Police release ‘use of force’ report

Colorado Springs police released a use of force report on Thursday and said overall, its officers were correct in their actions in a random sample of complaints.

Police pulled 119 complaints from 2011 to May 2015. It found that in all but two complaints, officers actions were in line.

“The vast majority of cases, officers are using an appropriate use of force,” said Police Chief Pete Carey.

Rocky Manning filed a complaint against an officer when he said they used excessive force on him during a traffic stop because he refused to sign the speeding ticket.

“When I refused to sign it, they pulled me out of the car and beat me very badly and they pounded their knees into my back. I had about $18,000 worth of medical bills. I had a bruised kidney, bruised liver, bruised diaphragm,” said Manning.

Police conducted the use of force review themselves, and Manning said he would have preferred to see outsiders review the cases.

“There should be third parties involved that don’t know these officers directly,” said Manning.

Here are the recommendations that were offered in the report:

1. CSPD needs to give clearer guidance on when to identify and investigate a potential use of force policy violation.

2. CSPD needs to give clearer guidance in the difference between “Unfounded” and “Exonerated”

3. CSPD needs to re-examine investigative guidance and the evidence that is necessary to arrive at a disposition.

4. CSPD needs to consider consolidation of Use of Force policies.

5. CSPD needs to find ways to improve officers’ documentation and supervisors’ documentation.

6. CSPD should consider additional training based on current best practices in use of force as well as traffic or pedestrian stops.

7. CSPD should develop a plan to publicly release this report.

8. CSPD needs more thorough investigations, particularly when the allegation is a use of excessive or inappropriate force.

9. Assaulted officers should not be involved in further interaction with the suspect (e.g. prisoner processing) once the immediate danger has passed.

10. De-escalation technique training should continue.

11. CSPD should discuss the level one and level two distinctions in internal investigations