Transparency and Use of Force

The Volusia Sheriff’s Office is dedicated to preserving the peace, protecting the safety of every person in our community and ensuring the fair treatment of all who encounter our deputies and staff. Sheriff Mike Chitwood has instituted several policies, training initiatives and organizational philosophies designed to reduce use of force, emphasize de-escalation, and recognize that the sanctity of all life is our highest priority.

The Sheriff's Office strives to maintain the highest professional standards while delivering a full range of community-based law enforcement and crime prevention programs to the citizens of Volusia County. In addition to our jurisdiction throughout unincorporated Volusia, the Sheriff's Office also provides law enforcement services on a contract basis in Deltona, DeBary, Pierson and Oak Hill.

Shortly after taking office in 2017, Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood commissioned a use of force study by the Washington, D.C.-based Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). The study analyzed all of our policies, procedures, tactics, training and culture related to use of force, as well as each of our deputy-involved shootings over the prior 3 years.

One of several recommendations in the PERF report was to add a statement to policy regarding the duty to intervene. We added policy language stating: “Deputies have a duty to intervene if they anticipate or observe the unreasonable, unnecessary, or disproportionate use of force.”

Other current policy language includes:

It is the policy of the VSO that Deputies use only the minimal degree of force that is necessary to overcome the immediate threat and/or to effectuate an arrest. Excessive force will not be tolerated. Deputies shall exercise all safe and reasonable means of control and containment; the application of force shall be guided by Florida State Statutes, VSO Directives, and agency approved training.

The Sheriff authorizes Deputies to use that amount of force that is proportional, reasonable and necessary under the circumstances to protect themselves and/or others while performing their lawful duties. When feasible and practical, Deputies shall attempt to resolve potential use of force situations with non-physical force alternatives, such as direction, persuasion, verbal warning, or time/distance tactics prior to resorting to the use of force. Deputies have a duty to intervene if they anticipate or observe the unreasonable, unnecessary, or disproportionate use of force.

The use of force policy also includes a definition of neck holds as lethal force: "A neck hold is considered deadly force; Volusia Sheriff’s Office does not train in this restraining technique and does not authorize its use."

The Volusia Sheriff’s Office had 48 use of force incidents in 2022, or about 0.7 percent of 6,930 total arrests and less than 0.02 percent of more than 281,000 calls for service. The vast majority of those incidents involved non-deadly force, like restraining physical force, a K-9 apprehension or a Taser. The remaining 99+ percent of all interactions occurred without incident.

Use of force incidents have decreased more than 60 percent since 2016. Total use of force incidents since that time are as follows:

2022: 48
2021: 54
2020: 69
2019: 65
2018: 87
2017: 122
2016: 123

Each year, we produce a detailed report on use of force, which is available here or in the list of document links on this page.

We’re constantly evaluating our organization to make sure we’re setting a high standard for the actions of law enforcement in Volusia County, and we will continue to pursue the best policies, procedures and training to provide the best protection and service to every person in our county.