Monterey mayor signs pledge to address police use of force policies, police offer explanations of policies

MONTEREY, Calif. (KION) Former President Barack Obama called on mayors around the country to sign a pledge to address police use of force policies in their cities, and Monterey Mayor Clyde Roberson has signed it.

The pledge calls on mayors to review the policies, get a diverse range of input, report findings to the community and reform the policies.

In the pledge, Obama said more than 1,000 people are killed by police every year in the U.S., and black people are three times more likely to be killed than white people.

"We can take steps and make reforms to combat police violence and systematic racism within law enforcement. Together, we can work to redefine public safety so that it recognizes human dignity and dignity of every person," he wrote.

The pledge's website lists eight points surrounding use of force policies, and the Monterey Police Department said it incorporates parts of all of the suggestions and is updating policies. The department shared the eight points and explained how they address the policy considerations.

Failing to require officers to de-escalate situations, where possible, through communication, maintaining distance, slowing things down and otherwise eliminating the need to use force.

The police department said it requires de-escalation in multiple policy locations, and all officers are trained in a de-escalation process created with the Police Executive Research Forum. It is known as Integrating Communication, Assessment and Tactics.

All officers are also trained in crisis intervention and mental health first aid, according to the department. It said it completed the "One Mind Campaign" pledge, which helps make sure interactions between officers and people in crisis are successful.

Prohibiting officers from using maneuvers that cut off oxygen or blood flow, including chokeholds or carotid restraints, which often results in unnecessary death or serious injury.

Monterey police said they are updating policy to ban the use of the carotid control hold or any maneuver that restricts bloodflow to the head or restricts breathing. The department said the chokehold has not been allowed.

Failing to require officers to intervene and stop excessive or unnecessary force used by other officers and report these incidents immediately to a supervisor.

Monterey police said their policy is that officers who see another officer using force beyond what is objectively reasonable need to intercede to prevent unreasonable use of force and report it to a supervisor.

Failing to restrict officers from shooting at moving vehicles, which is regarded as a particularly dangerous and ineffective tactic.

The Monterey Police Department said its policy does not allow officers to shoot at moving vehicles. They are told to move out of the path of an approaching vehicle and only shoot at a moving vehicle or its occupants if there are no other ways to stop the threat of the vehicle or if another deadly force is directed at officers or others.

Failing to limit the types of force and/or weapons that can be used to respond to specific types of resistance and specific characteristics such as age, size or disability.

When using reasonable force, the Monterey Police Department said officers are required to take factors into consideration that include age, size, relative strength, mental state, influence of drugs or alcohol and ability to understand and comply with commands.

Failing to require officers to exhaust all other reasonable means before resorting to deadly force.

Police said officers can use deadly force to protect themselves or others from what they believe is an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury to the officer or someone else. It could also be used to catch someone fleeing for a felony that has threatened or resulted in death or serious bodily injury, but the officer must make efforts to identify themselves as an officer and warn that deadly force may be used.

Deadly force cannot be used against a person based on the danger they pose to themselves.

Police said an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury is when based on the totality of circumstances, a reasonable officer would beilieve the person has the ability, opportunity and apparent intent to immediately cause death or serious bodily injury. The department said subjective fear of future harm is not sufficient.

Failing to require officers to give a verbal warning, when possible, before using serious force such as shooting, tasing or pepper spraying someone.

The Monterey Police Department said officers should give a verbal warning and an opportunity to comply before using controlling devices when reasonable. They also need to give verbal warning before using kinetic projectiles. They need to give a verbal warning before using a taser, unless it would put the officer in danger. When it is feasible and before using force, officers are required to make efforts to identify themselves as an officer and warn that deadly force may be used, unless the officer has reasons to believe the person is already aware of that.

Failing to require officers to report each time they use force or threaten to use force (e.g., pointing a gun at a person).

Whenever force is used by a member of the Monterey Police Department, they are required to report it promptly, completely and accurately. They are also required to document any incident in which an officer points a gun at anyone.

Read the full explanation from the Monterey Police Department below.