Formal Complaint: Insubordination, Obedience to Orders, De-Escalation of Potential Force Encounters

The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. NOTICE OF FORMAL COMPLAINT breath, and that she needed to go back inside of her home to work. She protested repeatedly the pain in the shoulder from the use of force and the continuous injury to her sprained left wrist from the handcuffs, all of which were part of the assault on her person leaving bruises all over both arms. Additionally, the officers caused scrapes and cuts to her elbows, knees and ankles from the pavement and from being barefoot throughout the entire incident. also has a bruised and sore right knee from it apparently being wrenched while being manhandled. The bruises from the officers’ handprint were all over her. Despite absolutely no crime or real emergency, none of this stopped the APD, including the mental health unit, from their use of force. hurt no one, committed no crime and ended up bruised and traumatized from a police assault that put her against her will in a hospital ER during the Austin Covid-19 pandemic. Please investigate this incident for the police assault and abusive m of police authority that it was.” This notice of form l pl q f Internal Affairs to initiate vestigation in order to determine if the employee con hin compliance of APD policy, Civil Service Rules, and Municipal Civil Service Rul Recommended Administrative Policies to Review (to include but not limited to): 110.4.4 INSUBORDINATION Employees will not be insubordinate. The willful disobedience of, or deliberate refusal to obey any lawful order of a supervisor is insubordination. Defying the authority of any supervisor by obvious disrespect, arrogant or disrespectful conduct, ridicule, or challenge to orders issued is considered insubo n whether done in or out of the supervisor's presence. 110.4.3 OBEDIENCE TO ORDERS The Department is an organization with a clearly defined hierarchy of authority. This is necessary because obedience of a superior's lawful command is essential for the safe and prompt performance of law enforcement operations. This section also applies to orders received by an employee in the field training program from a Field Training Officer (FTO). 200.2 DE-ESCALATION OF POTENTIAL FORCE ENCOUNTERS When safe and reasonable under the totality of circumstances, officers shall use de-escalation techniques to reduce the likelihood for force and increase the likelihood of voluntary compliance. Nothing in this de-escalation policy requires an officer to place themselves in harm’s way to attempt to de-escalate a situation. Recognizing that circumstances may rapidly change, officers may need to abandon de-escalation efforts after they have commenced. Understanding that no policy can realistically predict every situation an officer might encounter, the Department recognizes that each officer must be entrusted with well-reasoned discretion in determining the reasonable deescalation techniques to use in a situation. This de-escalation policy is intended to complement, not replace or supersede, other portions of the APD Policy Manual or specific officer training that addresses de-escalation. The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. NOTICE OF FORMAL COMPLAINT 200.2.1 ASSESSMENT AND DE-ESCALATION As officers arrive on the scene, observe conditions, and interact with the persons there, they should continue to gather additional relevant information and facts. These assessments, along with reasonable inferences help to develop an understanding of the totality of the circumstances of the incident. 200.3 RESPONSE TO RESISTANCE While the type and extent of force may vary, it is the policy of this department that officers use only that amount of objectively reasonable force which appears necessary under the circumstances to successfully accomplish the legitimate law enforcement purpose in accordance with this order. 301.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE All persons deserve protection by fair and impartial law enforcement and should be able to expect similar police response to their behavior wherever it occurs. Employees will serve the public through direction, counseling, assistance, and protection of life and property. Employees will be held accountable for the manner in which they exercise the authority of their office or position. Employees will re he r h f d d l and perform their services h honesty, sincerity, courage, and sound judgment. 301.2 IMPARTIAL ATTITUDE AND COURTESY Employees are expected to act professionally, treat all persons fairly and equally, and perform all duties impartially, objectively, and equitably without regard to personal feelings, animosities, friendships, finan tatus, sex, creed, color, race, religion, age, political beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression or social or ethnic background. 303.3.1 WHEN DEPARTMENT ISSUED BWC SYSTEM USE IS REQUIRED This section is not intended to describe every possible situation where the system may be used. In some circumstances it may not be possible to capture images of an incident due to conditions or location of the camera, however the audio portion can be valuable evidence and is subject to the same activation requirements. The BWC should only be d for law enforcement purposes. 321.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE Department values mandate that persons taken into custody will not be abused, and the individual rights of prisoners must be protected at all times. Until arrested persons are accepted at the booking facility, their care and custody shall be the responsibility of the arresting/transporting officers. 445.4.2 PEACE OFFICER EMERGENCY DETENTION (a) The authority to apprehend a person by using the Peace Officer's Emergency Detention (POED) is granted under the Tex. Health and Safety Code § 573.001. This type of custody is protective rather than criminal in nature and does not constitute an arrest. A POED may be used when: 1. The officer has reason to believe, and does believe, that the person is mentally ill; and 2. Because of that mental illness there is a substantial risk of serious harm to the person or to others unless the person is immediately restrained; and 3. The officer believes that there is not sufficient time to obtain a warrant before taking the person into custody. The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. NOTICE OF FORMAL COMPLAINT 900.3.4 PERSONAL CONDUCT (c) While on-duty or on the premises of City facilities, employees will not: 1. Use loud, indecent, profane, harsh, derogatory language, or use belittling term in any communications. Recommended Classification: The OPO is permitted to make a preliminary recommendation on the classification of administrative cases. The OPO recommends that this allegation receive an A classification.