Why The Dallas Police Department provides Officer Involved Shooting (OIS)

Information
In an effort to provide greater transparency, the Dallas Police Department looks to share any
information available with the community when an officer is involved in a shooting. This process of
transparency begins at the scene of an OIS shooting with press briefings and social media
communications and continues with additional updates as information becomes available. We
believe that this is an expectation of the community that will increase trust and legitimacy in OIS
investigative process.
Lethal Force Philosophy of the Dallas Police Department
Protection of human life is a primary goal of the Dallas Police Department; therefore, our officers
have a responsibility to use only the degree of force necessary to protect and preserve life. Deadly
force will be used with great restraint and as a last resort only when the level of resistance warrants
the use of deadly force. The Dallas Police Department places a greater value on human life than on
the protection of property; therefore, the use of deadly force is not allowed to protect property
interests.
Each officer involved shooting encounter is unique. Once our investigative process is completed, we
will post each incident on this site. We will provide as much information as possible, to include
statistical information, a narrative of the incident and the grand jury disposition.

Investigating Officer Involved Shooting (OIS) Incidents

Dallas police officers respond to approximately 600,000 calls for service each year. Combined with
these calls are the numerous citizen contacts made when officers provide general assistance, participate
in community engagement programs, enforce traffic laws and take proactive enforcement to disrupt
and interdict criminal activities, leading to roughly 1,000,000 citizen contacts per year. Day in and day
out these numerous contacts result in providing professional service to our citizens and make Dallas a
safer community to live.
Sometimes these contacts place officers in dangerous situations. Officers have an occupational
responsibility to enter into circumstances which clearly could place them in danger while they are
serving the community. All the while, officers have an affirmative obligation to use lethal force as a last
resort and are specifically trained to use reasonable alternatives as time and opportunities permit. Yet
there are incidents in which the use of lethal force cannot be avoided.
When an officer becomes involved in an incident in which another person is seriously injured or killed,
or where a death or serious injury occurs to a person in police custody, two different investigations
begin immediately. Responding supervisors take detailed actions to preserve the crime scene and
isolate involved personnel. Notifications are made for specialized resources to respond. Internal
communications are made to affected police commanders and the Chief of Police. Involved personnel
are removed from field duty pending a thorough and unbiased review of their actions.

A criminal investigation is conducted by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU). SIU is comprised of
experienced homicide detectives and seasoned leadership. These detectives interview all witnesses and
direct an exhaustive collection of evidence. Specially trained Crime Scene physical evidence detectives
assist SIU. Initial findings are shared with the FBI Civil Rights Unit within the first 24 hours. The
completed investigation is referred to the Dallas County District Attorneys Office for independent
review.
The District Attorneys Office then presents the case to a Grand Jury of county citizens for examination.
The Grand Jury makes a determination whether or not the officer committed a criminal act when
involved in the OIS. If the Grand Jury concludes that the officers actions did not constitute a criminal
action, the officer is no-billed, meaning he/she is not charged with a crime. However, if the Grand Jury
determines the officers actions were of a criminal nature the officer will be true-billed, meaning he/she
will be charged with a criminal offense.
A concurrent administrative investigation is performed by the Internal Affairs Division (IAD). This
review determines whether the officers actions are in compliance with departmental policy,
training and use of force guidelines. Outcomes from this investigation guide the department toward
improving its training and procedures. Additionally, if the IAD investigation finds that an officer
violated policy, whether or not the shooting was justified, disciplinary action or additional training
may be imposed.

General Order 906.00 - Dallas Police Department Use of Deadly Force Policy
906.00 USE OF DEADLY FORCE
906.01 Philosophy
A. This philosophy is intended as a broad guide to the use of deadly force and as a moral and
ethical approach to the use of deadly force policy. Although not intended as a strictly enforced
set of rules, the philosophy statement describes the manner in which the procedures will be
applied.
B. Protection of human life is a primary goal of the Police Department; therefore, police officers
have a responsibility to use only the degree of force necessary to protect and preserve life.
C. Deadly force will be used with great restraint and as a last resort only when the level of
resistance warrants the use of deadly force. The Dallas Police Department places a greater value
on human life than on the protection of property; therefore, the use of deadly force is not
allowed to protect property interests.
906.02 Use of Deadly Force Policy
A. Justification for the Use of Deadly Force -In all situations, justification for the use of deadly
force must be limited to the facts reasonably apparent to the officer at the time the officer
decides to use the force.
B. Definitions
1. Reasonably Perceive - The facts or circumstances the employee knows, or should
know, that would cause an ordinary and prudent peace officer to act or think in a similar
way under similar circumstances.
2. Reasonable Alternative - An action that may be taken by the officer that may allow
the officer to avoid the use of deadly force.
3. Reasonable Belief - A belief that would be held by an ordinary and prudent person in
the same circumstances as the actor.
4. Serious Bodily Injury - Bodily injury that creates a substantial risk of death, serious
permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss of impairment of the function of any bodily
member or organ.
C. Avoiding the Use of Deadly Force
1. At the point when an officer should reasonably perceive the potential exists that
deadly force may be an outcome of any situation, the officer must use reasonable
alternatives if time and opportunities permit. The reasonableness of the action is based
upon the time available, the opportunity of performing the action, and the facts
apparent to the officer prior to and during the incident.
2. Planned and supervised hazardous entry situations are recognized as meeting the
requirements of reasonable alternatives above.
3. Officers will not fire their weapons under conditions that would unnecessarily subject
bystanders or hostages to death or possible injury except to preserve life or to prevent
serious bodily injury.
D. Authorization to Use Deadly Force -Officers will only use deadly force to protect themselves
or another person from imminent death or serious bodily injury.
E. Drawing or Displaying Firearms - Officers may draw or display firearms when there is a threat
or reasonable belief that there is a threat to life or they have a reasonable fear for their own
safety and/or the safety of others.

F. Discharging Firearms at Moving Vehicles 1. Discharging firearms at a moving or fleeing vehicle is prohibited unless it is necessary
to prevent imminent death or serious bodily injury to the officer or another person.
2. Officers will not voluntarily place themselves in a position in front of an oncoming
vehicle where deadly force is
a probable outcome.
3. When confronting an oncoming vehicle, officers will move out of its path, if possible,
rather than fire at the vehicle.
G. Officers will not fire warning shots.
H. Policy Restrictions - The restrictions of this policy shall not apply if an off-duty officer acts within
the provisions of current state statutes to protect the employee's personal property. In this case the
officer is acting as a private citizen.

Reducing Deadly Force incidents

The Dallas Police Department continually reviews the use of deadly force and strives to
develop training and procedures that can assist in reducing the likelihood that deadly force
will become an option. The following is indicative of steps taken by the department to
assist officers in resolving incidents without having to resort to deadly force.
Departmental Philosophy Statement The Dallas Police Department has instituted a philosophy
statement that guides officers in the use of force. It recognizes that protection of human life is
the primary goal of the department.
Deadly Force Policy The Police Departments deadly force policy is guided by our philosophy
and incorporates nationally recognized best practices.
Training The Police Department provides a myriad of training opportunities that are designed
to enhance officer safety while reinforcing the departments police statement. Some of the
training provided is as follows:
o Reality Based Training where lessons learned are combined with policy, tactics and
strategies to simulate critical incidents as realistically as possible to strengthen response
and increase successful outcomes.
o Diversity training nurtures respect of social differences and cultivates community
aspects.
o Verbal Skills training to foster effective communication and expected outcomes during
interaction between officers and the public.
o Crisis Intervention training provides assessment skills to enhance officers ability to
recognize individuals experiencing emotional and/or mental crisis and provides
strategies to de-escalate an episode to reduce risk to all parties.
o Use of Force training bolsters officers obligation to use only the degree of force
necessary to control a situation.
o Legal training is provided to reinforce understanding the legitimacy of the publics
interest in the actions and expectations of its Police Department.
Tasers are less lethal weapons that are known as an effective tool to mitigate the use of deadly
force. The Dallas Police Departments goal is to ensure that all uniformed first responders are
equipped with this tool.
Body Cameras are recognized as an emerging technology with vast potential. The use of body
cameras is designed to enhance officer professionalism and put an unruly suspect on notice that

their actions are being recorded, thus reducing the likelihood of an incident escalating to the
need to deploy deadly force. The Dallas Police Departments goal is to have a body camera at
the scene of each police incident.
Use of Force Reporting has been established to identify trends, improve training and safety and
provide timely information to DPD regarding response to resistance issues.