HomeMy Public PortalAbout8 can't wait Information Item
The Town of Leesburg
Department of Planning and Zoning
To: Planning Commission
From: Susan Berry Hill, Director, Planning and Zoning
Date: September 3, 2020
Subject: Leesburg Police Department 8 Can’t Wait Information
_______________________________________________________________________
Vice Mayor Martinez has requested that the attached information, regarding the Leesburg
Police Department’s compliance with the recommended “8 Can’t Wait” policies to
decrease police violence be shared with all boards and commissions members.
Other resources on this topic include the following:
• Chief Brown’s ‘8 Can’t Wait’ presentation and discussion at the Town Council Work
Session on 7/13/2020: http://leesburgva.granicus.com/player/clip/1510?view_id=2
(Begins at approximately the 3 min mark and ends at approximately the 1 hour 30 min.
mark)
• LPD’s Community Trust through Transparency section of our website:
https://www.leesburgva.gov/departments/police/about-the-lpd
Please reach out to staff with any questions or concerns you may have.
BAN CHOKEHOLDS
#8cANTwAIT
REQUIRE
& STRANGLEHOLDS DE-ESCALATION
REQUIRE
WARNING BEFORE
SHOOTING
EXHAUST ALL
ALTERNATIVES
BEFORE SHOOTING
TOGETHER, THESE 8 POLICIES CAN
DECREASE POLICE VIOLENCE BY 72%.
DUTY TO
INTERVENE
BAN SHOOTING AT
MOVI
IA\
ESTABLISH USE OF REQUIRE ALL FORCE
NUUM BE REPORTED
Leesburg Police Department
is compliant
with #OCANTWAIT
June 10, 2020
Below you will find specific Leesburg Police Department policy and procedure pertaining to
policies recommended by the #8CANTWAIT campaign:
BAN CHOKEHOLDS AND STRANGLEHOLDS:
Leesburg Police Department General Order 104 – Response to Threats/Resistance states:
“The method of placing a knee or any other appendage or object on an individual’s neck, which
could result in asphyxiation is strictly prohibited and is not a sanctioned use of force application
of the Leesburg Police Department; however the only time such a technique could be authorized
is if the situation amounts to a deadly force encounter.”
REQUIRE DE-ESCALATION:
Leesburg Police Department General Order 104 – Response to Threats/Resistance states:
“The Department's guiding value when using force shall be reverence for human life. Every
member of the Leesburg Police Department is committed to upholding the Constitution and
laws of the United States and the Commonwealth of Virginia, and defending the civil rights
and dignity of all individuals, while protecting human life and property and maintaining civil
order. Officers shall attempt to control an incident by using time, distance, communications, and
available resources in an effort to de-escalate the situation, whenever it is safe and reasonable to
do so. When warranted, Department personnel may objectively use reasonable force to carry out
their duties. Officers who use unreasonable force degrade the confidence of the community we
serve, expose the Department and fellow officers to legal and physical hazards, and violate the
rights of individuals upon whom unreasonable force is used. Conversely, officers who fail to use
force when warranted may endanger themselves, the community and fellow officers.”
REQUIRE WARNING BEFORE SHOOTING:
Leesburg Police Department General Order 104 – Response to Threats/Resistance states:
“Deadly force must be used as a last resort, and whenever feasible, the suspect should be given
a verbal warning before deadly force is used.”
EXHAUST ALL OTHER MEANS BEFORE SHOOTING:
Leesburg Police Department General Order 104 – Response to Threats/Resistance states:
“Deadly force may be used by an officer when the officer reasonably believes that their action is
in defense of human life, including the officer’s own life, or in defense of any person in imminent
danger of death or significant bodily harm, and only after all other means have been exhausted
or where lesser applications of verbal or less-lethal force have been or would be ineffective or
inappropriate.”
DUTY TO INTERVENE:
All Leesburg Police officers shall intervene if they witness another officer using excessive
force. This intervention is in line with the ethics training that all of our officers received in the
police academy.
Leesburg Police Department General Order 104 – Response to Threats/Resistance states:
“Officers have an affirmative duty to act if they observe another officer using force that is
clearly beyond that which is objectively reasonable under the circumstances, and shall safely
intercede to prevent the use of excessive force. Officers shall promptly report any such incident
to a supervisor.”
Leesburg Police Department General Order Regulation A-5 – Reporting Violations states:
Any employee who has knowledge of other employees, individually or collectively, who are
knowingly or unintentionally violating any laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations of the
Department, or general orders of the Department, or who disobey orders, shall bring any and all
facts pertaining to the matter to the attention of a superior. The superior contacted shall then
take appropriate action. An employee may directly advise the Chief of Police of the violation(s).
Additionally, all allegations of excessive force are fully investigated by Internal Affairs.
BAN SHOOTING AT MOVING VEHICLES:
Leesburg Police Department General Order 104 – Response to Threats/Resistance states:
“An officer shall not shoot at a moving vehicle unless a person in the vehicle is immediately
threatening the officer or another person with deadly force by means other than the vehicle, or
due to exigent circumstances such as an active violence incident when the vehicle is being used
as a weapon and the officer or other intended targets are not able to move out of the vehicle’s
path and there is imminent threat to the officer, other people, or the community. The moving
vehicle itself shall not presumptively constitute a threat that justifies an officer’s use of deadly
force. An officer threatened by an oncoming vehicle shall whenever possible move out of its path
instead of discharging a firearm at it or any of its occupants.”
REQUIRE USE OF FORCE CONTINUUM:
The Leesburg Police Department’s guiding value when using force shall be reverence for human
life. Every member of the Leesburg Police Department is committed to upholding the
Constitution and laws of the United States and the Commonwealth of Virginia, and defending the
civil rights and dignity of all individuals, while protecting human life and property and
maintaining civil order.
The following are excerpts from Leesburg Police Department General Order 104 – Response to
Threats/Resistance:
“It is the goal of the Leesburg Police Department to accomplish the police mission with the
cooperation of the public as effectively as possible, with minimal reliance upon the use of force.
It is recognized however that some individuals will not comply with the law or submit to control
unless compelled to do so by the use of force; therefore, law enforcement officers are sometimes
called upon to use force in the performance of their duties. It is also recognized that members of
law enforcement derive their authority from the public and therefore must be ever mindful that
they are not only the guardians, but also the servants of the public. The community expects, and
the Leesburg Police Department requires, that officers use only the force necessary to affect
lawful objectives and that such force be objectively reasonable to overcome the threat or
resistance of the subject under the circumstances.
REQUIRE COMPREHENSIVE REPORTING:
Leesburg Police Department General Order 104 – Response to Threats/Resistance states:
“Whenever an officer utilizes physical force, or less-lethal force as defined in this General
Order, it shall be documented in the officer’s case report of investigation. The report shall be
submitted prior to the end of the officer’s shift.”
Additionally, subsequent to ALL incidents resulting in a response to threats/resistance, a
supervisor will evaluate the application, necessity, and reasonableness of the response to
threats/resistance while conducting a thorough and objective review of the incident. RTTR
incidents are documented and reviewed by the members of the Leesburg Police Department’s
leadership and executive teams.
As you can see, the Leesburg Police Department currently has policies in place that address all
elements included in “8 Can’t Wait.” In many cases policy has been expanded and/or enhanced
beyond the recommended language or business practice to ensure professional, positive and safe
police interactions. Each policy is not only drafted from National model policies, but are legally
vetted by our Town Attorney and the Department’s Accreditation Manager, as we are proud to
be an accredited agency.
Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Greg Brown
Chief of Police
Leesburg Police Department
Leesburg Police Department
Chief Gregory C. Brown
#8CantWait
Leesburg Police Department
Policies and Procedures
Source: https://8cantwait.org /
BAN CHOKEHOLDS AND
STRANGLEHOLDS:
Leesburg Police Department General Order 104 –
Response to Threats/Resistance states:
“The method of placing a knee or any other appendage or
object on an individual’s neck,which could result in
asphyxiation is strictly prohibited and is not a sanctioned use
of force application of the Leesburg Police Department;
however the only time such a technique could be authorized
is if the situation amounts to a deadly force encounter.”
REQUIRE DE-ESCALATION:
Leesburg Police Department General Order 104 –Response to
Threats/Resistance states:
“The Department's guiding value when using force shall be reverence for human
life.Every member of the Leesburg Police Department is committed to upholding
the Constitution and laws of the United States and the Commonwealth of
Virginia,and defending the civil rights and dignity of all individuals,while
protecting human life and property and maintaining civil order.Officers shall
attempt to control an incident by using time,distance,communications,and
available resources in an effort to de-escalate the situation,whenever it is safe
and reasonable to do so.When warranted,Department personnel may objectively
use reasonable force to carry out their duties.Officers who use unreasonable
force degrade the confidence of the community we serve,expose the Department
and fellow officers to legal and physical hazards,and violate the rights of
individuals upon whom unreasonable force is used.Conversely,officers who fail to
use force when warranted may endanger themselves,the community and fellow
officers.”
REQUIRE WARNING BEFORE
SHOOTING:
Leesburg Police Department General Order 104
Response to Threats/Resistance states:
“Deadly force must be used as a last resort,and whenever
feasible,the suspect should be given a verbal warning before
deadly force is used.”
EXHAUST ALL OTHER MEANS BEFORE
SHOOTING:
Leesburg Police Department General Order 104 –Response to
Threats/Resistance states:
“Deadly force may be used by an officer when the officer reasonably
believes that their action is in defense of human life,including the
officer’s own life,or in defense of any person in imminent danger of death
or significant bodily harm,and only after all other means have been
exhausted or where lesser applications of verbal or less-lethal force have
been or would be ineffective or inappropriate.”
DUTY TO INTERVENE:
All Leesburg Police officers shall intervene if they witness another officer using
excessive force.This intervention is in line with the ethics training that all of our
officers received in the police academy.
Leesburg Police Department General Order Regulation A-5 –Reporting
Violations states:
“Any employee who has knowledge of other employees,individually or
collectively,who are knowingly or unintentionally violating any laws,statutes,
ordinances,rules,regulations of the Department,or general orders of the
Department,or who disobey orders,shall bring any and all facts pertaining to
the matter to the attention of a superior.The superior contacted shall then
take appropriate action.An employee may directly advise the Chief of Police
of the violation(s).”
Additionally,all allegations of excessive force are fully investigated by Internal
Affairs.
DUTY TO INTERVENE:
Recently,Leesburg Police Department General Order 104 –Response to
Threats/Resistance was further enhanced to include the following language:
“It is the policy of the Leesburg Police Department that any member present (both sworn
and non-sworn)and observing another member involved in an incident or situation where
physical force is being applied shall act to either stop,or attempt to stop,another member
when force is being inappropriately applied or is no longer required.Members shall
promptly report these observations to a supervisor.The Leesburg Police Department is
committed to protecting reporting members who act on their duty to intervene to prevent or
minimize misconduct by another department member.”
Officer(s)shall take the following action:
a.If aid is required by any individual,ensure that medical attention has been rendered.
b.Take a preventive approach,whenever possible,if observing behavior that suggests
that another member is about to conduct unethical or inappropriate behavior.
c.Examine the circumstances surrounding the incident to determine the appropriate
form of intervention.
d.Intervene verbally or physically,depending on the circumstances.
BAN SHOOTING AT MOVING VEHICLES:
Leesburg Police Department General Order 104 –Response
to Threats/Resistance states:
“An officer shall not shoot at a moving vehicle unless a person in the
vehicle is immediately threatening the officer or another person with
deadly force by means other than the vehicle,or due to exigent
circumstances such as an active violence incident when the vehicle is
being used as a weapon and the officer or other intended targets are not
able to move out of the vehicle’s path and there is imminent threat to the
officer,other people,or the community.The moving vehicle itself shall not
presumptively constitute a threat that justifies an officer’s use of deadly
force.An officer threatened by an oncoming vehicle shall whenever
possible move out of its path instead of discharging a firearm at it or any
of its occupants.”
REQUIRE USE OF FORCE CONTINUUM:
The Leesburg Police Department’s guiding value when using force shall be reverence for human life.
Every member of the Leesburg Police Department is committed to upholding the Constitution and laws
of the United States and the Commonwealth of Virginia, and defending the civil rights and dignity of all
individuals, while protecting human life and property and maintaining civil order.
The following are excerpts from Leesburg Police Department General Order 104 –Response to
Threats/Resistance:
“It is the goal of the Leesburg Police Department to accomplish the police mission with the cooperation of the
public as effectively as possible, with minimal reliance upon the use of force. It is recognized however that some
individuals will not comply with the law or submit to control unless compelled to do so by the use of force;
therefore, law enforcement officers are sometimes called upon to use force in the performance of their duties. It
is also recognized that members of law enforcement derive their authority from the public and therefore must
be ever mindful that they are not only the guardians, but also the servants of the public. The community
expects, and the Leesburg Police Department requires, that officers use only the force necessary to affect lawful
objectives and that such force be objectively reasonable to overcome the threat or resistance of the subject
under the circumstances.
An officer’s commitment to public safety includes the welfare of all members of the public, the officer, and
fellow officers, with an emphasis on respect, professionalism, and the preservation of human life, even when
force is necessary.
Therefore, it is the policy of this Department that personnel will use only that amount of force which is
objectively reasonable, and necessary to overcome the imminent threat or resistance they are facing in
carrying out their desired legal objective.”
REQUIRE COMPREHENSIVE
REPORTING:
Leesburg Police Department General Order 104 –Response to
Threats/Resistance states:
“Whenever an officer utilizes physical force,or less-lethal force as defined
in this General Order,it shall be documented in the officer’s case report of
investigation.The report shall be submitted prior to the end of the
officer’s shift.”
Additionally,subsequent to ALL incidents resulting in a response to
threats/resistance,a supervisor will evaluate the application,necessity,and
reasonableness of the response to threats/resistance while conducting a
thorough and objective review of the incident.Every RTTR incident is
thoroughly documented and reviewed by the members of the Leesburg Police
Department’s leadership and executive teams with a final review conducted
by the Chief of Police.
Questions?
The Leesburg Police Department currently has policies in place that address all
elements included in “8 Can’t Wait.”In many cases policy has been expanded and/or
enhanced beyond the recommended language or business practice to ensure
professional,positive and safe police interactions.Each policy is not only drafted from
nationally recommended law enforcement model policies,but are legally vetted by
our Town Attorney and the Department’s Accreditation Manager,as we are proud to
be an accredited agency.
Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.
Gregory C. Brown Officer Michael Drogin
Chief of Police Public Information Officer
Leesburg Police Department mdrogin@leesburgva.gov
65 Plaza Street, NE 703-771-4538
Leesburg, VA 20176
703-771-4500
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Town of LEESBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT
News Release
For Immediate Release
June 5, 2020
Media Contact:
Officer Michael Drogin, Public Information Officer
Email: mdrogin@leesburgva.gov, 703-771-4538
Leesburg Police Department Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
The death of George Floyd at the hands of those who swore an oath to protect and serve has
understandably sparked outrage throughout the Nation. The lack of compassion and disregard
shown for Mr. Floyd is disturbing and leaves everyone, to include police officers across this nation,
in a state of disbelief and disgust. The death of Mr. Floyd is an unfortunate and painful reminder
to those striving for equity in the administration of justice that we still have more important work
to do.
As a result of incidents of this nature law enforcement policy and procedures have continued to
evolve over the last few decades, and I suspect will continue to do so in light of current
events. During my time in this profession my colleagues and I have worked diligently to identify
how law enforcement can better serve the public and eliminate the occurrence of tragedies such as
these. As progressive law enforcement officials we have partnered with legislators, academia and
private/public entities to develop policies, training and technology designed with a focus on the
preservation of life, increased operational efficiency and to establish accountability and
transparency.
The Leesburg Police Department offers many opportunities for public engagement so the
community we serve can better understanding the dynamics of policing and encourages positive
interactions with our community and embraces the spirit of transparency and accountability. As
such, we believe it is important to share the below information about the Leesburg Police
Department, including answers to frequently asked questions with the public. This information
will additionally be shared on our website
(https://www.leesburgva.gov/government/departments/police-department). It is important to note
that the web version of this document may change over time as new policies are put into place and
existing policies are updated.
The Leesburg Police Department is an accredited agency with the Virginia Law Enforcement
Professional Standards Commission (VLEPSC). We are extremely proud of our Community
Policing style of policing that has helped us to maintain positive relationships with our community
members. All employees of the Leesburg Police Department share in the responsibility of
attaining and maintaining good community relations. The Leesburg Police Department has an
active community policing program which involves the assignment of officers to specific sectors
of the Town. Officers assigned to these sectors are encouraged to meet with residents and business
persons, and to volunteer their time and expertise in addressing concerns and problems. We have
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found this Community Policing model to be a positive and successful method to foster great
relationships with our community. We have additionally taken the liberty to provide a brief, but
comprehensive overview of our policies governing community policing programs, use of force,
and police interactions.
COMMUNITY POLICING INITIATIVES
The Leesburg Police Department is proud to participate in many community events, including but
not limited to, National Night Out, Fiesta Latina (LPD soccer tournament and community event),
meetings with Loudoun NAACP, LCSO Child Safety Day, and as well as a multitude of other
community and school events.
RESPONSE TO THREATS/RESISTANCE (RTTR)
The Department’s guiding value when using force shall be reverence for human life. Every
member of the Leesburg Police Department is committed to upholding the Constitution and laws
of the United States and the Commonwealth of Virginia, and defending the civil rights and dignity
of all individuals, while protecting human life and property and maintaining civil order.
Leesburg Police Department General Order 104 – Response to Threats/Resistance states:
“It is the goal of the Leesburg Police Department to accomplish the police mission with the
cooperation of the public as effectively as possible, with minimal reliance upon the use of force.
It is recognized however that some individuals will not comply with the law or submit to control
unless compelled to do so by the use of force; therefore, law enforcement officers are sometimes
called upon to use force in the performance of their duties. It is also recognized that members of
law enforcement derive their authority from the public and therefore must be ever mindful that
they are not only the guardians, but also the servants of the public. The community expects, and
the Leesburg Police Department requires, that officers use only the force necessary to affect lawful
objectives and that such force be objectively reasonable to overcome the threat or resistance of the
subject under the circumstances.
An officer’s commitment to public safety includes the welfare of all members of the public, the
officer, and fellow officers, with an emphasis on respect, professionalism, and the preservation of
human life, even when force is necessary.
Therefore, it is the policy of this Department that personnel will use only that amount of force
which is objectively reasonable, and necessary to overcome the imminent threat or resistance
they are facing in carrying out their desired legal objective.”
Subsequent to ALL incidents resulting in a response to threats/resistance, a supervisor will
evaluate the application, necessity, and reasonableness of the response to threats/resistance while
conducting a thorough and objective review of the incident. RTTR incidents are documented and
reviewed by the members of the Leesburg Police Department’s leadership and executive teams.
Statistics related to annual RTTR incidents are captured in the Leesburg Police Department’s
Annual Report which is located on our website.
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BODY WORN CAMERAS (BWC)
All Leesburg Police patrol officers are equipped with Body Worn Cameras. Additionally, we are
currently in the installation and implementation phase of our In-Car Camera program for our patrol
fleet.
When reasonable, practical, and safe to do so, officers shall activate their BWC upon arrival at the
scene of a dispatched call for service and/or during enforcement encounters where there is a
reasonable suspicion or probable cause to believe that the subject of the law enforcement encounter
is involved in criminal activity or a violation of law.
Examples of circumstances requiring activation include, but are not limited to:
• a. Traffic and pedestrian stops;
• b. Vehicle and foot pursuits;
• c. Arrests and in-custody transports;
• d. Warrant service or searches;
• e. Response to threats/resistance;
• f. Any other situation where an officer or supervisor determines that the use of the BWC is
appropriate and in accordance with policy.
• Any audio-visual recording will be made with the safety of the officer, the suspect(s), and
any citizen as a primary consideration.
Any audio-visual recording will be made with the safety of the officer, the suspect(s), and any
citizen as a primary consideration.
Frequently Asked Questions:
• Please describe what training Leesburg Police officers receive. Are Leesburg Police
Officers trained to de-escalate encounters by using peaceful conflict resolution strategies?
The Leesburg Police Department believes in the importance of training, education, and support
services for all staff. Subsequent to the completion of the six month Police Academy, officers
receive approximately three months of field training prior to being released on their own to the
Patrol Division.
As a recruit in the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy, our officers receive training in a
multitude of topics through a combination of lecture and practical exercises, to include but not
limited to:
Use of Force: (Total of 116+ hours)
Specific Use of Force – 37+ hours
General Defensive Tactics – 62+ hours
Crowd Control – 8 hours
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Active Shooter – 8 hours
Bias Training: (Total of 21 hours)
Implicit Bias – 4 hours
Fair and Impartial Policing – 4 hours
Community Policing – 8 hours
Critical Incident Tactics (CIT) – 3 hours
Communication-Specific Groups (Total of 9 hours)
Autism Awareness – 2 hours
Communicating with the deaf – 2 hours
Emotionally Disturbed Persons – 4 hours
Handicapped Persons – 1 hour
Interpersonal Communication Training: (Total of 12 hours)
Interpersonal Communication – 5 hours
Active Listening – 1 hour
Ethics and Leadership
Ethics – 4 hours
Leadership – 2 hours
De-escalation is specifically covered during Crisis Intervention Training (CIT), however, de-
escalation and ethics are also woven into the legal topics, practical scenarios, and use of force
training throughout each academy session and In-service training.
Additional training initiatives include:
• Officers and staff are provided with availability to in-service training on a number of topics
to include, but not limited to: Serving a Diverse Society (taught by Leesburg Police
Department Chief Brown to ALL new Police Academy classes), Fair and Impartial
Policing, Implicit Bias & Policing in a Diverse Environment, Unconscious Bias, Cultural
Diversity, Understanding Conflict, Conflict Resolution, and Decision Making.
• All Leesburg Police Department patrol officers and a majority of our staff have received
Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training. This team is designed to protect the safety,
dignity, and rights of persons suffering from mental health issues and protect the
community from potentially dangerous behavior. CIT trained officers have specialized
training in recognizing signs and symptoms of persons experiencing a behavioral crisis
while maintaining officer and public safety.
• Formation of a Peer Support Team which assists members of the department with
connecting to services such as the Employees Assistance Program, Virginia Law
Enforcement Assistance Program, Loudoun First Responders Foundation, Boulder Crest
Retreat, etc.
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• Are Leesburg Police officers forbidden from using carotid restraints (chokeholds,
strangleholds, etc.)?
Leesburg Police Department General Order 104 – Response to Threats/Resistance states:
“The method of placing a knee or any other appendage or object on an individual’s neck, which
could result in asphyxiation is strictly prohibited and is not a sanctioned use of force application
of the Leesburg Police Department; however the only time such a technique could be authorized
is if the situation amounts to a deadly force encounter.”
• Are Leesburg Police officers forbidden from transporting civilians in a face down position
in a vehicle?
Leesburg Police Department General Order 214 – Prisoner Transportation states:
“At no time should a prisoner be restrained and placed on his or her stomach in the police cruiser.
Such practices have been shown to cause “positional asphyxia”, which is death from lack of
oxygen.”
• Are Leesburg Police officers required to intervene if they witness another officer using
excessive force? Will officers be reprimanded if they fail to intervene?
All Leesburg Police officers shall intervene if they witness another officer using excessive
force. This intervention is in line with the ethics training that all of our officers received in the
police academy.
Leesburg Police Department General Order 104 – Response to Threats/Resistance states:
“Officers have an affirmative duty to act if they observe another officer using force that is clearly
beyond that which is objectively reasonable under the circumstances, and shall safely intercede to
prevent the use of excessive force. Officers shall promptly report any such incident to a
supervisor.”
Leesburg Police Department General Order Regulation A-5 – Reporting Violations states:
Any employee who has knowledge of other employees, individually or collectively, who are
knowingly or unintentionally violating any laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations of the
Department, or general orders of the Department, or who disobey orders, shall bring any and all
facts pertaining to the matter to the attention of a superior. The superior contacted shall then take
appropriate action. An employee may directly advise the Chief of Police of the violation(s).
Additionally, all allegations of excessive force are fully investigated by Internal Affairs and
reported to the Chief of Police.
• Are Leesburg Police Officers forbidden from shooting at moving vehicles?
Leesburg Police Department General Order 104 – Response to Threats/Resistance states:
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“An officer shall not shoot at a moving vehicle unless a person in the vehicle is immediately
threatening the officer or another person with deadly force by means other than the vehicle, or due
to exigent circumstances such as an active violence incident when the vehicle is being used as a
weapon and the officer or other intended targets are not able to move out of the vehicle’s path and
there is imminent threat to the officer, other people, or the community. The moving vehicle itself
shall not presumptively constitute a threat that justifies an officer’s use of deadly force. An officer
threatened by an oncoming vehicle shall whenever possible move out of its path instead of
discharging a firearm at it or any of its occupants.”
• Is there a clear and enforced use-of-force continuum that details what force is acceptable
in a wide variety of civilian-police interactions?
The Leesburg Police Department’s guiding value when using force shall be reverence for human
life. Every member of the Leesburg Police Department is committed to upholding the Constitution
and laws of the United States and the Commonwealth of Virginia, and defending the civil rights
and dignity of all individuals, while protecting human life and property and maintaining civil order.
The following are excerpts from Leesburg Police Department General Order 104 – Response to
Threats/Resistance:
“It is the goal of the Leesburg Police Department to accomplish the police mission with the
cooperation of the public as effectively as possible, with minimal reliance upon the use of force.
It is recognized however that some individuals will not comply with the law or submit to control
unless compelled to do so by the use of force; therefore, law enforcement officers are sometimes
called upon to use force in the performance of their duties. It is also recognized that members of
law enforcement derive their authority from the public and therefore must be ever mindful that
they are not only the guardians, but also the servants of the public. The community expects, and
the Leesburg Police Department requires, that officers use only the force necessary to affect lawful
objectives and that such force be objectively reasonable to overcome the threat or resistance of the
subject under the circumstances.
An officer’s commitment to public safety includes the welfare of all members of the public, the
officer, and fellow officers, with an emphasis on respect, professionalism, and the preservation of
human life, even when force is necessary.
Therefore, it is the policy of this Department that personnel will use only that amount of force
which is objectively reasonable, and necessary to overcome the imminent threat or resistance
they are facing in carrying out their desired legal objective.”
• Are Leesburg Police officers required to exhaust every other possible option before using
deadly force?
Leesburg Police Department General Order 104 – Response to Threats/Resistance states:
“Deadly force may be used by an officer when the officer reasonably believes that their action is
in defense of human life, including the officer’s own life, or in defense of any person in imminent
7 of 9
danger of death or significant bodily harm, and only after all other means have been exhausted or
where lesser applications of verbal or less-lethal force have been or would be ineffective or
inappropriate.”
• Are Leesburg Police officers required to give a verbal warning before drawing their weapon
or using deadly force?
Leesburg Police officers are not required to give a verbal warning to civilians before drawing their
weapon.
Leesburg Police Department General Order 104 – Response to Threats/Resistance states:
“Deadly force must be used as a last resort, and whenever feasible, the suspect should be given a
verbal warning before deadly force is used.”
• Are Leesburg Police officers required to report each time they threaten to use force or each
time that they use force on civilians?
Subsequent to ALL incidents resulting in a response to threats/resistance, a supervisor will
evaluate the application, necessity, and reasonableness of the response to threats/resistance while
conducting a thorough and objective review of the incident. RTTR incidents are documented and
reviewed by the members of the Leesburg Police Department’s leadership and executive teams, to
include the Chief of Police. Statistics related to annual RTTR incidents are captured in the
Leesburg Police Department’s Annual Report which is located on our website.
• Are Leesburg Police officers thoroughly vetted to ensure that they do not have a history
with abuse, racism, xenophobia, homophobia / transphobia, or discrimination?
All Leesburg Police Officers go through a complete and thorough background investigation prior
to an employment offer. This investigation includes, but is not limited to: physical abilities
assessment (push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, 1.5 miles run), written exercise, panel interview, multiple
character references, evaluation of social media usage, polygraph examination, psychological
evaluation pre-employment medical/fitness for duty evaluation, and an interview with the Chief
of Police.
The Town of Leesburg is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate
on the basis of race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual
orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, family medical history or genetic
information, political affiliation, military service, or other factors not substantially related to
successful performance of the duties of the position.
The Town of Leesburg supports the American with Disabilities Act by making reasonable
accommodations for persons with disabilities, so that they may participate in job interviews,
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services or employment offered by the Town. Call (703)777-2420 or Virginia Relay Center (TDD
1-800-828-1120/Voice 1-800-828-1140).
• Are Leesburg Police officers trained to perform and seek necessary medical action after
using force?
Leesburg Police Department General Order 104 – Response to Threats/Resistance states:
“Officers must ensure that appropriate medical aid is summoned and provided as quickly as
possible after the use of less-lethal or deadly force. Where it has been necessary to employ force
through the use of any weapon, officers shall, when it has become safe to do so, provide medical
aid as they would for any injured person, and summon emergency medical assistance as necessary
and appropriate.”
• Is there an intervention system enforced to correct officers who use excessive force?
Additionally, how many complaints does an officer have to receive before they are
reprimanded / terminated?
All allegations of excessive force are fully investigated by Internal Affairs. Leesburg Police
Department General Order 115 – Internal Affairs states:
• “A. Internal Affairs is established to ensure the integrity of the Leesburg Police is
maintained through an internal system where objectivity, fairness, and justice are assured
by impartial investigations. These investigations are to clear the innocent, confirm guilt,
and facilitate fair, suitable, and consistent disciplinary action.
• B. All complaints made against the Department or any of its employees will be
appropriately investigated / reviewed. Complaints may originate internally or from the
public.
• C. Supervisors have the responsibility and authority to investigate complaints of minor
employee misconduct. Supervisory or command personnel will initiate investigations into
observed infractions or complaints received which fall into the scope of their authority.
• D. All complaints shall be reviewed by the appropriate Division commander and if
warranted shall forward the results to the Chief of Police.
• E. Complaints alleging serious misconduct or criminal activity shall be investigated by the
Internal Affairs function. Prior to instituting any administrative investigation into criminal
or potential criminal activity, consideration must be given to preserving the opportunity to
proceed with a criminal prosecution. If a criminal prosecution is anticipated then the
criminal case shall take precedent.”
There is no set number of complaints that would result in a specific action as each complaint or
incident varies. Each complaint is investigated with the intent to clear the innocent, confirm guilt,
and facilitate fair, suitable, and consistent disciplinary action.
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• Does the Leesburg Police Department report statistics related to calls for service, use of
force, and citizen complaints?
The Leesburg Police Department’s Annual Reports are available at
https://www.leesburgva.gov/government/departments/police-department/office-of-the-
chief/annual-reports. Our 2019 Annual Report is in final review and will be published to our
website in the coming days. The report highlights how LPD serves our community each and every
day. It also includes crime, traffic, and workload trends, as well as accomplishments by year.
• What can I do, as a concerned citizen?
We encourage positive interactions with our community and we encourage transparency of the
Leesburg Police Department. As a concerned citizen, you may always inquire with us about our
policies and procedures. We recommend that you follow our social media accounts (Facebook,
Twitter, Instagram, Nextdoor, and YouTube) for up to date information about our department and
our community outreach programs. You can reach my Public Information Officer, Officer Michael
Drogin at mdrogin@leesburgva.gov.
The Leesburg Police Department strongly believes in the philosophies of Community Policing and
strives regularly to establish and maintain positive and fruitful relationships with ALL members
of our community. Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Greg Brown
Chief of Police
Leesburg Police Department
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