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incidents, which are often unpredictable and dynamic. The inconsistencies and discrepancies <br />within continuum models also create risks by mandating that officers use a level of force <br />that may be far greater or far less than what is reasonable in a given situation. A use of force <br />continuum is not a panacea for guiding officers through actual force situations and fails to take <br />into account, as the Supreme Court has noted, that the use of force occurs in "tense, uncertain, <br />and rapidly evolving" situations. Neither case law nor state legislation requires the adoption of use <br />of force continuums within policy. Accordingly, Lexipol's Use of Force Policy does not include a <br />continuum, instead following precedent set by the Supreme Court in Graham v. Connor that force <br />must be "objectively reasonable." <br />Comprehensive Reporting <br />Transparency and accountability are critical to ethical policing. Without these two factors, the <br />public rightfully becomes mistrustful of and cynical toward the law enforcement profession. <br />Comprehensive reporting of police use of force, including threats to use force, is a key component <br />of transparency and accountability, which is why police reform advocates have made reporting a <br />focus of their efforts. <br />Lexipol policy requires documenting any use of force, as well as additional related situations that <br />may not constitute an actual use of force, in a written report. These situations include when a <br />person is restrained and released without an arrest, deployment of a pepper projectile system <br />(whether or not the launcher was used), any application of a control device, any discharge of a <br />Conducted Energy Device (including pointing the device at a person, laser activation and arcing <br />the device), and pointing of a firearm. Lexipol policy also requires notification of a supervisor <br />in many circumstances in which force is used or threatened. These policies not only prescribe <br />comprehensive reporting of individual use of force events, but also provide the basis for the <br />agency to track uses of force, identify force and resistance trends, monitor individual officer <br />trends, develop responsive training programs, adjust deployment strategies in response to data, <br />and share data with their community in an effort to remain transparent. <br />Use of Force Trend Analysis <br />Law enforcement uses of force are routinely analyzed at the incident level. But evaluation of <br />trends in use of force within an agency is also important. Such analysis is critical to ensure <br />transparency, accountability, and, when necessary, remediation through training or other actions. <br />It is up to individual law enforcement agencies to enshrine collection and analysis expectations <br />in policy. Lexipol provides agencies with guidance to do just that. Lexipol's Use of Force Policy <br />directs the division commander to prepare an annual analysis on use of force incidents. Several <br />related policies also outline data collection and analysis requirements. The stated goal is to <br />determine whether various uses of force were proper and effective and whether improvements <br />could be made. This policy guidance supports agency efforts to understand use of force trends <br />and improve the law enforcement profession. <br />