The Los Angeles Police Commission on Tuesday revised the way it evaluates police shootings, tying an officer's use of deadly force to his or her actions in the moments leading up to the incident, the Los Angeles Times reports.
The unanimous decision by the civilian panel that oversees the Los Angeles Police Department was made to bring the department in line with current legal standards
It also is expected to clarify commission rules that in the past have led to confusion over how the panel evaluates some officer shootings and other incidents involving deadly force.
With its vote, the commission made clear it can find that a shooting or other serious incident violated department policy if the officer's actions beforehand created a situation in which deadly force was necessary. Until now, the commission has generally focused on the narrow question of whether an officer faced a deadly threat at the moment he opened fire.
