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Policy: Use Of Force (Reporting & Review)
Author: Chief Joseph M. Hallman
WILEAG Standard: 5.1.3, 5.1.4, 5.1.5, 5.3.1, 5.3.2, 5.3.4
Issue Date: June 1, 2021
Reviewed Date: April 14, 2026
Revised Date: April 14, 2026
Purpose:
This policy will provide officers and supervisors with guidelines for reporting uses of force. Please reference the “Use of Force” policy for guidelines related to the use of force.
Policy:
It is the policy of the department that any use of force, as specified in this policy, will be promptly reported. (5.3.1)
Definitions:
N/A
Procedures:
- Officer Reporting Requirements
- Officers will prepare a written report anytime force is applied by use of a lethal or less lethal weapon, or when weaponless physical force is applied at the following levels (5.3.1.3) (5.3.1.4):
- Use a Control Alternative (compliance holds, O.C., Taser, passive countermeasures) other than an escort hold.
- Use a Protective Alternative (active countermeasures, incapacitating techniques, baton, less lethal impact munitions).
- Use Deadly Force.
- Discharge a firearm, intentionally or accidentally, while engaging is subject control, except during training. (5.3.1.1)
- Point a firearm at another person.
Witness any of the above types of force being used against another person. In addition, officers will write a report anytime their actions result in, or are alleged to have resulted in, injury or death of another person. (5.3.1.2)
- Officer Reporting Responsibilities
- Any time an officer uses a level of force as listed above and has stabilized the incident, the officer will:
- Immediately notify his/her supervisor that he/she has used a level of force against a person.
- Explain the details of what occurred to his/her supervisor.
- Officers shall prepare a report using the DESCRIBE, IDENTIFY and FORCED ACTIONS model in accordance with the Law Enforcement Standards Board.
- DESCRIBE: the physical and environmental factors that you observed. Use plain English or layman's terms.
- IDENTIFY: Explain what your trained observations told you. Use DAAT terminology, i.e. early warning signs, pre-attack postures etc.
- FORCED ACTIONS: Explain what your trained observations forced you to do. What trained technique or dynamic application you used.
- The report shall describe the actions of the person that necessitated the use of force, the reasons why the officer used force, the level of resistance encountered, as well as any complaints of injury, medical treatment received, or refusal of medical treatment. The written report for a use of force incident that involves no injuries or minor injuries will be completed before the end of the officer’s shift.
- All reports prepared and submitted by an Officer regarding the use of force required by this section will be reviewed by the Chief or his/her designee once the report is complete or as soon as possible thereafter. This will serve as an administrative and legal review of Officer actions. (5.3.2)
- Not be required to write a report immediately if the force used resulted in great bodily harm or death. Instead, the officer(s) will be treated as victims, and allowed at least 2 sleep cycles before being required to complete their written report.
- Whenever possible, officers that use force against another person should not be required to transport that person to either the hospital or jail. Uninvolved officers should conduct any transports. The officer(s) that used force will inform the transporting officers of any injuries and/or medical treatment rendered or still needed.
- If multiple officers are involved, the primary officer will initiate the case # and all other officers will provide supplements to that incident report.
- Supervisors
- Whenever a supervisor learns that an officer has used any of the above‐listed levels of force, the supervisor will ensure all of the following criteria are met either by responding to the scene or consulting with a supervisor from an outside agency if the incident occurred outside of UW-Platteville jurisdiction.
- Assist to stabilize the scene and ensure that medical treatment is being provided to any injured subjects.
- In the event an officer’s application of force results in great bodily harm or death to another person, the supervisor will gather a verbal report from all involved officers.
- The supervisor should take steps to ensure that all parties’ (officers, bystanders and suspects) medical needs are being addressed. The supervisor should also consider the fact that an officer’s use of force can be extremely stressful. The supervisor should offer and/or arrange any needed support for the officers involved.
- Ensure that the scene of the incident is properly documented (photographed, measured, reconstructed, etc.).
- Notify the Police Chief, if not already involved, as soon as possible if the force used resulted in the serious injury or death of another person.
- In the event an officer’s application of force results in great bodily harm or death to another person, the supervisor will follow the policy “Officer Involved Critical Incident”. Ensure that a copy of his/her report is routed to the Police Chief and Use of Force Review Board for review (see policy “Officer Involved Critical Incident” for board membership and responsibilities).
- Removal from duty
- Any officer that uses a level of force that results in great bodily harm or death to another person will be placed on Administrative Leave per policy “Officer Involved Critical Incidents”.
- Duty to Intervene (Wis. Stat. §175.44(4)) (5.1.4)
- UWPPD officers shall, without regard for chain of command, intervene to prevent or stop another law enforcement officer from using force that does not comply with the standards under Wis. Stat §174.44(2)(b) or (c) in the course of his or her official duties, while on-duty, provided that it is safe to do so.
- UWPPD officers, who are off-duty, will carefully weigh personal safety factors in making the decision on whether to intervene in preventing and/or stopping noncompliant use of force, defined in Wis. Stat §174.44(2)(b) or (c),
- Safety issues to consider:
- Are weapons involved
- Jurisdiction/location of incident
- Is the UWPPD officer identifiable as a law enforcement officer (in uniform, wearing clothing that ID’s as law enforcement, off-duty badge and ID card present)
- Will intervention most likely cause the situation to escalate?
- An Officer who intervenes will report the intervention to his/her immediate supervisor as soon as is practicable after the occurrence of the use of force. (5.1.4)
- Duty to Report Noncompliant Use Of Force. (Wis. Stat. §175.44(3)) (5.1.3)
- UWPPD officers who, in the course of his or her law enforcement duties, witness another officer use force that does not comply with Use of Force standards Wis. Stat. §175.44(2)(b) shall report the noncompliant use of force as soon as practicable.
- UWPPD officers shall notify the Chief of Police or his/her designee, by telephone, as soon as it is safe to do so.
- UWPPD officers shall complete a written report using the UWPPD records management system. This report will be separate from any incident report or law enforcement assist report and will be filed under the category “Use of Force” and Description “Non-compliance”.
- This written report should include, at a minimum: A detailed description of the officer’s observations regarding the events leading up to and including the noncompliant use of force. Officers should provide specific detail as to what observations led him/her to make the determination that the use of force was noncompliant.
- Whistleblower Protections (Wis. Stat. §175.44(5)) (5.1.5)
- Per this statute, no law enforcement officer may be discharged, disciplined, demoted, or denied promotion, transfer, or reassignment, or otherwise discriminated against in regard to employment, or threatened with any such treatment, for reporting and/or intervening under Wis. Stat. §175.44 (3) or (4).
- Per the 1983 Wisconsin Act 409, all employees of the University of Wisconsin-System are provided procedures and protections who may wish to disclose information about a violation of any state or federal law, rule or regulation; mismanagement or abuse of authority in state and local government; a substantial waste of public funds; or a danger to public health and safety. The Act prohibits any retaliatory disciplinary action against an employee who discloses information regarding improper activities in state governmental units including the University of Wisconsin System, and outlines the procedures the employee must follow to obtain protection against employer retaliation.
- Bureau of Justice Information and Analysis (BJJA) Reporting (5.3.4)
- Use of Force incidents shall be reported to the Bureau of Justice Information and Analysis (BJIA) as required under the Use of Force and Arrest‐Related Death Reporting Manual (UFAD). The report shall be made using TraCS. Reportable incidents are Use‐of Force incidents that meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Officer Use‐of‐Force that results in the death of a person
- Officer Use‐of‐Force that results in the serious injury (great bodily harm) of a person
- Use‐of‐Force that results in an officer discharging their firearms at or in the direction of a person.
- Annual Use of Force Analysis (5.3.4)
At least once a year, the Department will review each officer’s uses of force. The aim of this review will be to identify any negative trends that may indicate a problem within the department or an officer’s uses of force. Should a negative trend be identified, the Department may identify additional training or remediation for the department or identified officer.