Use of Force Reporting.

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§ 837-t. Use of force reporting. 1. The chief of every police department, each county sheriff, and the superintendent of state police shall report to the division, in a form and manner as defined in regulations by the division, any instance or occurrence in which a police officer, as defined in subdivision thirty-four of section 1.20 of the criminal procedure law, or a peace officer, as defined in section 2.10 of the criminal procedure law, employs the use of force as follows:

a. brandishes, uses or discharges a firearm at or in the direction of another person; or

b. uses a chokehold or similar restraint that applies pressure to the throat or windpipe of a person in a manner that may hinder breathing or reduce intake of air; or

c. displays, uses or deploys a chemical agent, including, but not limited to, oleoresin capsicum, pepper spray or tear gas; or

d. brandishes, uses or deploys an impact weapon, including, but not limited to, a baton or billy; or

e. brandishes, uses or deploys an electronic control weapon, including, but not limited to, an electronic stun gun, flash bomb or long range acoustic device; or

f. engages in conduct which results in the death or serious bodily injury of another person. Serious bodily injury is defined as bodily injury that involves a substantial risk of death, unconsciousness, protracted and obvious disfigurement, or protracted loss of impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ or mental faculty.

2. On an annual basis, the commissioner shall conspicuously publish on the department's website a comprehensive report including the use of force information received under subdivision one of this section during the preceding year. Such reports shall not identify the names of the individuals involved, but for each event reported, shall list the date of the event, the location disaggregated by county and law enforcement agencies involved, the town or city, and any additional relevant location information, a description of the circumstances of the event, and the race, sex, ethnicity, age, or, if unknown, approximate age of all persons engaging in the use of force or suffering such injury.



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