d as 20-Davidthrough 70-David. Each Sergeant has one 10 man squad under his jurisdiction. Eachsquad is comprised of two 5 man elements. Each element has one senior officer, anelement leader, who assists the Sergeants in team management, and who directs thedeployment of the element in tactical situations.USE OF FORCEPolice officers should use physical force only to the extent necessary to insureobservance of the law, or to restore order when the verbalization of advice and warningare found to be insufficient in adhering police objectives such as arrest, preventing anescape, or overcoming resistance. Each situation strictly requires the use of force to bereasonable, and only that force which is necessary may be used to gain control or resistattack.USE OF DEADLY FORCEThe law of justifiable homicide authorizes an officer to use deadly force when itreasonably appears necessary for self-protection or protection of others from what appearsto be an immediate threat of great bodily harm or from immanent peril of death. Only asituation in which the possibility of death or serious bodily harm exists can qualify as animmediate threat warranting deadly force. Deadly force shall only be exercised when allreasonable alternatives have been exhausted or appear impractical. One principle factorwhich can significantly change a situation is the use of proper tactics. Proper tactics canminimize the risk of harm to an officer, thus precluding the need to use deadly force.COMMENDATIONSThe LAPD awards four medals in recognition of heroism, they are: The Medal ofValor, The Police Star, The Police Medal, and The Liberty Award. The Liberty Awardwas created in 1990 and has only been awarded once in the Department’s history. It is amedal for police canines who are killed or seriously injured in the line of duty. The awardis named after Liberty, a Metropolitan Division police K-9, who was shot and killed in theline of duty. Liberty’s handl...
