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Police FAQs

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1. Do Redmond Police officers wear body-worn cameras?

The Redmond Police Department implemented a Body-Worn Camera (BWC) program for all sworn officers and installed dash cameras in all patrol vehicles. In 2021, Chief Darrell Lowe petitioned City Council to allocate funding for the BWC program which includes additional staffing needed to support the program.  A select few Redmond Police Officers are currently field testing body-worn cameras on calls for service and self-initiated activities. In the coming weeks, all sworn personnel will receive their equipment and full implementation will occur. 

2. Does the Redmond Police Department have clear standards for when force can be used?

The Redmond Police Department’s Use of Force Policy has been adapted to incorporate the standards set forth by Washington State Law guidelines to Physical Force and Deadly Force applications.

Physical Force- Officers shall use reasonable care when determining whether to use and when using any physical force against another person. The least amount of physical force necessary shall be used to overcome resistance under the circumstances (Chapter 324 § 3, 2021 Laws).

An officer may use physical force upon another person when necessary to:

1. Protect against criminal conduct where there is probable cause to make an arrest or effect an arrest.
2. Prevent an escape as defined under chapter 9A.76 RCW. 
3. Protect against an imminent threat of bodily injury to the officer, another person, or the person against whom force is being used.

Officers shall terminate the use of physical force as soon as the necessity for such force ends.

Deadly Force Applications- When reasonable, the officer shall, before the use of deadly force, make efforts to identify him/herself as a peace officer and to warn that deadly force may be used, unless the officer has objectively reasonable grounds to believe the person is aware of those facts.

Use of deadly force is only justified when the officer reasonably believes it is necessary for the following circumstances (Chapter 324 § 3, 2021 Laws):

An officer may use deadly force to protect him/herself or others from what he/she reasonably believes is an imminent threat of serious physical injury or death.

For purposes of deadly force, an "imminent threat of serious physical injury or death" exists when, based on the totality of the circumstances, it is objectively reasonable to believe that a person has the present and apparent ability, opportunity, and intent to immediately cause death or serious bodily injury to the peace officer or another person.

 Redmond Police Department Use of Force Policy

3. Does the Redmond Police Department allow chokeholds?

Chokeholds and strangleholds are considered deadly force at the Redmond Police Department and can only be used when deadly force can be lawfully justified.

4. When are RPD officers authorized to use deadly force?

In considering whether to use deadly force under subsection (1)(c) of the Authorization by Law section of the Use of Force policy, "to arrest or apprehend any person for the commission of any crime, the peace officer must have probable cause to believe that the suspect, if not apprehended, poses a threat of serious physical harm to the officer or a threat of serious physical harm to others."

PHILOSOPHY: The Redmond Police Department strives to deliver police services as efficiently and unobtrusively as possible with minimal reliance upon the use of physical force or response to resistance. It is recognized that officers are expected to make split-second decisions and that the amount of time available to evaluate and respond to changing circumstances may impact an officer’s decision. While various degrees of force exist, each officer is expected to use only that degree of force reasonable under the circumstances perceived by the officer at the time of the event to successfully accomplish the legitimate law enforcement purpose and bring the incident under control.

Redmond Police Department Use of Force Policy

5. Does the Redmond Police Department require officers to exhaust all alternatives before using deadly force?

Yes. Redmond Police Officers must use deadly force only when necessary and when they believe less lethal options have been exhausted or will not work. For instance, if someone is actively killing someone, we do not have to move through all of the less lethal options first before stopping the murder.

6. Does the Redmond Police Department have a use of force continuum?

The specific term "use of force continuum" refers to an outdated use of force model. As a state accredited agency, our use of force policy is grounded in the fundamental concepts of de-escalation and reasonableness. If force is necessary, then the officer uses only that amount of force that is reasonable given the facts and circumstances at the time of the event – and only for a legitimate law enforcement purpose. This is in line with current best practices in the policing profession.

7. Does the Redmond Police Department investigate themselves if deadly force is used?

No. After the passage of Initiative 940/SHB 1064 in November 2018, law enforcement agencies in Washington State are prohibited from conducting their own investigations when deadly force is used.

The Redmond Police Department is a participating member of the Independent Force Investigative Team-King County (IFIT-KC). IFIT-KC is a multi-agency team made of investigators from 13 King County Police Departments. If any Redmond Police personnel are involved in an incident of deadly force, the Redmond members of the IFIT-KC team will be excluded from all aspects of the investigation.

8. How does the Redmond Police Department track use of force in their agency?

The Redmond Police Department uses a database to log all instances force is used by an officer. This database logs information about the incident. This information includes the level of force used, why the force was used, and demographic information on the persons involved. This database also serves as an early intervention system by notifying the department if an officer has an increased number of uses of force, collisions, or complaints. 

9. What is the expectation of a Redmond Police Officer who observes excessive force?

Redmond Police Officers have a duty to intervene and stop excessive force. In addition, any Police Department employee who witnesses a Redmond Police Officer use force that appears to be in violation of this standard shall report such use of force to his/her immediate supervisor as soon as practical. 

10. Do the Redmond Police provide immediate medical assistance after a use of force?

Yes. After using force, as soon as safely able, Redmond Police Officers are expected to provide medical assistance including using lifesaving measures such as CPR and calling for immediate medical assistance.  

11. What kind of de-escalation training do Redmond Police Officers receive?

Redmond Police Officers receive critical de-escalation training to help learn how to use time, distance and shielding in critical incidents in hopes to use less force in crisis situations. This training begins in the State Police Academy and continues throughout an officer’s career with our department. It is standard to incorporate de-escalation techniques into most trainings and is a concept woven into all training that is provided. 

All officers also receive Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) in the law enforcement academy. All Washington Officers are now required to complete a yearly two-hour refresher course provided by and tracked by the Washington Criminal Justice Training Center. CIT training builds upon the concept of de-escalation specifically with people suffering from a mental health and/or a substance abuse crisis.

Redmond Police utilize the full-time Mental Health Professional to co-respond to crisis patrol calls to assist in de-escalation. 

12. Does the Redmond Police Department ban shooting at moving vehicles?

Redmond Police firearms training strongly discourages shooting at moving vehicles because it increases the risk of causing more injury and harm to the community if the vehicle loses control and other safety concerns.  

13. Do Redmond Police Officers receive any training on implicit bias, racism or prejudice?

Yes. Redmond Police Officers also receive training on the above topics in the Washington State Basic Law Enforcement Academy and in annual refresher trainings and other professional development courses. Every City of Redmond employee, including police employees, receive ongoing training on implicit bias, racism and prejudice. Most recently, in 2019, every employee completed a course titled “Deconstructing our Bias” taught by Chanin Kelly-Rae, a former Statewide Diversity Manager for the State of Washington. This course focused on ensuring our work for the community is always mindful of diversity, equity and inclusion for all. The City of Redmond is committed to establishing equity and inclusion training on topics including implicit bias to all new employees and maintaining that training throughout an employee’s career. For more information on ’Welcoming Redmond’, the citywide cultural inclusion initiative that the Police Department actively participates in, visit www.redmond.gov/675/Welcoming-Redmond. 

14. How do Community Members get involved with the Redmond Police Department?

Community members are welcomed to join RPD in many arenas. You can volunteer, join our Community Equity Action Team, or work for us as an officer, dispatcher or support staff. We are also actively seeking employees who represent our diverse population and have a desire to make a difference in our community.

Learn more at www.redmond.gov/684/Join-Our-Police-Team

15. What is the Community Equity Action Team?

This council advises the Chief of Police on issues related to equity, transparency and community relations. For more information on the process through which it was created, and how to join, visit www.redmond.gov/CEAT.

16. Does the Redmond Police have a policy about filming the police?

The Redmond Police Department recognizes the community’s right to videotape and film police officers working in public, and we will not take your phone from you simply for filming us. The Redmond Police Department will not seize phones unless lawfully allowed, including by consent of the owner of the phone or when legally pursuing a search warrant to search the phone before returning it to the owner. 

17. Does RPD have any surplus military equipment received under the federal 1033 program?

No, RPD does not.

18. Does the Redmond Police Department share employee information with other departments if an employee leaves after discipline?

The Redmond Police Department conducts thorough background investigations into employees and participates in other agencies background investigations when requested.  This holistic investigation includes verifying that our employees have no affiliations to discriminatory groups or activities, do not have a history of hate speech or abuse, and more.  In addition, police officers who leave the agency under sustained discipline are reported when appropriate to the Criminal Justice Training Commission for evaluation of their certification. If an officer is convicted of a crime, for example, this information is shared with the state so the commission can determine if they want to revoke their peace officer certification

Learn more at www.cjtc.wa.gov/certification/certification-hearings 

19. How do we learn about your police union contracts?

For information regarding our collective bargaining agreements, please see here: City of Redmond Labor Contracts. We believe in collective bargaining and lawful accountability through due process for all community members, including police employees. 

20. How do I file a complaint on a Redmond Police Employee?

If you would like to file a complaint on a Redmond Police Employee, you have multiple options. For detailed information see this document.

1. If you are in a situation and would like a supervisor to respond to the scene, you can make that request to an officer and a supervisor will be requested. 
2. If you would like to talk to a supervisor over the phone, you can call our 24/7 non-emergency line at 425-556-2500 and request to file a complaint. Our Dispatch Center will locate the on-duty supervisor and have them contact you.
3. You can also visit the Redmond Police Department lobby and request to speak with a supervisor in person. 

21. Does the Redmond PD follow the six pillars of the 21st Century Policing Task Force report released by the Obama administration in 2015?

As a Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) accredited agency, the six pillars of the 21st Century Policing Task Force are incorporated into the accreditation process and can be found throughout Redmond Police policies and procedures. The six pillars are a priority for RPD and act as a benchmark for evaluation of all our performance and processes as we continuously grow and develop as an agency.