Law enforcement prefers takedowns, gun draws when using force
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Robert Spoden
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Danny E. Davis
JANESVILLE — Tackling perpetrators and pointing guns are the most common ways local law enforcement officers use force, according to a Gazette analysis of use of force data.
Rock County Sheriff’s Office, Rock County Jail and Janesville Police Department officers used takedowns 119 times in 2009, and they drew their guns 51 times.
Tasers and pepper spray were used 18 and 17 times, respectively.
“We try to encourage whatever use of force is safest for the officer and for the citizen,” Janesville Deputy Chief Danny Davis said. “We don’t want anybody getting hurt.”
The number of use of force incidents has remained about the same or gone down in recent years, officials said. Officers use force when a perpetrator is carrying a weapon or behaving in a threatening way.
“We want to be transparent in use of force,” Sheriff Bob Spoden said. “We understand it’s a great responsibility in our community, and we don’t take it lightly.”
Takedowns are the No. 1 choice for use of force because the officer already has two hands on a person during an arrest, Davis said. Tasers also are new to police, and older officers aren’t as comfortable using them.
A gun is drawn in incidents such as the arrest of Kyle Hicke, who was suspected of fatally shooting his ex-girlfriend in west Janesville. Police knew he could be armed.
Other high-risk stops involving robberies or high-speed pursuits also could require pulling guns.
“This part of our job is reactionary to a degree. We’re responding to the situation. We can’t control that,” Davis said. “We can’t control how often somebody is going to fight with police or how often someone is going to make a threat.”
The sheriff’s office has had fewer uses of force in recent years because crime is down, Spoden said.
Serious crimes—homicide, rape, robbery, burglary, assault, and theft—were down 7 percent in 2009 compared to 2008 in areas of Rock County not covered by city and town police.
Serious crimes in the city of Janesville were down 24 percent in 2009 compared to 2008.
Sheriff’s deputies are trained to use verbal skills to deescalate situations without force, Spoden said, and a full staff on the streets and in the jail has helped reduce incidents.
The sheriff’s office has improved its testing methods and requirements for hiring, Spoden said. The result is a staff of more mature deputies.
The police department sends a sergeant to investigate every use of force incident as soon as it happens, Davis said.
The sergeant takes photographs and interviews witnesses, officers and perpetrators, he said. The idea is to gather evidence of what happened right away.
Otherwise, a resident could file a complaint against an officer weeks after the incident and it would be difficult investigate, Davis said.
An immediate investigation protects police against false complaints and protects citizens against aggressive officers, he said.
“It’s just a better way of doing business, and it locks everyone’s statements in right then and there,” Davis said. “Since we started doing this, our citizen complaints have plummeted more than 50 percent.”
At the sheriff’s office, every use of force incident is documented, reported and sent to the chief deputy for review, Spoden said. If a deputy violates a policy, an investigation begins.
Officers with a high number of use-of-force incidents or with an incident that seems inappropriate could be talked to or retrained, officials said. Internal policies also could be reviewed.
“What we can control is our officers responding appropriately and making corrections if they respond inappropriately, whether it be training, counseling or whatever the case may be,” Davis said.
USE OF FORCE
The Rock County Sheriff’s Office shared the following about use of force:
-- Incidents peak in the summer when school is out.
-- Incidents are most common between 7 p.m. and 4 a.m. when people drink alcohol.
-- Perpetrators typically are men ages 18 to 22.
-- Perpetrators typically weigh 185 pounds.
-- February is the month with the fewest incidents.
-- Sheriff’s deputies are involved in use-of-force incidents in Janesville more than any other Rock County community.
-- Center Township has the fewest use-of-force incidents involving deputies.
-- Incidents don’t often occur during a full moon as people might expect.
Mar 8, 2011 at 11:08 a.m.
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Officerfriendly: are you even a cop? If you are you must be city with backup right around the corner. You would feel different if you had to wait 10 minutes for another officer to arrive. There is nothing wrong with using words to diffuse a situation.
Mar 9, 2010 at 2 p.m.
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To Pondering: I read the Beloit Daily News, and apparently had either missed that line or missed the entire article. I don't remember reading it until just now. That's crazy!
I remember watching an episode of some real crime show or other that told how this deputy "knew" the suspects were hiding drugs because they had two spare tires in their car. So, he took a knife and sliced the tires open to find drugs. Fortunate for him, but I'd hate to see if he'd been wrong.
Mar 9, 2010 at 5:08 a.m.
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I'm just adding my two cents worth here... In all honesty, if I had the choice between the cops shooting or tazing me, I'd take a gun shot any day... Prolly have a better chance of living. The again, having six cops with their lazer scopes on your head and heart screaming turn around, put your hands on your head, and walk down the stairs backwards almost makes me want to reconsider... Hmmm. A food for thought: victims often get treated as though their guilty.
On another note, where they stereo-typing at the end of the story, or is it just me? Like an article in BDN said, 'only drug dealers and cops back into their driveways'. Once again... Hmmm?
(sorry to the literacy police if any thing was not to your standards on spelling, spacing, or phrasing! NOT)
Mar 8, 2010 at 7:51 p.m.
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Carlito here is a simple fact. Do what your told. It isn't the officers job to play counselor. Comply and be considerate and you will only have a problem with the 1% of egotistical officers!
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Many people confuse tasers with pistols. Then again many people just talk out their asses and never liked AUTHORITY.
Mar 8, 2010 at 3:17 p.m.
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Yep, you should know what you are talking about first before you speak. So he didn't use A space at all. Who cares but why waste the double space here if it wont take!?
Mar 8, 2010 at 3:15 p.m.
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Donkeykong. I was correct. I spaced this one once and the first one twice. Do they look the same?
Mar 8, 2010 at 3:14 p.m.
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No beatings with the flashlight. I agree the_one it isn't like the "perp" didn't deserve this. Oh right "they are picking on you because you are black-( or what ever) not because you just committed a crime and wouldn't just get in the car w/o struggling!
Look at the public record. You will see it often "resisting".
Donkeykong. I don't think it leaves the two spaces after punctuation. I will look again with this sentence. Is this all you have to say?
Mar 8, 2010 at 2:44 p.m.
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That because the taser and pepper spray had no effect on you, Griz.
Mar 8, 2010 at 10:18 a.m.
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It seems to me that the easiest way to avoid having the police tackle you or draw a gun on you would be to cooperate with them. It's worked pretty well for me in the few times I've interacted with them.
Mar 8, 2010 at 10:05 a.m.
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Every police officer needs to be prepared going into a situation. Even if it doesn't appear dangerous at the time. They need to have their guns drawn if something doesn't seem quite right. If their life is threatened, they're justified to shoot the person.
Mar 8, 2010 at 8:42 a.m.
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Very good information for the public to chew on and digest.
The Rock County Law Enforcement agencies are well trained and use good judgement in the use of force. The article should have given credit to the instructors of use of force.
In regards to coppers pulling their guns....think about it. At the end of the day, everyone wants to go home. It's each copper's survival instincts that makes that happen. Training creates habit, habits take over in survival situations. And survival means going home at the end of their shift. So don't judge someone wanting to go home safely.
My hat goes off to the local law enforcement and the instructors that have trained them.
Mar 8, 2010 at 8:38 a.m.
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I had an officer once tell me that the most benign call can turn into a huge threat to officer's safety. You go in prepared. Just like bobb said. Thanks bobb. Good response.
Mar 8, 2010 at 8:15 a.m.
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Nice call bobb1951... See people, that’s how it's done...bobb1951’s post has common sense and a little humor adding in, a nice touch! Well done sir!
Mar 8, 2010 at 8:08 a.m.
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Here’s a prime example, you say..."I do agree to certain situations guns drawn, but not as many as they are drawn in". Here's what you’re really trying to say... I agree that police should draw their guns... Just not when me, or people I know are evolved... You go on to say..."I can speak from personal experience and no one was a threat" Well most likely because you were at gunpoint... Now I know it takes a fool to put themselves in that situation, but it would take an even bigger fool to continue to act like “a threat” when an officer has a gun pointed at them.
"No one was armed"... Police know that how? "And never reported as armed". Really, you see I live by a heavily used bike trail. One afternoon, there was a group of four men walking when an officer pulled up to speak with them. Now I can only assume, but I’m guessing there was no report of a gun involved with these four men. Now, when the officer got out, speaking to them the funniest thing happened. He got out of that car, but, his gun was holstered... Now surely the four of these men could have handled just the one officer by himself, yet that officer approached them with out that gun of his...
The point here being, police don't pull guns without cause, cuz big brother is always watching...
Mar 8, 2010 at 12:28 a.m.
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And comments to facts uncalled for force, enough people were there to see you did not have to be.
Mar 7, 2010 at 11:55 p.m.
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And then we make comments about the times guns were drawn when we were not there, and have no idea what the officer was faced with when he or she did so....
Mar 7, 2010 at 10:25 p.m.
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I recall when you drew your gun was in life threatening situations or when a weapon was present. Then IMO that can be just about any situation at the moment and what the report says.....I do agree to certain situations guns drawn, but not as many as they are drawn in. I can speak from personal experience and no one was a threat and no one was armed and never reported as armed.
Mar 7, 2010 at 9:34 p.m.
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Officers do an incredible job at 'looking over their shoulders', while maintaining the peace. Patrol and jail officers are now subject to more than acceptable review. I believe excess force is simply wrong, but officers need to know they can complete these tasks, when needed, and not be hung out to dry. Admittedly, this is appropriate more than not, but it is always a know subject to appease the people who care more about their 'numbers' and votes. These line officers handle all of this very well--good job and stay professional like you already are!
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By the way-full staff? Relative terms people. Wish it were true. Another reason to praise line officers!
Mar 7, 2010 at 8:11 p.m.
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Yah...I bash people who post thoughts containing no common sense, which I suspect will really take off sometime tomorrow morning. Most likely will have something to do with "police should just talk out thier problems", or "Why do the police have to get physical with people".
Mar 7, 2010 at 6:18 p.m.
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"The sheriff’s office has improved its testing methods and requirements for hiring, Spoden said. The result is a staff of more mature deputies." Correctly termed wussification.
Mar 7, 2010 at 5:36 p.m.
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It's interesting how the headline the Gazette uses makes it sound as if its just the officer picking certain techniques. As if to say the suspect plays no roll and the police are just using takedowns and pointing there guns at people for the heck of it.
Its as if there trying to taint the reader with negative thoughts before we even get into the story...
Anyway, thanks to the men and women who work so hard to keep us safe...
With that being said, blogers... start your bashing!!!
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