GENERAL ORDERS LINCOLN POLICE DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: GENERAL OPERATIONS
TITLE: CONTROL DEVICES
EFFECTIVE DATE: AUGUST 1, 2025
REVISION DATE:
ACCREDITATION: ALABAMA ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE (AACOP)
APPROVAL: CHIEF SCOTT BONNER
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CONTROL DEVICES
303.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This policy provides guidelines for the use and maintenance of control devices that are described in this policy.
303.2 POLICY
In order to control individuals who are violent or who demonstrate the intent to be violent, the Lincoln Police Department authorizes officers to use control devices in accordance with the guidelines in this policy and the Use of Force Policy. The Chief of Police may also authorize other positions or individual department members to use specific control devices.
303.3 ISSUING, CARRYING AND USING CONTROL DEVICES
Control devices described in this policy may be carried and used by members of this department only if the device has been issued by the Department or approved by the Chief of Police or the authorized designee.
Only those members who have successfully completed department-approved training on this policy and the use of any control device are authorized to carry and use the device.
Control devices may be used when a decision has been made to control, restrain or arrest a person who is violent or who demonstrates the intent to be violent and the use of the device appears reasonable under the circumstances. When reasonable, a verbal warning and opportunity to comply should precede the use of these devices.
303.4.1 WATCH COMMANDER RESPONSIBILITIES
The Watch Commander may authorize the use of a control device by selected department members who may not currently be issued or carrying the control device or those in specialized assignments who have successfully completed the required training.
303.4.2 FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR RESPONSIBILITIES
The Firearms Instructor shall control the inventory and issuance of all control devices and shall ensure that all damaged, inoperative, outdated or expended control devices or munitions are properly disposed of, repaired or replaced.
Every control device will be periodically inspected by the Firearms Instructor or the designated instructor for a particular control device. The inspection shall be documented.
303.4.3 USER RESPONSIBILITIES
All normal maintenance, charging or cleaning shall remain the responsibility of personnel using the various devices.
Any damaged, inoperative, outdated or expended control devices or munitions, along with documentation explaining the cause of the damage, shall be returned to the Firearms Instructor for disposition. Documentation shall also be forwarded through the chain of command, when appropriate, explaining the cause of damage.
303.5 BATON GUIDELINES
The need to immediately control a suspect must be weighed against the risk of causing serious injury. The head, neck, throat, spine, heart, kidneys and groin should not be intentionally targeted except when the officer reasonably believes the suspect poses an imminent threat of serious bodily injury or death to him/herself or others.
When carrying a baton, uniformed personnel shall carry the baton in its authorized holder on the equipment belt. Plainclothes and non-field personnel may carry the baton as authorized and in accordance with the needs of their assignments or at the direction of their supervisors.
303.6 TEAR GAS GUIDELINES
Tear gas may be used for crowd control, crowd dispersal or against barricaded suspects, based on the circumstances. Only the Watch Commander, Incident Commander or Emergency Services Unit Commander may authorize the delivery and use of tear gas, and only after evaluating all conditions known at the time and determining that such force reasonably appears justified and necessary.
When practicable, fire and emergency medical services personnel should be alerted or summoned to the scene prior to the deployment of tear gas to control any fires and to assist in providing medical aid or gas evacuation, if needed.
303.9 KINETIC ENERGY PROJECTILE GUIDELINES
This department is committed to reducing the potential for violent confrontations. Kinetic energy projectiles, when used properly, are less likely to result in death or serious physical injury and can be used in an attempt to de-escalate a potentially deadly situation.
303.9.1 DEPLOYMENT AND USE
Only department-approved kinetic energy munitions shall be carried and deployed. Approved munitions may be used to compel an individual to cease his/her actions when such munitions present a reasonable option.
Officers are not required or compelled to use approved munitions in lieu of other reasonable tactics if the involved officer determines that deployment of these munitions cannot be done safely. The safety of hostages, innocent persons and officers takes priority over the safety of individuals engaged in criminal or suicidal behavior.
Circumstances appropriate for deployment include, but are not limited to, situations in which:
(a) The suspect is armed with a weapon and the tactical circumstances allow for the safe application of approved munitions.
(b) The suspect has made credible threats to harm him/herself or others.
(c) The suspect is engaged in riotous behavior or is throwing rocks, bottles or other dangerous projectiles at officers, other department members and/or other people.
(d) There is probable cause to believe that the suspect has already committed a crime of violence and is refusing to comply with lawful orders.
303.9.2 DEPLOYMENT CONSIDERATIONS
Before discharging projectiles, the officer should consider such factors as:
(a) Distance and angle to target.
(b) Type of munitions employed.
(c) Type and thickness of subject's clothing.
(d) The subject's proximity to others.
(e) The location of the subject.
(f) Whether the subject's actions dictate the need for an immediate response and the use of control devices appears appropriate.
A verbal warning of the intended use of the device should precede its application unless it would otherwise endanger the safety of officers or when it is not practicable due to the circumstances. The purpose of the warning is to give the individual a reasonable opportunity to voluntarily comply and to warn other officers and individuals that the device is being deployed.
Officers should keep in mind the manufacturer's recommendations and their training regarding effective distances and target areas. However, officers are not restricted solely to use according to manufacturer recommendations. Each situation must be evaluated on the totality of circumstances at the time of deployment.
The need to immediately incapacitate the suspect must be weighed against the risk of causing serious injury or death. The head and neck should not be intentionally targeted, except when the officer reasonably believes the suspect poses an imminent threat of serious bodily injury or death to the officer or others.
303.9.3 SAFETY PROCEDURES
Shotguns specifically designated for use with kinetic energy projectiles will be specially marked in a manner that makes them readily identifiable as such.
Officers will inspect shotguns and projectiles at the beginning of each shift to ensure that the shotguns are in proper working order and the projectiles are of the approved type and appear to be free from defects.
When they are not deployed, shotguns will be unloaded and properly and securely stored in police department vehicles. When deploying a kinetic energy projectile shotgun, officers shall visually inspect the kinetic energy projectiles to ensure that conventional ammunition is not being loaded into the shotgun.
Absent compelling circumstances, officers who must transition from conventional ammunition to kinetic energy projectiles will employ the two-person rule for loading. The two-person rule is a safety measure in which a second officer watches the unloading and loading process to ensure that the weapon is completely emptied of conventional ammunition.
303.10 TRAINING FOR CONTROL DEVICES
The Training Coordinator shall ensure that those members who are authorized to carry a control device have been properly trained and certified to carry the specific control device and are retrained or recertified as necessary.
(a) Proficiency training shall be monitored and documented by a certified control-device weapons or tactics instructor.
(b) All training and proficiency for control devices will be documented in the member’s training file.
(c) Members who fail to demonstrate proficiency with the control device or knowledge of the Use of Force Policy will be provided remedial training. If a member cannot demonstrate proficiency with a control device or knowledge of the Use of Force Policy after remedial training, the member will be restricted from carrying the control device and may be subject to discipline.
303.11 REPORTING USE OF CONTROL DEVICES
Any application of a control device shall be documented in the related incident report and reported pursuant to the Use of Force Policy.
These policies and operating procedures are not designed to cover every possible scenario or situation in society, but rather to define standard operating procedures for members of the Lincoln Police Department. These guidelines are subject to past, present and future judicial review. These guidelines can be amended and or repealed by the Chief of Police as necessary. The policies and procedures herein provided supersede all previous policies and orders.
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