ORS: Data Submission-Contacts & Use of Force

Submission Methods. The collected data can be submitted in three ways.

1. AGENCY RMS. Agencies can modify their RMS to collect the data required under the Law Enforcement Integrity (LEI) Contacts, Use of Force, and Unannounced entry requirements.
2. THIRD PARTY VENDOR. Agencies can enter a relationship with a third-party vendor capable of collecting and submitting the data.
3. SIDEARM. The DCJ is using a product called Sidearm to allow law enforcement agencies to enter data directly into the LEI database.

Submission Timelines. Statute mandates that contact and use of force data to be collected from April 1, 2022, onward. Because the technical specifications for collection were not published until July 2022 the beginning of the collection period started August 1, 2022. Any data collected prior to August 1, 2022, will not be submitted. It is recommended that data submissions occur on at least a monthly basis to avoid backlogs in data processing. All submissions should occur on the 15th of the month following the month being reported on. Any monthly data that is in arrears must be reported by April 15th of the year following the "reporting year" (in other words, all 2025 data must be reported by April 15, 2026).  

Third-party Vendors for Data Collection

There are a number of third-party vendors who have been working on data collection and reporting solutions that will comply with the LEI requirements. This list does not represent an endorsement, but merely offers contact information for vendors whose products include the capability for LEI reporting.

Benchmark Analytics (www.benchmarkanalytics.com)
Chris Casula | Chief Partnerships Officer
Office | (312) 795-0558
Cell    | (414) 308-0768
chris.casula@benchmarkanalytics.com

Global Public Safety (globalsoftwarecorp.com)

Citizen Contact by SmartForce (https://citizencontact.app)
Mariano Delle Donne | CEO and Founder
Direct: 303-800-5037
Cell: 303-898-2935
6400 S. Fiddlers Green Circle, Suite 300
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
info@smartforcetech.com
support@smartforce.com

Stoplitix (stoplitix.com)
Austin Pittman
info@stoplitix.com
(336) 693-9488

Tyler Technologies (www.tylertech.com)
Paul Hager | Director/Sales
(908)-674-2773
Paul.Hager@tylertech.com

How to Submit JSON Files (Agency RMS & 3rd Party Vendors)

The LEA Reporting site for contacts data is where JSON files are submitted. It is the same URL that is used for reporting NIBRS data. The OSN you use to logon and report NIBRS is the same one you will use to report Contacts. When you are logged on, the Submit Data menu now includes a Contacts Data Upload option.

Sidearm: Direct Data Entry

Sidearm is a free application that collects contacts and use of force data in a simple question/answer format, validating the data as entered, thus ensuring that all submissions are valid and complete. For those in the field, Sidearm also has the capability to enter contacts while offline to be uploaded when access to the internet is restored.

If your agency is interested in the Sidearm product, please contact us by e-mail at cdps_dcj_lei@state.co.us and we will assist you in getting set up.

Logon Credentials for Crime Insight

If you have an OSN:

Contact the Terminal Agency Coordinator (TAC) at your agency and let them know they will need to submit a COSN form request through OpenFox to get credentials for Crime Insight. If you only need access to the Contacts upload feature of Crime Insight, ask the TAC to select “Contacts and Crime Insight” as the security role. This change will take approximately 1-3 business days.

If you need a new OSN:

Contact the TAC at your agency and let them know you need a new OSN. They will submit the request through OpenFox via the OSNT form. If you only need access to the Contacts upload feature of Crime Insight, ask the TAC to select “Contacts and Crime Insight” as the security role.

What is the definition of a contact?

The Deputy Attorney General for CDPS has concluded that the definition of contact includes both pro-active contacts by law enforcement as well as those in response to a call for service. C.R.S. 24-31-901: “Contact” means an in-person interaction with an individual, whether or not the person is in a motor vehicle, initiated by a peace officer, whether consensual or nonconsensual, for the purpose of enforcing the law or investigating possible violations of the law. “Contact” does not include routine interactions with the public at the point of entry or exit from a controlled area; a non-investigatory and consensual interaction with a member of the public, initiated by a member of the public, unless and until the interaction progresses into an investigation of a possible violation of the law; a motorist assist; undercover interactions; or routine interactions with persons detained in a jail or detention facility.

What does Use of Force include?

The state definition of “use of force” includes: “All use of force by its peace officers that results in death or serious bodily injury or that involves the use of a weapon.”  This is substantially different from the FBI definition which requires discharging a firearm, causing serious bodily injury, or causing death.

Use of a weapon includes unholstering, brandishing, or discharging a weapon during an incident. The statute defines a weapon as a “firearm, long gun, Taser, baton, nunchucks, or projectile weapons.” Once a weapon is unholstered or brandished, even if not discharged, then it becomes a reportable use of force incident. If there is force of any type that results in death or serious bodily injury then this is also reportable.

Examples:

1. Officer approaches citizen and draws weapon. Reportable force. Include name, POST number and other required information for officer.

2. Officer approaches citizen and draws weapon. A backup officer is on the scene but does not draw the weapon. Reportable force. Include name, POST number and other required information for officer who draws weapon and POST number for backup officer.

3. Officer is involved with citizen and uses a baton to gain control of the citizen. The use of the baton does not cause serious injury. Reportable force. Use of a weapon and not necessarily outcome of the force is state threshold for reporting.

4. Officer uses a control hold on a citizen that does not result in any serious bodily injury. Not reportable force.

5. Officer uses a control hold on a citizen that breaks the wrist of the citizen, thus resulting in a serious bodily injury. Reportable use of force. Even though the intent of the officer was to simply exert control, the outcome of the incident was still a serious bodily injury. 

The officer’s name and other required information must be entered. The other officers at the scene who did not use reportable force need to have their POST numbers entered for the event. If a weapon is being stored on the officer’s back or in some other way where it is not able to be immediately used then it is not considered to be brandished even though it is visible.

Comparison guide between FBI and State use of force guidelines

Are complaints and investigations able to be submitted at a later time?

Complaints and investigations of officer conduct often happen weeks or months after the contact. Sidearm allows agencies to modify previously submitted reports with additional information about the complaint or investigation.

How are SWAT or other activities involving multiple officers reported?

If a weapon is brandished during the contact then all officers’ names and other required information must be reported for that use of force event. In this case, if a firearm or long gun is in the hands of the officer in a ready position to be used, it is considered to be brandished. If the weapon is being carried on the officer’s back and is being secured in such a way that it could not be immediately fired, it is not considered to be brandished.

How are Victims and witnesses reported?

Victims and witnesses are both excluded from the definition of contacts. If a show-up is conducted then there will be some limited demographic information collected for the witness in the context of the statute, which includes gender, race, ethnicity, and confidence of the show-up. 

Are officers' names going to be public-facing and searchable?

Yes, there will be a page that will list the agency, date, officer name, and type of force used in the incident. It will be similar to the POST page here.

What methods are used for quality assurance of the data?

The process for quality assurance will be similar to those in use to ensure quality assurance of the NIBRS data submissions. If there are issues with submissions, the agency will receive an error message with information on the nature of the error and how to correct it. Errors with JSON file submissions will appear as either “Completed with X number of errors” or “Failed with X number of errors.” Only failed files need to be edited and corrected. Clicking into the “Status” hyperlink will direct you to a page where the errors are displayed - please note, errors only populate one at a time. If you have trouble reading the error message, please contact your RMS or someone with access to the Contacts Uploads specifications spreadsheet. You can also send questions to cdps_dcj_lei@state.co.us and a member of our team will be happy to assist.