Use of Force

  1. BRPD publishes annual reports on Use of Force Analysis and IA complaints and BRPD policies online via the BRPD web site www.brpd.com under the "Transparency Tab".
  2. BRPD provides regular use of force training through its Basic Training Academy and regular in-service training, to include de-escalation and scenario based exercises.
  3. While BRPD will continue to proactively evaluate and adjust it’s training, practices, and policies to improve our service to the citizens we serve, the agency has made important changes in the following areas:
    • De-escalation: Officers are required to give a verbal warning, before using deadly force, except where there are exigent circumstances 
    • De-escalation: Officers are required to de-escalate situations, when possible, before using force. De-escalation strategies include disengagement, area containment, waiting out a subject, summoning reinforcements, calling in specialized units, or employing other strategies. 
    • De-escalation training for all officers.  Officers learn the fundamental skills of active listening, empathetic listening, verbal communication, voice control, officer presence, de-escalation tactics, and assessing the situation. 
      • Academy Training Police Academy
      • De-escalation Course – 12 hours
      • Use of Force 
      • Procedural Justice Course
      • Fair and Impartial Policing 

    • Officers will not employ choke holds or strangleholds, except in emergency circumstances where it is immediately necessary to use deadly force and the authorized weapons are inoperable, inaccessible, or otherwise not available. 
      • General Order 131 (Use of Deadly Force)
    • Officers are prohibited from discharging a firearm at a moving vehicle unless the vehicle or the persons within the vehicle pose an immediate deadly threat to others. 
    • Mandatory Intervention: Officers are required to intervene to prevent another officer from using excessive force and to immediately report when they observe the use of excessive force by another officer
    • BRPD K-9 Officers are no longer exempt from the agency’s Body Worn Camera policies, specifically, turning on BWC. BRPD BWC_Policy_Revised10_2019
    • Comprehensive reporting: every time officers use force or threaten force against someone, they are required to report it.
      • General Order 131 (Use of Deadly Force)
    • Require a use-of-force continuum (this limits the weapons or force that can be used depending on the situation)
    • Procedural Justice Training for All Officers (Academy and In-Service). The Procedural Justice tenets of Voice, Fairness, Respect, Trustworthiness, and Transparency are taught to increase officer safety, and officer stress levels leading to fewer complaints, greater community cooperation, and an increase in voluntary compliance.