Pasadena Police Department Adopts Stricter Deadly Force Standards Under State Law

The Pasadena Police Department has implemented comprehensive policy changes and officer training to comply with California’s stricter standards for police use of deadly force, according to a report scheduled for discussion at Wednesday’s Public Safety Committee meeting.

Assembly Bill 392, known as the “California Act to Save Lives,” raised the legal threshold for police use of deadly force from a “reasonable” standard to a “necessary” standard when it took effect in January 2020. The law represents what city officials call a significant transformation in California’s approach to police use of force.

Under the new law, officers may use deadly force only in two specific scenarios: to defend themselves or others against an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury, or to apprehend a fleeing suspect who poses an immediate threat of death or serious bodily injury to others.

The Pasadena Police Department updated its policy manual to align with AB 392’s requirements, according to the report prepared by City Attorney Michele Beal Bagneris. The updated Policy No. 300.4 mandates that officers must identify themselves clearly, issue warnings and use other available techniques before resorting to deadly force when it is reasonably safe to do so.

The policy defines “imminent threat” precisely and prohibits the use of deadly force based solely on threats a person may pose to themselves or to protect property.

Since December 2019, the department has trained all officers on AB 392 and the updated policies. All officer-involved shootings since January 2020 have been reviewed using the new standards to ensure compliance, with these reviews informing decisions by the Police Chief and the Use of Force Board.

The law also acknowledges that individuals with physical, mental health, developmental or intellectual disabilities face higher risks during police encounters, emphasizing the need for specialized training and greater care with vulnerable populations.

AB 392 replaced California’s previous use-of-force laws, some dating to 1872 and 1957, which allowed broader discretion in the application of force and did not distinguish between deadly and non-deadly force in legal standards.

The Public Safety Committee meeting begins at 4 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall.