, 145KB) Recommendation 45 & 16(PDF, 105KB) Approved
Update Policy for Leg Restraints(PDF, 118KB) Recommendation 66(PDF, 119KB)
 Approved
Update Website Access to Compliment Form(PDF, 305KB) Recommendation 48(PDF, 306KB) Approved

January 15, 2020

Recommendation Guidance Decision
Define Basis for Using Force(PDF, 119KB) Recommendation 27(PDF, 117KB)
 Approved
Revive Use of Force Terms(PDF, 105KB) Recommendation 24 & 14(PDF, 98KB)
 Approved
Authorized Face, Neck and Head Strikes(PDF, 107KB) Recommendation 23(PDF, 90KB)
 Approved
Define Limited Strikes and Strikes(PDF, 222KB) Recommendation 25(PDF, 109KB)
 Approved

January 29, 2020

Recommendation Guidance Decision
Consolidate Use of Force Policies(PDF, 253KB) Recommendation 11(PDF, 130KB) Approved
Duty to Intervene(PDF, 183KB) Recommendation 17 & 19(PDF, 212KB) Approved with Update
Sanctity of Life(PDF, 132KB) Recommendation 18(PDF, 113KB) Approved with Update
Use of Force Report Findings(PDF, 153KB) Recommendation 41(PDF, 154KB) Approved

February 12, 2020

Recommendation Guidance Decision
Professional Standards to Provide Findings(PDF, 94KB) Recommendation 12(PDF, 99KB)
 Approved
Replace Suppression Fire with Directed Fire(PDF, 122KB) Recommendation 44 & 31(PDF, 146KB)
 Approved
Reportable Use of Force(PDF, 186KB) Recommendation 9(PDF, 137KB)
 Approved
Policy & Procedure Access to Public on Website(PDF, 409KB) Recommendation 61(PDF, 609KB) Approved 
Authorization to Use Firearm to Stop Fleeing Felon(PDF, 126KB) Recommendation 30(PDF, 134KB) Approved 

February 26, 2020

Recommendation Guidance Decision
Disciplinary History Retention Period(PDF, 112KB) Recommendation 10 & 53(PDF, 119KB) Approved with Update
Consider Past Disciplinary History(PDF, 94KB) Recommendation 13(PDF, 106KB) Approved 
Allow Feedback During Policy Creation(PDF, 129KB) Recommendation 59(PDF, 119KB) Approved with Update

March 11, 2020

Recommendation Guidance Decision
Commending De-escalation Techniques(PDF, 177KB) Recommendation 65(PDF, 280KB) Approved
Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT)(PDF, 117KB) Recommendation 43(PDF, 70KB) Approved
Squad Assignment Bidding Process(PDF, 125KB) Recommendation 64(PDF, 88KB) Approved
Supervisor Accountability for Directed Training(PDF, 98KB) Recommendation 47 & 57(PDF, 108KB) Approved 

April 30, 2020

Recommendation Guidance Decision
Instructor Evaluation(PDF, 99KB) Recommendation 55(PDF, 98KB) Approved
Complaints Given a Formal Investigation(PDF, 137KB) Recommendation 51(PDF, 138KB) Approved
Complaints Are Not Discouraged(PDF, 83KB) Recommendation 52(PDF, 85KB) Approved
Website is Consistent and Accurate(PDF, 95KB) Recommendation 50(PDF, 97KB) Approved

Community Review Sessions

The Community Review Sessions hosted by this project, provided a forum during which members of the community were able to discuss and learn about updates to the use of force policies based on recommendations by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). The format for these sessions was an open forum whereby each of the recommendations, their corresponding policy and final decisions reached by the leadership team, were displayed on poster boards around the room. Community members were invited to view the posters, educate themselves about these updates and ask questions of the evaluators, all members of the Department, who were on hand to support the sessions.

"On behalf of the Mesa Police Department I want to thank all community members who attended our Use of Force Best Practices Community Review Sessions. The Mesa Police Department truly appreciates your participation and the feedback you provided on the industry best practices, use of force recommendations, showcased during these sessions." -- Assistant Chief Lee Rankin

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