The availability of less-lethal weapons can assist officers in de-escalation of potentially violent confrontations and provide additional alternatives to the use of deadly force. Impact projectiles are an important less-lethal component of an agency’s force equipment. Officers should be authorized to employ impact projectiles in accordance with provisions of agency policy and the department’s overall policy on use of force.

This document provides police officers with direction on when and how to use less-lethal impact projectiles.