Sitka police release operations manual in wake of video

Hoogendorn video still
A defense attorney procured the video of Hoogendorn’s arrest and posted in social media by Sitka teacher Alexander Allison. (YouTube screen capture)

The City of Sitka has released its police department Operating Procedures Manual to the public.

The 342-page document was posted on the city’s website Wednesday morning in the wake of a viral video showing a high school student being tased in the Sitka jail.

KCAW filed a public records request for the document after Police Chief Sheldon Schmitt brought a copy to a news conference with Sitka reporters Nov. 3. A video posted on social media showing a teenager being repeatedly tased in the Sitka jail prompted concerns over the use of excessive force in the department.

The radio station’s request was formally denied in a letter drafted by Sitka’s legal department on the grounds that the release of police procedures “could reasonably be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings,” among other objections.

Maegan Bosak, Sitka’s community relations director, says the city has reconsidered its position.

“I think it was requested by different media outlets and citizens and after a review, the city decided that there was a need to be fully transparent and wanted to make it available to read through and use as needed,” she said.

The Operating Procedures Manual — or OPM — is based on operating procedures used by the Alaska State Troopers.

Lance Ewers is a former trooper and now serves as one of two lieutenants in the Sitka Police Department.

“I think what we’re literally living through is an evolution in law enforcement,” Ewers said.

Ewers believes that allowing people to fully understand police procedures is important to understanding why we created police forces historically, rather than giving police duties to the military.

“So what we’re seeing here is a giant step — a beautiful step — backward in time, where we’re remembering that there is no us versus them. There’s only us, and we are the people, and the people are the police,” he said. “So why wouldn’t we want the people to know what the rulebook is?”

The 342-page manual covers everything from wearing the uniform to the operation of police vehicles, to bioterrorism. In the aftermath of the tasing video, many people will probably be turning to Chapter 104, which covers the use of force.

The specific levels of force demonstrated in the Hoogendorn video aren’t spelled out in detail in the Operating Procedures Manual. Ewers says this where police training comes into play.

“We can’t punish someone in the use of force,” he said. “You can’t bring punishment on them. You can use force to gain safe control, but once safe control is obtained you have to de-escalate the amount of force that you’re using.”

Sitka police chief Sheldon Schmitt has defended the conduct of the officers in the video, saying the arrest was in line with police procedures, and that Hoogendorn was combative with officers from the moment they confronted him outside of a Sitka bar.

“Some people might look at a situation where there are three police officers … and they might look at that and go, ‘… It’s three-on-one; that’s not fair.’ But in reality, by having three officers, you can use less force than having one officer. Because one officer by himself has to use more force and is actually legally justified in using more force to ensure that they win safe control in a certain engagement,” Ewers said.

The Operating Procedures Manual requires any use of force by police beyond routine handcuffing to be documented. The FBI is conducting an investigation into the Hoogendorn arrest to determine if procedures were followed. Among them: Section 402 of the OPM describes searching uncooperative prisoners and placing them in lockdown until they become cooperative. Section 102 governs the conduct of police during arrests and states, “His office gives him no right to prosecute the violator, nor to mete out punishment for the offense.”

KCAW - Sitka

KCAW is our partner station in Sitka. KTOO collaborates with partners across the state to cover important news and to share stories with our audiences.

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