← Back to Woodburn

Document Woodburn_doc_30b28ee411

Full Text

1 2022 Woodburn Police Department Use of Force & Vehicle Pursuit Report Use of Force A goal of the Woodburn Police Department is to resolve each call for service safely and peacefully. While most police calls for service end with no physical force used, a small number of contacts require physical force to resolve the situation. The Woodburn Police Department’s use of force is guided by department policy, state and federal law, from a reasonable officer’s perspective and based upon the totality of the circumstances at the time the force was used. The Woodburn Police Department has several policies that outline the types of devices and techniques officers can use and the circumstances for use, including: • Use of Force • Control Devices and Techniques • Conducted Energy Device • Firearms • Vehicle Pursuits • Canine Program After each use of force incident, the involved Police Officer(s) are required to document the event in a Use of Force Report. This report is reviewed by department’s supervisory and command staff. At the end of each year, this annual Use of Force and Vehicle Pursuit Report is completed for review by the Chief of Police, Command Staff and survival skills instructor cadre. This report is used to evaluate current trends and techniques in order to address any training, equipment needs, or policy changes. Historical Use of Force Overview The Woodburn Police Department’s three- year trend shows a 39% increase in Use of Force incidents from 2020-2021. From 2021 to 2022, there was a 12% decrease. Chart 1 Chart 1 shows the annual number of use of force incidents for the last three years. 31 43 38 0 10 20 30 40 50 2020 2021 2022 Force Incidents 2020- 2022 Use of Force Incidents by Year ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 Table 1 represents annual data to include the percentage change compared annually over the last three years. Table 1 Table 1 shows the yearly increase or decrease from the previous year. In 2022, the Woodburn Police Department responded to approximately 13,816 calls for service, which was an increase of 603 calls for service as compared to 2021. The number of arrests from 2021 to 2022 decreased by 98. The rate of arrests and use of force incidents was 1 use of force event for every 22 arrests in 2022. *Of note, 2021 call for service and arrest totals have been amended utilizing updated call and arrest criteria search methods. Following are amended arrest totals for 2022 and 2021: 2022 Arrest total: 836 2021 Arrest total: 934 2021 Calls for service total: 13,213 Table 2 Rates of Force Incidents Per Arrest Year # of Arrests # Involving Force Rate 2020 878 31 1 in 28 2021 934 43 1 in 22 2022 836 38 1 in 22 Table 2 shows the rate of arrests made per year and those involving force used. The Woodburn Police Department received four separate complaints surrounding a use of force event in 2022. All complaints were determined to be unfounded after a review of available body camera footage, reports and available witness interviews. Force Data The Woodburn Police Department records certain information from each Use of Force report. Gender, intoxication, suspect injury, officer injury, and the types of force used are captured in the charts and graphs below. Chart 2 Chart 2 compares the number of force events involving females vs. males. As shown in Chart 1, for 2022, Woodburn Officers reported 38 use of force incidents. Each officer is required to report the individual force used even if force is used upon the same suspect by multiple officers. Intoxication levels often times are a key factor when a suspect becomes non- Female Male 0 10 20 30 40 2020 2021 2022 Arrest by Gender Female Male Force Incidents 2020-2022 Year Incidents % + or - 2020 31 -34% 2021 43 +39% 2022 38 -12% ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 compliant, which can result in the need of the officer to utilize force to make an arrest. Table 3 Table 3 represents the number incidents of self- reported use of alcohol and/or drugs by suspects and/or officer observations. Officers must report any use of force situation if the force used, could or would likely cause injury to the suspect. Table 4 shows the type of force used in each incident. The display of an officer’s service weapon and/or Conducted Energy Device (CED) are recorded separately from use of physical force. Table 4 Table 4 represents the type of force used and the number each technique or device used. *Of note CED Displayed is included in 2021 & 2022 reports.* In 2022, our officers used a mechanical restraint system (WRAP) in 1 incident. This device was designed to secure an individual safely for transport to the jail in order to prevent injury to themselves or others, or causing damage to a patrol vehicle. The Woodburn Police Department has a K9 program consisting of two patrol protection/apprehension canines. The K9’s are utilized as force options. The K9 can be deployed two ways. The first is to track and apprehend a fleeing suspect. The second is a show of force to non- compliant suspects. Anytime the K9 Under the Influence Year 2020 2021 2022 Alcohol 7 15 10 Drugs 9 13 6 Alcohol & Drugs 1 11 0 Unknown 3 5 9 Not Under the Influence 11 12 13 Physical Control and Firearm/CED Displayed by Frequency Year 2020 2021 2022 Firearm Displayed 18 11 12 CED Displayed n/a 4 6 Control Hold 5 1 7 Takedown 5 7 4 K9 1 1 0 Focus Blows 2 1 0 CED Use 9 5 4 Wrist Lock 7 2 3 Shoulder Lock 5 3 3 Other 0 20 7 ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 deployment results in the canine biting a subject, the incident is considered a use of force, therefore requiring reporting. Table 5 The Woodburn Police Department utilizes a Conducted Energy Device (CED) as a force option. The CED can be utilized under four options. Two of the options are considered mere presence and the others are considered a physical use of force. The laser of the CED can be activated showing the suspect where the CED darts are targeted. The spark demo is when the dart cartridge is removed and the CED is triggered. The CED’s electrodes arc across metal conductors giving off a spark as a visual demonstration. The probe mode is when the two CED probes are fired from the device at the suspect. The thin insulated wires connected to the CED’s metal probes deliver the electronic stimulant. The drive stun mode is when the CED is pressed upon the subject’s body, sending the electronic stimulant from the CED itself. Table 5 represents three years of K9 deployments, captures, bites and percentage of bites resulting from deployment Table 6 Table 6 represents three years of data on CED use and the percentage of use in force incidents. Injuries reported in Use of Force Incidents Injuries can occur to both officers and suspects during violent encounters. Data shows that officers report fewer injuries than suspects during a use of force incident. The following tables represent the number of officers and suspects injured and the type of injuries sustained. Patrol K9 Team Deployments Year # of Deployments # of Captures # of Deployments resulting in a canine bite % of Deployments resulting in a canine bite 2020 31 11 1 3.2% 2021 27 3 1 3.7% 2022 20 3 0 0% CED Use (Probe or Drive Stun) and Arrests Involving CED’s Year CED Use Arrests % of Arrest & CED’s 2020 9 878 1% 2021 4 934 0.4% 2022 4 836 0.5% ---PAGE BREAK--- 5 Table 7 Table 7 shows the number of officers injured and the type of injuries sustained. Gun Shot injury was in the course of a Marion County SWAT mission. In 2022, 97% of the time Officers used force they did not report injuries. For suspects, 74% of them were uninjured during a use of force incident. Table 8 Table 8 shows the number of suspects and injury sustained. Days and hours of the Week Tables 9 and 10 display the number of incidents regarding the Use of Force during each work shift. Table 9 U of F by Shift Day Shift Night Shift 2022 16 22 Table 10 U of F by day of week Total # for 2022 Monday 5 Tuesday 5 Wednesday 3 Thursday 6 Friday 7 Saturday 5 Sunday 7 Officer Injury by Type Year 2020 2021 2022 No Injury 31 40 38 Cuts/Abrasions 0 2 0 Injured Joint/Torn Ligaments 0 1 0 Gun Shot 0 0 1* Bruise/Swelling 0 0 0 Suspect Injury by Type Year 2020 2021 2022 No Injury 19 27 30 Abrasions 7 2 5 ECD Puncture 5 1 3 Cut/Puncture 0 0 0 Bruise/Swelling 0 1 0 ---PAGE BREAK--- 6 Tables 11 and 12 display the number of incidents regarding pointing a firearm/CED. The Woodburn Police Department operates generally on two shifts. Dayshift hours are 6:00am to 6:00pm. Night shift hours are 6:00pm to 6:00am. This report also displays days of the week when Use of Force incidents occurred. Table 11 Pointing a Firearm/CED Day Shift Night Shift 2022 7 11 Table 12 Pointing a Firearm/CED by day of the week Total # for 2022 Monday 2 Tuesday 2 Wednesday 1 Thursday 3 Friday 6 Saturday 1 Sunday 3 Vehicle Pursuits Table 13 Table 13 shows the number of pursuits each year along with the percentage change. The Woodburn Police Department reports and reviews each vehicle pursuit. Vehicle pursuits are inherently dangerous to the community, the pursuing officer and the pursued suspect. Each vehicle pursuit is unique and poses a wide variety of risks and outcomes. Vehicle pursuits are closely monitored and reviewed to ensure best practices and training are adhered to. The annual report is used by the Chief of Police and Command Staff to evaluate the department’s pursuit training, response, and liability for each vehicle pursuit. Pursuits increased from zero pursuits in 2019 to eight pursuits in 2020, which explains the significant percentage change in 2020. In 2021, the amount of pursuits was the same as 2020 and in 2022 there was 50% decrease in pursuits, with only four initiated pursuits. There has been a growing trend by law enforcement agencies throughout the country in instituting more restrictive pursuit policies. This is due to in part because of Vehicle Pursuits by Year Year # of Pursuits % + or - 2020 8 800% 2021 8 0% 2022 4 -50% ---PAGE BREAK--- 7 case law, litigation, and community expectations regarding use of force and law enforcement vehicle pursuits. One pursuit involved a person felony crimes, two pursuits were initiated due to theft/property crimes and one pursuit was initiated due to a traffic violation. All four pursuits were terminated after additional information was learned that did not justify the continuation of the pursuit or it was determined that the risk of apprehension did not outweigh the danger posed to the public. Chart 3 Additional facts for 2022 vehicle pursuits: • 2 of the 4 pursuits occurred between the hours of 6:00pm and 6:00am. • 2 occurred on Tuesday, 1 on Thursday, and 1 on Sunday. • There were no injuries reported. A concerning factor with pursuits are how they end. Vehicle pursuits may end in either a termination or conclusion. Terminations occur when the pursuing officers stop their attempt to apprehend the suspect. Conclusion is when the suspect vehicle stops and is no longer moving. Any officer or supervisor can make the decision to terminate a vehicle pursuit at any point. Pursuits are terminated for a variety of reasons. Often because the risk of apprehension does not rise to the level of the associated dangers of continuing to pursue. Officer(s) must deactivate all emergency equipment and end their attempt to apprehend the suspect upon termination of a pursuit. The conclusion of a pursuit can also occur when the suspect vehicle stops on its own, stopped by intervention techniques (i.e. stop sticks or pursuit intervention technique), or the suspect vehicle becomes disabled. Chart 4 shows how each of the 2022 pursuits ended. Chart 4 Chart 4 shows how each 2022 pursuits were resolved. 2022 Conclusion All of the Use of Force incidents were determined to be within policy and in compliance of state and federal laws. 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 1 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 20+ 30+ 40+ 50+ 60+ 70+ 80+ 90+ Suspect Vehicle Speeds Top Speed 0 4 0 VEHICLE STOPPED OFC. DISCONTINUED SPIKE STRIPS Vehicle Pursuit Resolution Resolution