Agents Must Intervene , During Instances of Excessive Force, , New Justice Dept Policy States.
Attorney General Merrick Garland articulated the new policy in a Justice Department memo on May 20.
It is addressed to the major federal law enforcement agencies, from the FBI to the Bureau of Prisons.
Officers will be trained in, and must recognize and act upon, Justice Department Memo, via 'The Washington Post'.
... the affirmative duty to intervene to prevent or stop, as appropriate, any officer from engaging in excessive force or any other use of force that violates the Constitution, , Justice Department Memo, via 'The Washington Post'.
... other federal laws, or Department policies on the reasonable use of force, Justice Department Memo, via 'The Washington Post'.
Set to be instituted by July 19, the policy notably does not make mention of state or local law enforcement departments.
However, it represents the first significant federal change in excessive force policy in 18 years.
Language from the 2004 policy seems more lenient in comparison to what was released on May 20.
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[Officers] may use deadly force only when necessary, , 2004 Justice Department Policy, via 'The Washington Post'.
... that is, when the officer has a reasonable belief that the subject of such force poses an imminent danger of death or serious physical injury to the officer or to another person, 2004 Justice Department Policy, via 'The Washington Post'.
Analysts say the new policy is a necessary update.
It’s the modernization of policing, and you need to update policies to reflect what’s going on in our country, Larry Cosme, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association President, via 'The Washington Post'.
Every officer that’s a good officer is always going to try to do their jobs to the best of their ability, , Larry Cosme, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association President, via 'The Washington Post'.
... and this reinforces what the men and women in federal law enforcement are already doing, Larry Cosme, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association President, via 'The Washington Post'
