The Hartford Police Department Firearms Guidelines, Order # 1-20, was signed by Chief of Police Bernard Sullivan in 1988 and is listed here in its entirety.  

I.  PURPOSE:

To establish the limits within which the use of firearms by members of the Hartford Police Department is permitted and to outline certain situations in which the use of firearms is never permitted. The guidelines listed below have been developed not to restrict officers from properly performing their duty, but rather to make it incumbent upon them to use good judgment before using their firearms. These guidelines have been prepared to reduce firearm discharge incidents and consequently protect life and property.

B.  The Firearms Discharge Review Board shall have a continuing duty to monitor the operation of this Order and to implement such changes from time to time as may be necessary.

C.  In all cases where an officer’s action is determined to be a violation of this Order but not a violation of state law, this distinction shall be made clear in all public discussion of such incidents and in any disciplinary action which may result.

      1.  Any officer found to have acted in violation of this Order shall be subject to internal disciplinary action up to and including dismissal, in addition to any criminal liabilities which such officer may incur.

A.  The use of firearms by sworn personnel is permitted only in those cases where all other means of controlling the situation or apprehending a dangerous person are insufficient and:

    1. The officer reasonably believes such use of firearms is necessary to defend the officer or another person, from the use or imminent use of such force as can be reasonably expected to cause death or serious physical injury, or;

    2. To effect the arrest or prevent the escape from custody of a person the officer reasonably believes has committed or attempted to commit a felony which involved the infliction of serious physical injury or death, provided the officer has identified him/herself by voice when possible, and has given warning to the fleeing suspect of his/her intent to use deadly physical force, or;

    3. To put to death an animal which presents an immediate serious physical threat to the officer or a third party, or one that is so badly injured that humaneness demands its immediate removal from further suffering.

    a) Every effort should be made to obtain assistance from the Dog Warden or Connecticut Humane Society to remove an animal that is badly injured and only when such assistance is not available should firearms be used to remove it from further suffering.

B. The use of firearms is prohibited:

    1. Under circumstances where the lives of innocent persons could be endangered by such use of a firearm.

    2. Against any individual the officer knows or reasonably believes to be under 16 years of age except to defend the officer or a third person from the use or imminent use of deadly physical force.

    3. To fire from or at a moving vehicle unless the occupants of the other vehicle are using deadly physical force against the officer or another person.

    4. To fire warning shots or sound a call for assistance.

REFERENCE: CT General Statutes 53a-3, 53a-18-23; U.S. Supreme Court decision, Tennessee vs. Garner, 471 u.s. 85 L. Ed. 2d 1 (1985)