At the NLCRPD a decision was made by agency leadership and the NLCRPD Police Commission in fiscal 2019 to plan for and achieve an interoperable system of body worn cameras (BWC), mobile vehicle recorders (MVR), and smart weapons systems – a system that when a sidearm or Conductive Energy Device (Taser) (CED) is removed from the holster all nearby recording systems activate to provide integrated meta data on a secure data/records management system. The NLCRPD has met this milestone and captures integrated data to provide for a platform of total accountability, review, and evaluation on use of force applications and assessment of new training methods.

In concert with data, literature, best practice, and agency policy review and applied training and constant supervisory review of BWC and other footage the NLCRPD is confident we meet and surpass public expectations for accountability. The NLCRPD is reposting these policy or written directives for ease of review in a single location for public understanding. As always rhey reside on the agency webpage for recall upon demand.

As a result of recent media inquiries and the debate over the public posting of use of force policies the NLCRPD is providing several written directives or policy frameworks for public review. In earlier posts on NLCRPD.org the NLCRPD team indicated that there would be a release of our agency use of force policy. It is attached to this release and is posted as well in the policy section of NLCRPD.org as well as other written directives.

This policy incorporates a broad approach to the assurance of the understanding of the levels or force, the legal basis for the application of force, and the post force application requirements. The policy was reviewed again this week and revised to incorporate even stronger requirements for the duty to intervene, with guidance on the basis and expectations for intervention. Intervention is the policy element that provides individual officers the ability to communicate the need to stop the application of force since the lawful objectives have been met.
The NLCRPD team not only has many of the policy and practices in the news headlines of the day already in place. We are trained and accredited and have proofs of our efforts, our policy initiatives, and the expectations and outcomes of our professional organization.
Many times, in the world of policing there are no bright lines. No clearly defined boundary that is not subject to later debate. The formation of encompassing and clear policy directives provides NLCRPD agency members a framework for problem solving and decision making.
The NLCRPD written directive or field manual incorporates a series of policy frameworks for the Use of force as found in this attachment and the authorized weapons attachment. There are also stand-alone directives on de-escalation, CED applications, and other areas of import with policy guidance already posted on the agency webpage. Those items posted on this release are intended to provide an overview of the decision-making process associated with the lawful application of force to meet legal objectives.

Bias Based Policing: Also known as "racial profiling or bias based profiling," is any traffic stop, field contact, vehicle search, asset seizure/forfeiture, or enforcement action based solely on a common trait of a group. Common traits include, but are not limited to, race, ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, religion, economic status, age, or cultural group. It must be made clear that under no circumstances will bias based policing be condoned.

CED – Conductive energy device “Taser” - This is the written directive that governs the use of a device to subdue persons who are non-compliant with police requests.

De-Escalation Policy – This is the written directive that provides officers with guidance on methods to calm situations and achieve voluntary compliance or a lower level of force application when necessary.

BWC / MVR Written directives.

To accomplish this objective the NLCRPD collects, reviews and publishes this data for public inspection on NLCRPD.org