SOUTH BEND â Recently proposed changes to the South Bend Police Departmentâs use of force policy include new language surrounding the use of deadly force.
The use of force policy was passed in February. Some Board of Public Safety and community members, however, have pushed for revisions to the policy since its adoption.
Over the past couple months, representatives from the mayorâs office, the police department and the group Faith in Indiana have worked on a series of updates, which were submitted to the Board of Public Safety at last monthâs and Wednesdayâs meetings.
Language surrounding deadly force has been a concern of Faith in Indianaâs throughout the process of implementing the use of force policy. The proposed changes in that section of the policy add, among other things, that deadly force âmay only be used as a last resortâ and when it does not endanger innocent people.
SOUTH BEND â After a debate on whether or not to delay the vote on a new use-of-force policy for South Bend police officers, the Board of Public Safety approved the guidelines Wednesday. Board members labeled the revised policy a positive step forward, while also calling on the mayor to submit additional changes to the board in coming months.
The newly adopted policy will formally ban chokeholds, require officers to avoid deploying force whenever possible by using de-escalation techniques, and require officers to use only the force needed to overcome threats. The policy also requires officers to report instances of excessive force.