RESOLUTION URGING THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT TO RESEARCH AND ADOPT LESS THApLETHAL USE OF FORCE PROCEDURES
WHEREAS, The recent proliferation of high profile fatalities due to the use of deadly force by officers of the Chicago Police Department could have been avoided if an alternative to a lethal weapon had been readily available to them; and
WHEREAS, Varying degrees of physical force, including the use of firearms by Chicago Police Department officers, are occasionally required to deal with conflict situations. If these officers' response to managing conflict through the use of any type of force is not reasonable and proportionate, the officer is often open to criminal or misconduct proceedings. It may also constitute a violation of the human rights of the person against whom the force was used; and
WHEREAS, "Non-lethal weapon" is a term used to describe weapons that are not fundamentally designed to kill or cause serious bodily injury. It is possible that munitions deployed from these non-lethal weapons may, in extremely rare cases, injure a person to the degree that could result in death under unique circumstances. However, the chance of injury meeting the deadly force definition is only marginal; and
WHEREAS, The use of non-lethal technology is a great benefit for law enforcement, providing them with another conflict management option. Non-lethal weapons are engineered to save lives including the life of the officer involved, the subjects involved and the public who may be third party to an incident; and
WHEREAS, Such use of less-than-lethal weapons will drastically reduce the likelihood of serious bodily injury or death in conflict situations that police officers are often called upon to resolve. Various munitions options such as Solid Filled Rounds, Liquid filled Rounds, Foam Baton Rounds, and Rubber Pellets (Deployed out of a 12 Gauge or a 37/40MM) as well as Rubber Balls (Deployed out of a 31, 32 or 60 Caliber, a 12 Gauge or a 37/40MM), Fin Stabiliz...
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