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E.P.P. 002 LONGWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT ENFORCEMENT POLICY & PROCEDURE NUMBER: EPP – 2 SUBJECT: WEAPONS POLICY EFFECTIVE: DECEMBER 13, 2001 REVISED: SEPTEMBER 1, 2025 ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE WEAPONS POLICY EPP – 2 Page 1 of 21 I. PURPOSE: The purpose of this policy and procedure is to establish criteria for the issuance, carrying, use and care of lethal, less-lethal, and non-lethal weapons by police officers. II. SCOPE: Only that degree of force necessary to accomplish lawful objectives, and not to use of force against any person except when necessary, is authorized for purposes of self- defense, in defense of another, to overcome physical resistance to arrest, or to prevent the escape of an arrested person. III. GENERAL: Lethal, less-lethal, and non-lethal weapons will be issued to an officer only after he/she has demonstrated proficiency in the use of agency-authorized weapons, and has met any additional training requirements for carrying such weapons, and only after said weapons meet the approval specifications as defined by this directive. All lethal weapons will be thoroughly inspected and approved prior to issuance by the department’s armorer, or designated training officer if the weapon is a non-lethal weapon. Only firearms and ammunition meeting agency approval are permitted for use in the performance of duty. IV. SECURITY OF WEAPONS: A. All weapons, to include ammunition and knives, will be removed from the officer’s physical possession and secured prior to entering the controlled interior of: 1. The John E. Polk Correctional Facility or other jailing facility; 2. Holding cell areas of the Seminole County Courthouse; or, ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE WEAPONS POLICY EPP – 2 Page 2 of 21 3. Holding cells at the Juvenile Assessment Center. B. Weapons may be secured in any one or combination of the following: 1. Within secured lockers that may be provided at a secure facility. 2. Within the vehicle’s trunk or rear cargo area equipped with a department approved gun locker securely mounted to the vehicle. 3. Within a lockable gun rack or box that is affixed to the vehicle. 4. At no time should a weapon or anything that could become a weapon be stored within the prisoner compartment of a patrol vehicle to prevent inadvertent access to an unauthorized person. C. All firearms will be removed from the occupant compartments of police department vehicles when the employee is off-duty and not operating the vehicle unless the weapons are secured in a locked trunk or rear cargo area equipped with a department approved gun locker securely mounted to the vehicle. D. When a vehicle is to be left at a repair facility for maintenance, unattended by the employee who has custody, all weapons will be removed by the employee. E. Officers will safely secure all police department weapons both on duty and off duty to prevent access by unauthorized persons, and in compliance with all applicable state laws. Gun trigger locks will be provided to officers by the Longwood Police Department upon request. V. AUTHORITY TO CARRY WEAPONS: Police officers of the Longwood Police Department are authorized to wear and carry weapons approved by the chief, subject to the following rules, regulations, and limitations: A. Full-time police officers are authorized to wear and carry firearms approved by the chief while on or off duty in accordance with Chapters 790.051 and 790.052, Florida State Statutes. Full-time officers are not authorized to carry less-lethal weapons off duty except as permitted by sections of XV and XVI of this policy. B. Reserve police officers are authorized to wear and carry firearms approved by the chief while on duty. Written permission from the chief of police is required to carry a firearm off duty. Reserve officers are not authorized to carry less- ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE WEAPONS POLICY EPP – 2 Page 3 of 21 lethal weapons off duty except as permitted by sections of XV and XVI of this policy. C. Civilian employees are not authorized to wear or carry any firearms or less- lethal weapons while serving the police department in a paid or volunteer role. VI. TRAINING & QUALIFICATION: A. The training coordinator will schedule no less than one mandatory firearms qualification session for officers each year. Each officer will be required to successfully complete an agency approved qualification course for each department issued firearm. Officers will also be required to complete an agency approved qualification course for any off-duty or back-up firearm annually. Additional firearm training sessions may be scheduled at the discretion of the chief. Officers will be graded on a pass/fail basis. B. The training will be in accordance with the training specifications as defined by the Enforcement Policy & Procedure ‘Response to Resistance.’ C. In the event of any negligent or unintentional discharge of a firearm, an involved officer will be re-certified (re-qualified) by an F.D.L.E. certified firearms instructor prior to returning to duty. D. The Longwood Police Department recognizes that shooting is a perishable skillset and provides regular firearms training to all officers. However, it also authorizes and encourages officers to practice and train off duty with the following provisions: 1. All issued firearms are authorized for use in recreational target shooting, training courses or competitive shooting. They are not authorized for hunting. 2. With the exception of your issued handgun(s), no other weapons are allowed out of the State of Florida without prior authorization from the police chief. VII. RECORDS OF WEAPONS: A. The police department armorer shall maintain a record of all issued and approved for carry firearms. All relevant firearm information necessary for inclusion in agency training files will be provided to the agencies training coordinator as requested. B. All issued firearm serial numbers shall be verified during annual firearms qualifications. ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE WEAPONS POLICY EPP – 2 Page 4 of 21 C. The police department armorer shall also maintain any and all applicable ATF forms necessary for the acquisition, possession and disposition of all National Firearms Act (NFA) regulated devices owned and issued by the department. VIII. DISARMAMENT: Officers should not become disarmed in a hostile environment. A. The danger to the officer is not necessarily reduced by surrendering his/her weapon to the demands of an armed suspect. B. Surrendering a weapon may mean giving away an officer’s only chance for survival. Every tactical tool available should be used to avoid surrendering a weapon. IX. AUTHORIZED FIREARMS & ACCESSORIES: A. Ammunition: 1. Only ammunition issued or approved by the Longwood Police Department is authorized for use in firearms issued or approved for use by the chief. 2. The following ammunition is approved for use in police department issued firearms: a) Factory produced 9 mm, .40 caliber or .45 acp (1) Only Hollow Point (HP), Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP) or equivalent ammunition is authorized for use on duty. (2) During training, ammunition such as Full Metal Jacket (FMJ), Total Metal Jacket (TMJ), Frangible or other ammunition approved for use by the chief may be used. b) Factory produced 12 Gauge 2 ¾ inch or 3 inch shells 00 Buck; c) Factory produced 12 Gauge 2 ¾ inch or 3 inch shells rifled slug; d) Factory produced CTS 12 Gauge Super Sock less-lethal munitions; e) Factory produced .223 caliber or 5.56 mm ammunition; ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE WEAPONS POLICY EPP – 2 Page 5 of 21 3. Ammunition for authorized off-duty or secondary firearms will be a minimum .22 caliber and must be factory produced HP or JHP. 4. Steel cased ammunition is prohibited from use in all agency weapons. B. Shotguns: 1. Shotguns of a semi-auto or pump action design with a barrel length of 18 inches or 20 inches, and chambered for 12 gauge ammunition which are issued by the armory of this department. 2. Accessories purchased by individual officers may be added to shotguns issued by the department with written approval from the chief. The accessory must not interfere with any safety mechanisms or require permanent modification to the firearm. The accessory must be from a reputable manufacturer and installed by a Department Armorer. If it affects the sighting system, the weapon must be zeroed and the officer must qualify with the accessory installed on the shotgun prior to it being returned to service. 3. Deployment: a) Shotguns are to be carried in the ‘cruiser ready’ position: no ammunition is to be loaded into the chamber; the action will be closed; the safety will be on and issued duty ammunition will be loaded in the magazine. b) A round may be chambered upon exiting the vehicle with the safety in the ‘on’ position. In the case of less-lethal dedicated shotguns, officers will visually inspect the round prior to chambering to ensure the presence of less-lethal ammunition only. c) When deployed outside the vehicle, the shotgun shall be carried in the ‘low ready’ position. The safety will be in the ‘on’ position at all times and fingers kept outside of the trigger guard until the shotgun is to be intentionally discharged. C. Handgun (Agency Issued): 1. The Longwood Police Department will issue handguns approved by the chief of police to all officers. a) Officers in specialty units may additionally be issued a smaller secondary handgun. These issued secondary handguns may be ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE WEAPONS POLICY EPP – 2 Page 6 of 21 carried in lieu of their primary handgun when in plain clothes, as a secondary / back up to their primary or fully concealed when required operationally. They must always have access to their issued primary handgun when on duty. 2. The handguns outlined above will be inspected, approved, and issued by the police department armorer at the direction of the chief of police. They are authorized for off-duty carrying in accordance with Florida State Statutes and section V. of this policy. 3. Issued handguns may be equipped with a Pistol Mounted Optic (PMO) on the slide of the gun in addition to backup iron sights. The following provisions shall apply to such weapons: a) The PMO shall never be tampered with or removed from the weapon, except by a certified armorer or approved gunsmith. (1) Should the officer notice that the PMO is loose, malfunctioning, out of zero or otherwise damaged, they shall immediately notify their chain of command so that repairs can be made by a certified armorer. (2) Should a malfunction with the PMO be found, the firearm may remain in service with use of backup iron sights until the first opportunity of inspection and repair by a certified armorer. The exception being if the PMO is not properly secured to the weapon in which it should be immediately taken out of service for repair or an alternative weapon issued while repairs take place. b) The PMO will be the primary sighting system of the weapon if equipped and zeroed at 15 yards. The zero shall not be altered or adjusted by the officer once the weapon is issued by the armorer. (1) Certified armorers or firearms instructors are authorized to confirm and/or adjust the zero of PMO’s. c) The officer will use due care to prevent damage to the PMO in accordance with training they received when issued the firearm. 4. Accessories purchased by individual officers may be added to handguns issued by the department with the written approval of chief and must be installed by a Department Armorer. ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE WEAPONS POLICY EPP – 2 Page 7 of 21 D. Handgun (Personally owned and off-duty use): 1. Only semi-automatic handguns meeting all of the following criteria will be considered for authorized off-duty use: a) Double action only or double action first round, single action second round (DA/SA); Striker fired with proper drop safeties; single action only with an external manual safety. b) Any gun capable of single action firing must have either a de- cocking mechanism or an external safety. c) Must have a firing pin block mechanism and proper drop safeties. d) Must not have changes or modifications to the trigger or safety mechanisms from factory configuration. e) Be of 9mm, .40 caliber, or .45 caliber for use as a primary weapon in place of their issued firearm for uniformed duty; f) Be of .380, 9mm, .40 caliber, or .45 caliber for plainclothes use in place of their issued firearm. (additional caliber approval at the discretion of the chief of police will depend upon the requirement of the situation) g) Handguns with factory PMO attachment points are approved under this provision and authorized to have a PMO attached. 2. Revolvers can be carried as off-duty weapons if they are an approved caliber, have a firing pin block mechanism and are not single action only. E. Secondary Handgun: 1. Secondary handguns are small, easily concealed handguns that are carried in addition to any on-duty or off-duty handgun. 2. Secondary handguns may be carried with the understanding that the handgun is to be used only in cases of a loss of the primary firearm, complete malfunction of the primary firearm, or complete expenditure of carried ammunition for the primary firearm. 3. Secondary handguns must be concealable. 4. Secondary handguns shall be carried on an officer’s person, completely and safely concealed to prevent loss or accidental discharge. ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE WEAPONS POLICY EPP – 2 Page 8 of 21 F. Approval to carry 1. An officer desiring to carry a personally owned handgun on duty, off duty, or carry a secondary firearm must: a) Apply in writing to the chief of police for approval; b) Have the department armorer inspect and approve the handgun intended to be carried; c) Successfully complete the CJSTC approved course of fire with the approved firearm. Said qualification must be instructed by an F.D.L.E. certified firearms instructor approved by the chief of police. d) Receive approval from the chief of police. 2. A copy of the chief’s written approval for an officer to carry a personally owned handgun will be retained by the officer and the department armorer. When an approved firearm is sold or disposed of by the officer, the officer will submit a written statement of disposal or sale to the department armorer. G. Rifles: 1. AR-15 rifles may be issued to personnel at the direction of the chief of police. Accessories for such weapons are dependent upon their designed use and shall be used with the weapon only with the written approval of the chief. 2. All rifles authorized will be zeroed at 50 yards with exception for special circumstances such as use for SWAT Team and with written approval from the chief of police. 3. All rifles equipped with an optic shall comply with the following provisions: a) The red dot shall never be tampered with or removed from the weapon, except by a certified armorer or approved gunsmith. b) Should the officer notice that the optic is loose, malfunctioning, out of zero or otherwise damaged, they shall immediately notify their chain of command so that repairs can be made by a certified armorer. ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE WEAPONS POLICY EPP – 2 Page 9 of 21 c) Should a malfunction with the optic be found, the firearm may remain in service with use of backup iron sights until the first opportunity of inspection and repair by a certified armorer. The exception being if the optic is not properly secured to the weapon in which it should be immediately taken out of service for repair or an alternative weapon issued while repairs take place. d) All rifles with an optic attached shall have a set of backup iron sights also affixed to the weapon. e) In the event the optic becomes loose or requires a repair, the rifle will be taken to the range to confirm the zero before being placed back into service. 4. Deployment: a) Rifles shall be carried and deployed in the same manner as shotguns. This means a fully loaded magazine seated, bolt forward with an empty chamber and the safety on. b) Only officers who have satisfactorily completed an approved course of instruction and qualified with a rifle may deploy a rifle while on duty. c) Issued rifles are only authorized for on-duty use. G. Holsters: 1. All issued and personally owned on-duty and off-duty handguns must be carried in a holster, pouch or gun case. 2. Only those holsters which incorporate a minimum of one security feature including a design which covers the handguns trigger guard or hammer are authorized for use while off-duty. 3. Only those holsters issued with minimum of level 3 retention features are authorized for use for primary handguns by officers while on-duty in uniform or working in an extra-duty capacity. 4. Only those holsters with a minimum of 2 retention features are authorized for officers working in a plain clothes capacity. They must have at least one active retention system that requires a deliberate act by the officer to release the safety such as a hood, thumb break, strap ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE WEAPONS POLICY EPP – 2 Page 10 of 21 with snap, trigger guard or ejection port lock or other similar system that does not rely solely on friction for retention. X. FIREARM MAINTENANCE: A. All firearms shall be kept clean, lubricated as recommended by the manufacturer, and in proper working order. B. Beyond what is necessary to field strip a firearm for cleaning and maintenance, only the armorer, or a civilian gunsmith approved by the armorer, may disassemble an issued or approved firearm. C. No modification or alteration to any issued or approved firearm or ammunition will be made without prior consent and approval from a department armorer and the chief. D. The date and description of all repairs, modifications, or alterations of issued or approved firearms and ammunition shall be recorded in the respective firearm record maintained by the armorer. XI. INSPECTION: A. Supervisors will conduct periodic visual inspections of all issued or approved weapons, as defined in the general order titled ‘Quality Assurance.’ Less-lethal weapons will be inspected, at a minimum, annually to ensure expiration dates are not exceeded. B. Officers should conduct a visual inspection of their optic at least once per tour to ensure that it is properly secured to the weapon and turns on. C. Weapons instructors will inspect all issued or approved weapons and will verify firearm serial numbers during weapons qualifications. Inspection and training records and scores will be copied by the range master in charge of a qualification session and submitted to the training coordinator for inclusion in department training records. D. Any weapon determined to be unsafe during an inspection conducted by a supervisor, weapons instructor, armorer, or the officer to whom it is issued shall be immediately removed from service for repair or disposal. 1. If the weapon is a firearm, the armorer shall be contacted as soon as practicable by the officer in regard to scheduling a date and time for official inspection, repair, or replacement. ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE WEAPONS POLICY EPP – 2 Page 11 of 21 2. If the weapon is a non-lethal weapon, a designated weapons instructor shall be contacted as soon as practicable by the officer to schedule a date and time for official inspection, repair or replacement. 3. The weapon removed from service will be replaced with a similar weapon with which the officer may be required to be re-certified or re- trained prior to resuming official duties in which the weapon is required. 4. Only issued or approved weapons will be replaced by the armorer (or designated training officer if the weapon is a non-lethal weapon.) XII. NON-UNIFORM OFFICERS: A. All non-uniformed officers, unless specially authorized by a supervisor for a specific duty assignment, should carry firearms concealed from public view; in accordance with General Order 16. B. A non-uniformed officer is any officer whose job description does not require a police uniform to be worn in the execution of their primary police duties. This includes any officer who is on duty not wearing a uniform and is performing a police function. 1. All department issued firearms and other authorized issued non-lethal weapons are to be carried concealed by non-uniformed officers, unless authorized by a supervisor for a specific duty assignment. 2. The weapons will be carried in a method which conceals the weapon from public view. It includes but is not limited to ankle holsters, belt holsters, and shoulder holsters concealed by clothing. 3. Practical concealment methods should be employed without sacrificing safety and the ease of the availability to the weapons. 4. Personnel will be in possession of appropriate department issued identification while carrying a firearm on or off duty, as a Longwood police officer. 5. Firearm concealment efforts will be designated to prevent accidental loss and discharge. XIII. AUTHORIZED LESS-LETHAL WEAPONS A. Chemical Spray – Oleoresin Capsicum and CS solution ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE WEAPONS POLICY EPP – 2 Page 12 of 21 B. Expandable Baton C. Taser Conducted Energy Weapon (on-duty use only) D. Less-Lethal 12 Gauge Impact Munitions (on-duty use only) XIV. LESS-LETHAL WEAPON REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS A. Less-lethal weapons will be tested and evaluated by personnel who have completed an agency approved instructor level course in the use of the weapon being evaluated. B. The written results of the instructor’s evaluation will be submitted to the chief of police. C. The chief of police may use the instructor’s evaluation of the weapon to approve its use, may order further testing, or may disapprove the use of the less-lethal weapon. XV. CHEMICAL AGENT SPRAY: A. Chemical Agent Spray: A 2 ounce individual aerosol canister which contains an agent designed to temporarily incapacitate a resistant subject. Aerko model Freeze +P, with a 0.01% oleoresin capsicum +.01%CS solution, is the less-lethal chemical agent authorized for use by the department. They shall be issued, carried and deployed only by officers trained in their use. B. Methods of Use: 1. The use of a chemical spray should supplement, rather than replace, other tactics and control techniques. 2. The use of a chemical spray is authorized after verbal dialogue has failed and the only other alternative would be to take physical control of a resistant suspect into custody. The use of chemical spray is a level # 3 response, which is utilized to control a subject exhibiting a level # 3 or greater resistance. Department issued chemical agent sprays shall be carried and deployed in a manner consistent with agency approved training. C. Confronting Persons Armed with Chemical Spray: In the event a suspect or other person confronts an officer with any such weapon, officers should be aware, that within range, any chemical spray ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE WEAPONS POLICY EPP – 2 Page 13 of 21 discharge can be immediately disabling with potentially disastrous consequences. D. Off-Duty Use of Chemical Agent Spray: Officers are permitted to carry department issued chemical agent spray while off duty. The spray must be used in compliance with department policy. XVI. EXPANDABLE/RETRACTABLE BATON (A.S.P.): A. Armament Systems and Procedures (A.S.P.): Model F21 is the less-lethal expandable baton purchased and issued by the police department. B. Authorization: Only those expandable batons issued by the police department are authorized for use. It shall be issued, worn, and used only by those officers trained in its use. C. Methods of Use: The expandable baton serves as an intermediate weapon when empty-handed control becomes ineffective, and the situation does not merit deadly force. This is a level # 5 response utilized to control a subject exhibiting a level #5 resistance. Department issued expandable batons shall be carried and deployed in a manner consistent with agency approved training. D. Upon routine inspection, if the baton is discovered damaged, the weapon will be turned in to the employee’s supervisor with an explanatory report requesting replacement or repair. E. Officers are permitted to carry a department issued expandable baton while off duty. The baton must be used in compliance with department policy. XVII. TASER (CONDUCTED ENERGY WEAPON): A. The Taser International 10 Taser: is a defensive weapon approved by the department. It transmits electrical impulses that affect the sensory and motor functions of the central nervous system. B. Authorization: Only Tasers issued by the police department are authorized for use. The Taser shall be issued, worn, and used only by those officers who have completed a ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE WEAPONS POLICY EPP – 2 Page 14 of 21 department approved user certification course. Issued Tasers are only authorized for on-duty use. C. Methods of Use: An issued Taser may be used when level # 4 or higher resistance is encountered. The Taser may be used to control a dangerous or violent suspect and a suspect who, through actions, demonstrates he or she is resisting, opposing, or attempting to flee from an officer who is making a lawful arrest or detention. Department issued Tasers shall be carried and deployed in a manner consistent with agency approved training. D. Medical Considerations: 1. Following deployment, the officer should remove the probes at the earliest opportunity. The probes should only be removed by officers who have completed agency approved training in the use of the Taser, fire rescue, or trained medical personnel. 2. Taser probes that have penetrated a person’s body shall be considered a bio-hazard and shall be handled in accordance with G.O. 22. Employees removing or handling Taser probes shall use medical gloves. 3. The officer shall visually examine the area struck by the probes to determine if an injury was sustained. If an injury is sustained, fire rescue personnel will be summoned to the scene to examine the subject. 4. Taser probes that have struck the face, neck, groin, or a female’s breasts shall be removed by fire rescue or medical personnel. 5. Photographs will be taken of the Taser probe entry site prior to, and after probe removal. All related injuries will be photographed. The photograph(s) will be submitted with the officer’s Response to Resistance Review. 6. Probe strikes in sensitive areas, such as the groin or breasts, shall be photographed by an officer of the same sex as the subject. These photographs will be taken in an area out of public view. E. Training: 1. Officers must complete a new user certification course. 2. Officers must complete a refresher course each year. ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE WEAPONS POLICY EPP – 2 Page 15 of 21 F. Taser Maintenance: 1. A Taser 10 function test should be completed at the beginning of each shift. Do not pull the trigger during a function test as it will deploy a cartridge. Move the selector switch down and hold until a blue circle completes on the CID. Side rails should illuminate blue. Move the selector switch up to the ARMED position. Check the CID display for any notifications. A green check mark and yellow cartridge icons. If a red "X" is flashing, please turn in for repair. 2. Keep the Taser secured in a protective holster. G. Cartridge Management Following Deployment: 1. Following the deployment of a Taser cartridge, the cartridge, wires and probes will be placed into evidence utilizing a sharps container. They shall be packaged in the same manner as a syringe with a needle, (E.P.P 11, VII B.) The container will be sealed with tape and clearly marked with the words “Caution, Taser Probe”. This procedure will not apply to authorized training deployments. 2. Taser probes that have penetrated a person’s body shall be considered a bio-hazard and shall be handled in accordance with G.O. 22. Employees removing or handling Taser probes shall use medical gloves. XVIII. LESS-LETHAL IMPACT WEAPONS AND MUNITIONS: This section addresses the use of extended range less-lethal weapons and projectiles. The Longwood Police Department administration recognizes combative, non-compliant, armed, and/or violent subjects cause handling and control problems requiring special training and equipment. Thus, the Longwood Police Department has adopted the less lethal force philosophy to assist in the de-escalation of these potentially violent confrontations. A. Definitions: 1. Less-lethal Force Philosophy: A concept of planning and force application, which meets operational objectives, with less potential for causing death or serious injury than conventional methods. 2. Kinetic Energy Impact Projectiles: Flexible or non-flexible projectiles, which are intended to incapacitate a subject with a minimal potential for causing death or serious physical injury, when compared to conventional projectiles. ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE WEAPONS POLICY EPP – 2 Page 16 of 21 3. Safety Priorities: The Longwood Police Department’s safety priorities are established as follows: a) Hostages b) Involved non-subject civilians c) Police officers d) Subject – The person who is the focus of the police operation B. Authorization: Only those less-lethal weapons and ammunitions issued by the police department are authorized for use. Issued less-lethal weapons and munitions are only authorized for on-duty use. C. Munitions: 1. Less-lethal Extended Range Impact Munitions: There are many projectiles considered ‘less-lethal.’ The primary type used by the Longwood Police Department is a flexible projectile. 2. Technical Aspects – Kinetic Energy Impact Projectiles 3. Flexible 12 gauge drag stabilized rounds: a) The authorized 12 gauge less-lethal rounds are manufactured by Combined Tactical Systems, Inc. and these rounds are referred to as the 2581 CTS 12 gauge Super Sock rounds. b) The standard round has a clear plastic cartridge bearing the words ‘SUPER SOCK’ and the numbers ‘2581’ in bold black print. The round is compatible with cylinder and improved cylinder 12 gauge shotguns chambered for 2.75” and 3” cartridges. The overall height of the round is 2.4”, and its overall weight is 56 grams. The weight of the projectile is 40 grams. c) The standard bag exits the barrel at approximately 280 feet per second and delivers approximately 112ft/lbs. of kinetic energy at that range. ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE WEAPONS POLICY EPP – 2 Page 17 of 21 d) The tear shaped bag projectile is white in color. It is a shot filled ballistic fiber reinforced flexible sock. e) Less-lethal rounds shall only be deployed from designated, properly marked, 12 gauge launching platforms (shotguns). These shotguns are designated by orange stocks and fore grips. 4. Evaluation of Projectiles: Kinetic energy impact projectiles will be evaluated on the following criteria: a) Accuracy: This is the primary consideration, since proper shot placement greatly assists in controlling the other two evaluation criteria. This will be evaluated based on the anticipated ranges of deployment. A minimal standard of accuracy for such rounds is: (1) 12 inch group at 15 yards for the 12 gauge system. (2) This standard is achieved from a secure test. b) Effectiveness: This is the potential of the round to cause incapacitation and reduce the subject’s ability to continue their inappropriate behavior. The level of energy necessary to cause incapacitation creates the potential for injury, but when properly deployed, with a low probability for causing serious physical injury or death. c) Potential for Causing Death or Serious Physical Injury: (1) The potential for causing death or serious physical injury with such projectiles is a reality. This potential is greatly reduced when impacts to the head and neck are avoided, and when appropriate medical examinations are provided in cases where the subject is struck in an area that might conceal a closed injury. These include such areas as the chest, back, thoracic, abdominal cavity and the groin. (2) When engaging a target, the officer should evaluate the effectiveness of each round during the volley. ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE WEAPONS POLICY EPP – 2 Page 18 of 21 Compliance and/or incapacitation are the desired goal, and alternative target areas/response should be considered when rounds are not effective. Alternative target area/response considerations will be based on the circumstances the officer is encountering and the established department safety priorities. D. 12 Gauge Less-Lethal Shotgun Platforms: 1. Dedicated System: a) The issued shotgun being used as a less- lethal platform will be dedicated to less-lethal projectiles only. It is identifiable by the guns synthetic orange stock and for grip. b) Officers assigned will disassemble such weapons, and visually/physically inspect the chamber and magazine, each time the weapons come under their control (beginning of shift, and/or any time the weapon was out of their direct control), to ensure the total absence of lethal ammunition. 2. Transition System: Transitional systems involve the use of both lethal and less-lethal rounds being launched from the same platform. The transitional system is prohibited by the department. Dedicated shotguns, (orange stock and fore grip), should never be loaded with lethal ammunition. E. Deployment Areas: 1. The less-lethal projectiles will be delivered to suspect target areas based on the circumstances, the established safety priorities, and the level of force authorized. 2. The Less-Lethal Munitions Chart (Appx. 1), is the recognized Longwood Police Department model for determining contact areas for kinetic energy impact munitions, based on potential for injury. 3. Green Areas: These areas will be considered when incapacitation is necessary and a minimal potential for injury is the appropriate response. 4. Yellow/Red Areas: These areas will be considered when an escalation of force above green (areas) is necessary and appropriate, acknowledging an increase in the potential for death or serious physical injury. ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE WEAPONS POLICY EPP – 2 Page 19 of 21 5. Head/Neck: Intentional impacts to these areas will be avoided unless the use of deadly force is justified, necessary, and appropriate. F. Response to Resistance Matrix: The Longwood Police Department recognizes six distinct levels of force. The uses of kinetic energy impact projectiles are considered a level five response to resistance when deployed to areas of the suspect’s body that are considered unlikely to cause death or serious physical injury. G. Deployment Issues to Consider: 1. The level of force being confronted 2. The proximity/access of subject to officer 3. The department safety priorities The deployment and use of less-lethal munitions are actions that could assist in achieving the goal of protection of life and/or the restoration of order. They should be considered whenever there use could reduce the risk of injury to officers, innocent citizens, and/or suspects. Circumstances justifying the uses of these munitions include, but are not limited to: a) The suspect to be arrested has the immediate ability to cause great bodily harm or death. b) Situations wherein the authorizing person believes deadly force would otherwise be justified in the absence of a less-lethal option, (i.e. in the face of imminent death or great bodily harm to self or others.) c) Subduing vicious animals that could cause great bodily harm or endanger the lives of officers involved. d) A suspect makes overt, hostile, attacking movements with or without a weapon which may cause injury to the officer or others. NOTE: In an attempt to avoid occurrences of sympathetic fire, officers will announce their intention to deploy less-lethal rounds. The announcement will occur prior to deployment and include repeating the words ‘less-lethal’ in a loud voice. ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE WEAPONS POLICY EPP – 2 Page 20 of 21 NOTE: Lethal cover should be used in all cases involving any armed and/or dangerous subjects, even if no firearms are involved. This is consistent with the safety priority safety system placing the safety of the officer above that of the subject. The second or subsequent officers arriving at the scene would then provide the less-lethal option. NOTE: There is no requirement to use less intrusive force, (less-lethal), when deadly force is required for protection. H. Training: All 12 gauge shotgun delivery systems equipped with less-lethal munitions will be maintained and deployed only by officers who have successfully completed a training and qualification program. Training in the use of extended range kinetic energy impact projectiles will consist of an approved department certification course and annual recertification. I. Medical Considerations: When a suspect is struck by a less-lethal projectile, they shall be transported to a medical facility for examination and medical clearance. J. Reporting: When an officer deploys less-lethal impact munitions on a person, a Response to Resistance Review will be completed. The report should be completed by the end of the officer’s shift and be forwarded to the chief of police by way of the chain of command. Following the deployment, the suspect should be examined for injuries, and the impact area(s) and any injuries will be photographed. The photographs will be submitted with the Response to Resistance Review form. K. Cartridge/Projectile Management Following Deployment: The spent less-lethal projectile(s) and cartridge(s) will be recovered from the scene following deployment. They will be packaged and submitted to the evidence custodian at the Longwood Police Department. This should be documented in the officer’s incident report. L. Notifications: If not present at the scene, the on-duty supervisor will be notified immediately following the deployment of less-lethal munitions. ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE WEAPONS POLICY EPP – 2 Page 21 of 21 Less-Lethal Munitions Chart – Appendix 1 Know yo u r t a r g e t Red Zone Yellow Zone Green Zone Less-Lethal Munitions Chart Taser Target Areas Chart – Appendix 2