CHAPTER 180
FORMERLY
SENATE BILL NO. 142
AS AMENDED BY
SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 1
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE USE OF FORCE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE :
Section 1. Amend § 467, Title 11, Delaware Code by striking subsection “(a)” as it appears therein and substituting in lieu thereof, the following:
“(a) The use of force upon or toward the person of another is justifiable when:
(1) The defendant is making an arrest or assisting in making an arrest and believes that such force is immediately necessary to effect the arrest; or
(2) The defendant is attempting to arrest an individual that has taken a hostage, and refused to comply with an order to release the hostage; and
a. The defendant believes that the use of force is necessary to prevent physical harm to any person taken hostage; or
b. The defendant has been ordered by an individual the defendant believes possesses superior authority or knowledge to apply the use of force.”
Section 2. Amend §467, Title 11, Delaware Code by adding a new subsection (f) thereto, to read as follows:
“(f) The use of deadly force is justifiable under this section if the defendant is attempting to arrest an individual that has taken a hostage, and has refused to comply with an order to release the hostage; and
(1) The defendant believes that the use of force is necessary to prevent physical harm to any person taken hostage, or the defendant has been ordered by an individual the defendant believes possesses superior authority or knowledge to apply the use of force; and
(2) The defendant believes that the force employed creates no substantial risk of injury to innocent persons; and
(3) The defendant or a person of superior authority or knowledge who order the use of deadly force believes that there is a substantial risk that the person to be arrested will cause death or serious physical injury.”