COLUMBUS, Ind. — The Columbus Police Department has a new general order requiring law enforcement employees to intervene when they witness another employee enact “unreasonable use of force.”
This change was one of several updates to the police department’s general orders, which were approved Tuesday at a city board of works meeting. The changes to CPD’s general orders came from recommendations by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. The CPD is accredited through CALEA and annually reviews its policies with the organization.
“Employees are required to notify appropriate supervisors … if they observe another agency employee or public safety associate engaged in unreasonable use of force or if they become aware of a violation of department policy, state or federal law or local ordinance. Situations such as unreasonable occasion of force or inappropriate due process procedures may necessitate immediate intervening,” said Chief Michael Richardson, as he presented the general order to the board.
Immediate intervention is now required if an employee witnesses “unreasonable actions” by another employee that could lead to injury, death or “violation of constitutional civil rights,” Richardson said.
Richardson acknowledged that the commission’s recommendations were likely formed in response to recent incidents of police brutality in the United States and public outcry against such actions.
Under this policy, other behavior “unbecoming of employees” should be reported to the appropriate supervisor or authority figure, he said.
For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Republic.
