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Show Police use of deadly force 'Life fhreafening, last resort' The Vernal Police Department and the Uintah County Sheriff's Office agree on two things: that the use of deadly force by peace officers locally is very rare, and that if it is used, it is used us-ed as a last resort. Two questins emerge about the easiest form of deadly force available to an officer, a service revolver. Is the officer in a life-threatening situation? Is a suspect "focused" on the intent of causing grave bodily injury? in-jury? There are also questions ques-tions arising from use of any kind of force- would it be reasonable and necessary? Use of deadly force is a "whole new ballgame'' from use of force in general, said Sheriff's Corporal Larry Crowl. "There are legal issues, moral issues-especially moral issues. Can you take a man off of the street who has never shot a gun before and have him kill somebody? "To protect yourself and someone else when faced with serious bodily injury-that's it," said Sheriff's Sgt. Pete Pickup in summarizing the department's deadly force policy. "If we ever have an incident that involved-or could have rf ' ; HVty: . . .,0 iS I: i : .... 'XTS? , . . ---- ' V v,i '.' H ' " " , L DEPUTY VIC POLEK on the firing range. involved-the use of deadly force, we sit down and take it apart and study it closely." The Vernal City Police policy on deadly force covers nearly four pages in the department manual, including a section dealing with investigative procedure pro-cedure within the department if a member kills someone on or off-duty. Chief Robert Downard said any discharge of a firearm is investigated routinely. Vernal's policy lists four circumstances cir-cumstances in which an officer can fire on a suspect: "to defend himself or other persons from serious bodily injury or death;" to arrest or prevent escape after ar--est of a suspect that has committed or attempted to commit a forcible felony; that is trying to escape with the use of a deadly weapon; and that otherwise shows that "he will endanger human life or inflict great bodily harm unless arrested without delay." The manual states, "mere suspicion is not enough." to prevent an escape from a jail or penal institution, or "other place of confinement." con-finement." Downard believes a properly trained officer can "filter through" circumstances cir-cumstances quickly in a situation in chich the gun would have to be used. "Let's say there's an armed robbery and I confront him (the suspect) as he comes around the building. I yell at him to surrender. There's no crowd-I've got him. He turns around-I've still got him. He's running. Is it reasonable? I'm down to one decision. "Do you have a shot? Is what we tell him (the officer). Are you certain you have a high probability of hitting him?" Vernal's policy lists other considerations considera-tions an officer must use. Is there a reasonable alternative method of arrest? ar-rest? How old is the suspect? Is there pedestrian or vehicle traffic? Are there buildings such as schools, motels or residences in the area? Would the officer of-ficer be able to fire without running or jumping, which could cause a stray shot? "The whole thing is focus," said sheriff's deputy Manuel Cantu. Is that guy threatening you-and it doesn't have to be with a gun; it could be with a frying pan, or with a ballpoint pen. A guy can't hold it (normally) and say, I'm going to kill you. But he could stab it into the base of your neck." Though actual use locally is seldom, Chief Downard and Sgt. Pickup said there have been oc-cassions oc-cassions when weapons could have been used. "There have been a number of close calls," said Deputy Uintah County Coun-ty Attorney Richard Davidson, "and in every instance it I would have been justified." I i i ' ' - i i , -i XT - U |