DEPARTMENT: Police Department
DEPARTMENT HEAD: William P. McManus, Chief of Police
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT: Briefing on SAPD Use of Force Policy
SUMMARY:
Review of San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) use of force policy and recent updates.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In 2004, the Department added the use of force continuum to its policy which guides officers on the appropriate use of force in response to interactions with the public. The SAPD requires that officers exhibit a sense of prudent judgement in the application of any level of force and officers are required to document any force used in their report. All use of force incidents are reviewed by the chain of command and forwarded to Internal Affairs - complaints are reviewed by the Complaint & Administrative Review Board (CARB).
Over the last several years, the Department has experienced a sustained decrease in use of force reports due in large measure to enhanced training and improved supervisory oversight.
Training
A total of 84 training hours at the Training Academy are devoted to empowering officers with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively communicate and interact with residents. In addition, since 2018, a total of 18 training hours on these topics have been offered through the annual in-service training curriculum. Among the courses offered to officers are: de-escalation, crisis intervention, communications, public interaction and multi-culturalism. The Department is currently reviewing its training and in-service curriculum and anticipates implementing a virtual monthly training program for officers on a variety of topics to include equity and social justice.
Supervisory Oversight
Department policy requires that any officer present and observing another officer using force that is clearly beyond that which is reasonable under the circumstances have a duty to intervene to prevent the use of such excessive force. Officers shall immediat...
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