5-314.01 USE OF CONDUCTED ENERGY DEVICES (CED) –
POLICY (10/01/10) (07/16/12)
The MPD approved Conducted Energy
Device (CED) (Policy and Procedure Manual, Section 3-200 Equipment) is
considered a less-lethal weapon. The use of CED’s shall be consistent with
current MPD training and MPD policies governing the use of force (Policy and
Procedure Manual, Section 5-300 Use of Force). (07/16/12)
MPD officers are only authorized to
carry CEDs that are issued by the department. Personally owned Tasers, or those
issued by another agency, are not authorized to be carried or utilized while an
MPD officer is acting in their official MPD capacity. (10/07/13)
The use of CED’s shall only be
permitted against subjects under the following circumstances:
1. On
subjects who are exhibiting active aggression, or;
2. For
life saving purposes, or;
3. On
subjects who are exhibiting active resistance in order to gain control of a
subject and if lesser attempts at control have been or would likely be
ineffective.
CED’s shall not be used against
subjects who are demonstrating passive resistance as defined by policy.
(07/16/12)
The preferred method for use of
CED’s is in the probe mode. Use of CED’s in the drive stun mode shall be
limited to defensive applications and/or to gain control of a subject who is
exhibiting active aggression or exhibiting active resistance if lesser attempts
at control have been ineffective.
When using a CED, personnel should
use it for one standard cycle (a standard cycle is five seconds) and pause to
evaluate the situation to determine if subsequent cycles are necessary. If
subsequent cycles are necessary, officers should restrict the number and
duration to only the minimum amount necessary to control and/or place the
subject in custody under the existing circumstances. Personnel should
constantly reassess the need for further activations after each CED cycle and
should consider that exposure to multiple applications of the CED for longer
than 15 second may increase the risk of serious injury or death.
Note: Officers should be
aware that a lack of change in a subject’s behavior often indicates that the
electrical circuit has not been completed or is intermittent. When this is the
case officers should immediately reload and fire another cartridge rather than
administering continued ineffective cycles.
Unless exigent circumstances exist
as defined by policy, no more than one officer should intentionally activate a
CED against a subject at one time.
Officers shall, unless it is not
feasible to do so, give verbal warnings and/or announce their intention to use
a CED prior to actual discharge. Use of the CED’s laser pointer (red dotting)
or arcing of the CED may be effective at diffusing a situation prior to actual
discharge of the CED.
The CED shall be holstered on the
sworn MPD employee’s weak (support) side to avoid the accidental drawing or
firing of their firearm. (SWAT members in tactical gear are exempt from this
holstering requirement.)
Lost, damaged or inoperative CED’s
shall be reported to the CED Coordinator immediately upon the discovery of the
loss, damage or inoperative condition. (07/16/12)
Officers who use their MPD issued
CED device during the scope of off-duty employment within the City shall follow
MPD policy and procedure for reporting the use of force and downloading their
device. (07/16/12)
If officers carry their MPD issued CED during the scope of
off-duty employment outside of the City (e.g. working for another law
enforcement agency) that agency shall sign a waiver (Letter of Agreement for
Off Duty Employment) which indicates that certification through the Minneapolis
Police Department is sufficient for use while working for that agency.
(07/16/12)
Definitions
Refer to the Commonly Used Terms page for general definitions.