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Use of Force

Nationwide, historical data supports that a small percentage of police-public encounters involve force. When you isolate the use of force beyond empty hand control techniques by University Police, uses of force become exceedingly rare.  Policy and State law requires Officers to use the minimal effective force necessary based on the situtation to accomplish their lawful objectives. 

When injuries occur as a result of the use of force, they are likely to be minor. In one study cited by the Office of Justice Programs, it found that the most common injury to a suspect was a bruise or abrasion (48 percent), and force is most commonly used only when a suspect is resisting arrest.  

University Police are committed to transparency. The following is a list of incidents in which force was used by University Officers. UWPD Policy and Procedure definition of a "Use of Force" is  broad and inclusive, and tracks incidents above and beyond what is found on the state mandated reporting website.

DATEINCIDENTHIGHEST FORCE USEDINJURY DUE TO FORCECAMPUS RELATEDSUMMARY OF INCIDENT:
2023.02.0723-700621CONTROL ALTERNATIVENOYESSUSPECT DECENTRALIZED AFTER DISCOVERY OF CONCEALED FIREARM.
2023.01.0923-700142WEAPON DISPLAYNONOASSIST BCSO: SUSPECT FLED TRAFFIC STOP, TAKEN INTO CUSTODY DURING HIGH RISK STOP.
2022.12.0322-705815WEAPON DISPLAYNONOASSIST GBPD: ATTEMPTED HOMICIDE SUSPECT(S) WERE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY DURING HIGH RISK STOP. 
2022.09.0622-704152WEAPON DISPLAYNOYESUWPD TRAFFIC STOP ATTEMEPTED, SUSPECT FAILED TO STOP, CRASHED, WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY DURING HIGH RISK STOP.