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.
II. POLICY:
A. As law enforcement professionals
sworn to protect life and property, to prevent crime and apprehend offenders,
police officers must be constantly aware of the sanctity of human life. In
addition to state law and these Department guidelines, all officers must be
ever aware of the moral implications of the use of deadly force and constantly
consider these implications.
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.
III. PROCEDURES:
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)
