Lakewood Police Department Policy and Procedure Less Lethal Munitions		Effective Date:12/20/2022
	Policy Number: PP-4515 - Less Lethal Munitions

 B. Procedure

1. Less lethal munitions are extended range impact projectiles designed to safely incapacitate potentially dangerous person(s) from a distance that minimizes the danger to agents and citizens.  Projectiles are fired or launched for the purpose of causing blunt force trauma, which is used to encourage compliance and overcome resistance with a reduced likelihood of causing death.  The department authorizes the use of approved 12-gauge, 40 mm, and 37 mm and PepperBall less lethal devices.

 2. Less lethal shotguns are 12-gauge shotguns designated for use only with less lethal munitions.  These shotguns are specifically marked to designate they are for less lethal use only.

 3. Prior to firing less lethal rounds from either a designated 12-gauge shotgun, a 40 mm launcher or 37 MM: launcher, police personnel shall:

a. Unload all ammunition from the weapon; and

b. Visually and manually inspect the breech and magazine or cylinder of the weapon to ensure that all ammunition has been removed from the weapon; and  

c. Load the less lethal kinetic energy projectiles into the weapon, visually inspecting each round prior to insertion, ensuring that the ammunition which is being loaded is the approved less lethal type; and

d. Whenever possible, a second agent shall observe and verify all stages of the unloading of the weapon and the loading of all less lethal type projectiles.

4. When deploying less lethal projectiles, the preferred target areas are the  arms, shoulders, thighs, knees, or shins of the subject.  The operator  shall not intentionally target the head/neck, thorax, heart, pelvis, groin, back or  spine of the subject. 

NEXT: PP-4516 - Pepperball Gun