Use of Force Definition

The Rantoul Police Department Use of Force policy states that officers shall use only that amount of force that reasonably appears necessary given the facts and circumstances perceived by the officer at the time of the event to accomplish a legitimate law enforcement purpose.

The reasonableness of force will be judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene at the time of the incident. Any evaluation of reasonableness must allow for the fact that officers are often forced to make split-second decisions about the amount of force that reasonably appears necessary in a particular situation, with limited information and in circumstances that are tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving.

Given that no policy can realistically predict every possible situation an officer might encounter, officers are entrusted to use well-reasoned discretion in determining the appropriate use of force in each incident.

While the ultimate objective of every law enforcement encounter is to avoid or minimize injury, nothing in the policy requires an officer to retreat or be exposed to possible physical injury before applying reasonable force.

The policy includes not only when force was used, but also when force was shown. A show of force is defined as a gesture with a lethal and/or less-lethal weapon directed at a person as a means to coerce or gain compliance. Force is defined as the application of physical techniques or tactics, chemical agents, or weapons to another person. It is not a use of force when a person allows him/herself to be searched, escorted, handcuffed, or restrained.

The police department conducts an internal review on use of force that includes actions leading to an officer’s response, and what type of response was used. The following counts of subject’s actions and types of responses used do not represent individual incidents, but instead all actions and responses deployed for all incidents in which force was used.

Arrest Definitions

State Violation Arrest

State Violation Arrest is defined as when a person is taken into the government's custody and detained for a violation of Illinois Compiled Statues. For adults this may include incarceration at the Champaign County Satellite Jailor a Notice to Appear in court.

Village Ordinance Violation Arrest

Village Notice-to-Appears are used for village ordinance violations

Traffic Definition

A primary goal of traffic enforcement is voluntary compliance with traffic laws. A traffic stop is a temporary detention of a driver of a vehicle by police to investigate a possible a traffic violation. A person may be issued a traffic citation or written warning.

A traffic citation is a legal notice to a person charged with a violation of the Illinois Vehicle Code, especially a minor violation. A citation can be a civil infraction or a misdemeanor depending on the seriousness of the violation. All defendants who receive a citation must respond to the allegations in the citation.

A Written Warning is a warning issued by the officer and is a written statement that the motorist has committed a traffic offense, but is being spared the actual citation. Officers use their own discretion whether to issue a citation or warning.

Crime Free Housing

The Crime-Free Housing Program is a state-of-the-art crime prevention program designed to reduce criminal activity in and around apartments and rental properties.

The cornerstone of the program is a lease addendum that puts potential tenants on notice that they are liable for any certain criminal activity and, if criminal activity does occur, the lease can be terminated and the eviction process initiated.

EMPLOYEE CONDUCT

The Rantoul Police Department is committed to fair and effective law enforcement and appreciates hearing from citizens when we get it right, or when a citizen believes that a police employee did, or might have done something wrong.

Citizen complaints against our officers are a matter in which the Rantoul Police take quite seriously.  All formal complaints are investigated and the information is forwarded to the Chief of Police who reviews the entire file and the weight of the evidence and determines a finding regarding the allegations in the complaint.

Policy 1008 of the Rantoul Police Department defines how the complaint will be investigated, and identifies the following possible dispositions:

• Unfounded: allegation is false or not factual:
• Exonerated: allegation is true, but the action in question was consistent with the law and/or departmental policy;
• Not sustained: insufficient evidence to prove or disprove the allegations;
• Sustained: allegation is true, and the action in question in inconsistent with law and/or departmental policy.

For more information click on the link below:

June 7th, 2023 Officer Involved Shooting

February 6th, 2023 Officer Involved Shooting