Tacoma Implements Policy and Practices that Align with the National Campaign Zero’s 'Eight Can’t Wait' Recommendations

Tacoma Police Department has reviewed and revised all policies to align with the recommendations of Campaign Zero's 'Eight Can't Wait' recommendations and to reinforce the prioritization of de-escalation training and anti-racism in community policing.

'Eight Can't Wait' Recommendations

Here are the eight recommendations and what the Tacoma Police Department is doing in each area.

1. Ban chokeholds and strangleholds: The Tacoma Police Department has included policy language that limits the use of chokeholds, strangleholds, and carotid restraints only to those situations that constitute lethal force.
2. Require de-escalation: We have and will continue to prioritize de-escalation in our use of force policies. Guided by a comprehensive use of force continuum, we train our officers in de-escalation tactics. We have revised our training to match the state requirements.
3. Require warning before shooting: The Tacoma Police Department has implemented policy language and ongoing training for all commissioned staff that includes a warning prior to discharging a firearm when it reasonable and safe to do so.
4. Exhaust all other means before shooting: Our current use of force policy mandates that officers only use deadly force as a last resort.
5. Duty to intervene: Tacoma Police Department created policy language and training to be implemented by the end of 2020 that explicitly outlines an officer’s duty to intervene when they observe a use of excessive force by another officer.
6. Ban shooting at moving vehicles: Our policy currently bans shooting at moving vehicles unless it is necessary to protect against imminent danger to the life of the Officer or others.
7. Require use of force continuum: We have, and follow, a use of force continuum.
8. Require comprehensive reporting: We have reviewed our comprehensive reporting system for reportable use of force to determine how to increase transparency and responsiveness to any issue regarding use of force.

Get more information about the Tacoma Police Department’s policies on our Results 253 website.