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Policy Manual & FAQS


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Learn more about our policies that help us to provide the best service possible to our community! 
Northglenn Police Department Policy Manual 

Your voice matters! 
How to File a Complaint or Commendation

Frequently Asked Questions

HIRING - How are Northglenn Police Officer applicants vetted to ensure they do not have a history with racism or discrimination before they are considered for hire?
Our hiring process focuses on thorough testing and background investigations to identify applicants who share the vision and core values held by the department and the city. Our process is designed to identify applicants who are psychologically suited to perform the duties of a police officer without bias.
TRAINING - How many hours of training are required to become a Northglenn Police Officer?
The Northglenn Police Department has built a strong workforce due, in part, to our excellent training program which exceeds POST requirements.
  • New hires must attend a 22-week Academy to become POST certified, which translates into approximately 550 hours.
  • Academy graduates and lateral police officers must complete in-house training which is approximately 6 weeks or 240 hours.
  • All officers must complete the Field Training Officer Program (FTO), which is approximately 14 weeks or 560 hours.
  • All officers must complete in-service training mandated by state statute.
TRAINING - Are Northglenn Police Officers trained in anti-racism?
Yes, the following is required training relevant to fair, impartial, bias-free policing.
  • Law Enforcement Ethics and Anti-Bias Policing - Ethical conduct, valuing diversity, and freedom of speech.
  • Bias Motivated Hate Crimes - Responding to and identifying crimes based on race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or mental or physical disability.
  • Implicit Bias - Automatic association people make about groups of people and stereotypes about those groups.
TRAINING - Are Northglenn Police Officers trained in de-escalation techniques?
Yes, officers complete annual de-escalation training.
  •  A majority of officers are certified in Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) which aims to reduce unnecessary physical interaction between persons in crisis and police officers.
  • De-escalation training is incorporated in all arrest control and scenario based training.
USE OF FORCE - Are Northglenn Police Officers required to exhaust all other possible options before using force?
Officers shall use only that force which is "objectively reasonable" to defend themselves or others, effect an arrest or detention, prevent escape, or overcome resistance.
  • The reasonableness of a particular use of force shall be judged without regard to an officer's underlying intent or motivation, and after considering the following factors: The facts and circumstances confronting the officer at the time the force was applied. The fact officers are often forced to make split-second decisions with limited information and in circumtances that are rapidly evolving, tense, and unpredictable. The pespective of a resonable officer on scene.
USE OF FORCE - Are Northglenn Officers required to give a verbal warning to civilians before drawing their weapon or using force?
Officers are trained to give a verbal warning before an immediate use of force, when feasible.
USE OF FORCE - Are Northglenn Police Officers required to report each time they use force on civilians?
When an officer uses force, they are required to document their actions in a use of force report.
USE OF FORCE - Is there a review process for all use of force incidents involving the Northglenn Police Department?
Yes.
  • Supervisors and command staff review each use of force report incident to determine whether the use of force followed department policy, law, and expectations. Additionally, the Northglenn Police Department has software to review each use of force that allows for analysis into the use of force individually and collectively. Analysis of the data provides a means for the department to identify areas or trends that can be addressed through additional training.
  • Additionally, use of deadly force incidents are not investigated by the involved agency. The 17th Judicial Critical Incident Investigation Team (CIIT) is activated to conduct a full investigation.
USE OF FORCE / POLICY - Do Northglenn Police Officers intervene and report if they witness another officer using excessive force?
Yes, state statute specifically requires officers to report any use of force that does not fit within the confines of law or policy. The Northglenn Police Department has ingrained in our culture the confidence and expectation that officers hold themselves and each other accountable and report any known policy violation.
POLICY - Does the Northglenn Police Department allow officers to use "chokeholds"?
Officers are not trained nor authorized  to applying "chokeholds"  or vascular neck restraints as a use of force option.
POLICY - Are Northglenn Police Officers allowed to shoot at moving vehicles?
An officer should only discharge a firearm at a moving vehicle when the officer reasonably believes there are no other reasonable means available to avert the threat of the vehicle, or if lethal force other than the vehicle is directed at the officer or others.
POLICY - Are the Northglenn Police Department's policies available to the public?
Yes, the Northglenn Police Department utilizes a national company to maintain comprehensive policies that are kept up to date as legislation and best practices change. In the interest of transparency Northglenn Police Department's Policy Manual is available on our city website.
OPERATIONS - Do Northglenn Police Officers wear body cameras?
As of March 2021, officers of the Northglenn Police Department are  required to wear body cameras that are in use during enforcement and investigative tasks.
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