In accordance with the New York State Executive Law section 840(4), The University at Buffalo Police Use of Force policy is available for public examination. This policy is a public document. Free printed copies may be requested at the University Police Station at Bissell Hall on the UB North Campus.
Subject: Use of Force
DCJS Standards: 20.1, 20.6, 21.1, 21.2, 43.8
CALEA Standards: 1.3.1, 1.3.2, 1.3.3, 1.3.4, 1.3.6, 1.3.7, 1.3.8
Approval: Chris J. Bartolomei, Chief of Police
General Order Number: 130.10
Effective Date: February, 19, 2007
Revision Date: October 16, 2020
Review Date: October 16, 2020
It is the policy of the University at Buffalo Police Department, that officers hold the highest regard for the sanctity of human life, dignity, and liberty of all persons without prejudice to anyone. Force is sometimes necessary to enforce the law and protect the public welfare, however, officers shall use only that level of force that is proportional to the threat being faced and which is objectively reasonable to control an incident, to affect an arrest, or to protect themselves or others from personal harm or death. The application of deadly force is a measure to be employed only in the most extreme circumstances. The degree of force used by the officer shall be within the limits established by Article 35 of the New York State Penal Law in conjunction with applicable case law, and consistent with training provided by this department and the guidelines established by this policy.
When used, force should be only that which is objectively reasonable given the circumstances perceived by the officer at the time of the event.
Firearms may be used against animals:
Officers shall submit a signed deposition to the Chief of Police describing the details of the following types of incidents:
In accordance New York State Executive Law 840(4), this policy is considered a public document and shall be:
a. Made available to members of the public promptly upon request without charge.
b. Conspicuously posted on the department’s website.
(1)Revised versions of this policy will be posted to the website within 72 hours of approval.
Annual statistics on use of force incidents shall be compiled with internal affairs complaints and also made available to the public.
Year | Total Number of Police Response to Incidents (Calls for Service) | Total Number of Arrests | Number of Reports for Use of Force Required by Department Policy | Number of Reports Required by NYS DCJS[1] (Required as of 2019) | Number of Reports Required by Department Policy for Handcuffing Without Arrest[2] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2017 | 18,069 | 121 | 2 | Not Applicable | 4 |
2018 | 20,902 | 104 | 4 | Not Applicable | 4 |
2019 | 21,809 | 124 | 6 | 1 | 10 |
2020 | 21,873 | 42 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
Year | Reasons for Contact | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dispatched Call | In Custody | On View Offense | Tactical Operation | Traffic Stop | Other | |
2017 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2018 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
2019 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
2020 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Year | Type of Force Used (All that Apply) | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Empty Hand Control | OC (Pepper) Spray Displayed – Not Used or Deployed | OC (Pepper) Spray Used or Deployed | Collapsible Baton Brandished – Not Used or Deployed | Collapsible Baton Used or Deployed | Drawing of Any Issued Firearm in Response to Any Incident – Not Pointed | Firearm Pointed at Subject | Firearm Discharged | Other | |
2017 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2018 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2019 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
2020 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Year | Sex of Subjects | Race of Subjects | Total Number of Subjects | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Male | Female | White | Black | Asian/Pacific Islander | American Indian/Alaskan Native | ||
2017 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
2018 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
2019 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
2020 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Year | Subject Actions (All that Apply) | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cooperation | Verbal Resistance | Passive Resistance | Empty Hand Defensive Resistance | Empty Hand Active Aggression | Firearm | Knife or Edged Weapon | Other Weapon | |
2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2018 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
2019 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
2020 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Year | Subject Injury Status | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Death or Serious Physical Injury | Injury | Injury Complained But Not Observed | No Injury Complained or Observed | |
2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
2018 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
2019 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
2020 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Year | Injury Disposition (Due to Injury Complained or Observed) | ||
---|---|---|---|
Admitted to Hospital | Examined or Treated and Released | Refused Treatment | |
2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2018 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
2019 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2020 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Year | Number of Officers Reported Injured |
---|---|
2017 | 0 |
2018 | 2 |
2019 | 2 |
2020 | 2 |
The Use of Force Policy of the University at Buffalo Police Department has a lower threshold for tracking and reporting use of force incidents than what is required by law. As of July 11, 2019, Executive Law 837-t requires each police department to report to DCJS any occurrence in which a police officer employs use of force as listed below:
The Use of Force Policy of the University at Buffalo Police Department requires officers to report situations where they placed handcuffs on an individual, but ultimately did not arrest them for an offense. The intent of this policy is to monitor and review instances where officers use handcuffs to gain control of individuals in order to establish a safe environment for further interview and/or investigation. For example, when an officer responds to a situation where two or more individuals are actively involved in a physical altercation with one another. In practice, the most common situation reported by officers is that they intended to make an arrest at the time they handcuffed an individual, but released them from custody based on newly obtained information or when the victim chose not to press charges.
These race definitions are used for Federal Bureau of Investigation Uniform Crime Reporting system.
Joshua Sticht
Deputy Chief of Police, Administration
University Police