TITLE
Consider an ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances Chapter 22, Police, to prohibit no-knock warrants.
SUMMARY
DATE: April 27, 2021
TO: Kent Cagle, City Manager
FROM: Charles Kimble, Chief of Police
SUBJECT: Amendment of Chapter 22 Article IV Prohibiting No-Knock Warrants
BACKGROUND AND FINDINGS:
The Killeen Police Department, on occasion, has used no-knock warrants to arrest violent offenders. In 2020, incidents throughout the nation forced police departments to re-examine several policies, including the execution of no-knock warrants. On June 16, 2020, the Chief of Police and the Executive Staff of the Police Department developed a Police Reform package that changed policy and procedures regarding use of force, choke holds, requesting medical treatment for arrestees, accountability, transparency and use of no-knock warrants. In summary, the reform package has eliminated no-knock warrants for narcotic only cases, and a very high threshold for non-narcotic exceptions must be met only after a presentation to the Chief of Police or an Assistant Chief of Police. The last no-knock warrant executed in the City of Killeen was April 29, 2020 and the Killeen Police Department has adjusted its tactics that no-knock warrants are no longer an option. The City of Killeen drafted an ordinance revising Article IV Chapter of the City of Killeen Code of Ordinance. It states in part:
ARTICLE IV. SEARCH WARRANT LIMITATIONS
Sec. 22-60. Purpose.
The purpose of this article is to limit the type of search warrants that can be executed by peace officers employed by the City of Killeen within the Killeen city limits.
Sec. 22-61. Search Warrant Exception.
No peace officer employed by the City of Killeen, including the Chief of Police as provided in section 22-26, may request, execute or participate in the execution of any search warrant that does not require the officer to...
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