outline_30995
Less Lethal Weapons Course
Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety 4081
CCN: | POST certification II | Reimbursement Plan NA | 4 hours
Revised Date: 6/16/21
LESS LETHAL WEAPONS COURSE OUTLINE
Course Goal:
To provide students with the information and hands-on experience needed to
effectively use the Projectile Impact Weapons (Less Lethal). Peace officers are met with
circumstances where they must use force to subdue combative or resistive persons.
This course will cover options available in such situations to include Projectile Impact
Weapons as a less lethal option.
Course Objectives:
The student will understand:
1. Safety while utilizing the weapon systems
2. Manipulation of weapon systems
3. Nomenclature associated to each weapon system utilized
4. Deployments
5. Case law
6. 835a – AB392/SB230
7. Department Policy
8. Officer Safety
9. Use of Force and Force Options
10. Documentation and required First Aid
11. Proficiency with weapon systems
Expanded Course Outline
I. Introduction
1. Welcome
2. Registration
3. Overview
II. Use of Force
1. Force Options
a. Professional Presence
b. Words/Voice
c. Physical Control
d. Electronic Devices
e. Impact
f. Less Than Lethal
g. Deadly Force
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Less Lethal Weapons Course
Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety 4081
CCN: | POST certification II | Reimbursement Plan NA | 4 hours
Revised Date: 6/16/21
h. Non-lethal not avail or appropriate based on circumstance
i. Duty Manual
III. Law
1. Federal Law
a. Title 18, USC Sec 242 and 1983 (Civil Rights)
2. State
a. PC 835, Method of making arrests, amount of restraint
b. PC 835a, Use of reasonable force to effect arrest, prevent
escape or overcome resistance
c. 835a(a)(2) – “Shall use other available resources and techniques
if reasonably safe and feasible…”
d. Discuss how agency policy has changed relative to AB 392.
e. Discuss how agency policy has changed relative to SB 230.
f. Discuss Department’s tactical conduct or de-escalation policy
g. PC 843, Arrest under warrant; force permissible, what force may
be used
3. Case law
a. Deorle v. Rutherford – Officers duty to warn, if possible, prior to
force application
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b. Quezada v. County of Bernalillo 944F.2d710 (10 Cir. 1991) – Officer
may be held liable for putting him or herself in a situation which
required deadly force against an armed suicidal citizen
ndth
c. O’Kneal v. De Kalk County, Georgia (850 F.2 653 11 Cir. 1998) –
Failing to pursue less lethal options and failing to train and equip
officers in the use of “alternative, less drastic measures”
th
d. Plakas v. Drinkski 19F .ed 1143 (7 Cir. 1994) – “There is no
constitutional duty to use non-deadly alternatives first”
e. Langford v. Gates – Documented training
f. Whitley v. Warden – Use of force documentation
g. Graham v. Conner – Reasonable force
h. Forrester v. San Diego – Level of force used
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Less Lethal Weapons Course
Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety 4081
CCN: | POST certification II | Reimbursement Plan NA | 4 hours
Revised Date: 6/16/21
4. Agency Policy
a. Overview of RPDPS Less Lethal policy
i. Less Lethal Policy defined
ii. Definition of less lethal munitions
iii. Less lethal vs. Less than lethal
iv. Prioritization of human life
v. Application
vi. Documentation
vii. Notifications
b. Force Options
i. Uniform presence
ii. Verbal
iii. De-escalation
iv. Chemical agents
v. Hands/Control holds
vi. Impact weapons
vii. Electronic disruption weapons
viii. Less lethal
ix. Lethal
IV Tactical Overview
1. Students will understand:
a. Awareness
b. Familiarization with equipment
c. Less lethal weapon launchers
i. 12 gauge bean bag rounds
ii. 40mm launcher
d. Accuracy (target acquisition)
e. Approved target areas
f. Avenue of escape/surroundings
g. Movement
h. Cover
i. Concealment
j. Distance (tactical advantage and weapon capabilities)
k. Communications
i. With subject
ii. With fellow officers
iii. With dispatch
l. Kinetic energy
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Less Lethal Weapons Course
Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety 4081
CCN: | POST certification II | Reimbursement Plan NA | 4 hours
Revised Date: 6/16/21
m. Blunt force trauma
n. Deployment statistics
o. Fatality statistics
p. Medical treatment and First Aid following use of force
V. Range Safety
1. Four Range Safety Rules:
a. Treat all weapons as if they are loaded
b. Never point a weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot
c. Keep your finger off the trigger until up on target and ready to shoot
d. Always be aware of your target and backstop
VI. Learning Activities (at a RPDPS approved range)
1. Instructors will demonstrate and students will manipulate:
a. 12 gauge bean bag shotgun
i. Familiarization with the 12 gauge bean bag round
ii. Knowledge of authorized target areas
iii. Discriminatory fire
2. 40 MM launcher
a. Familiarization with the 40 MM sponge round
b. Knowledge of authorized target areas
c. Discriminatory fire
VII Weapon System Qualification (at a RPDPS approved range)
1. 12 gauge bean bag round
a. Each student will fire 5 bean bag rounds from a 12 gauge
Bean Bag shotgun at 20 yards. The students will be required
to strike only authorized target zones on the individual
targets.
2. 40 MM sponge round
a. Each student will fire 3 40 MM sponge rounds from a 40 MM
launcher at 20 yards. The students will be required to strike only
authorized target zones on the individual targets.
VII Evaluation
1. Students will be assessed on use of weapons in practical scenarios.
2. Students will have an opportunity to remediate until instructor
determines acceptable skills are achieved.
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