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‘Huge liability’: Debate over law enforcement agencies allowing warning shots in AZ | FOX 10 Phoenix
visibility comment0 event December 9, 2025 timer 02:02

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The Sedona Police Department recently changed its use-of-force policy to ban warning shots, a controversial tactic previously permitted under specific circumstances.

Ex-Deputy Chief Ryan Kwitkin, who is suing the city over his termination after raising policy concerns, called the reversal overdue. A survey found that 90% of more than 40 Arizona law enforcement agencies prohibit warning shots, citing safety, ineffectiveness and conflict with state statutes such as Shannon’s Law.

However, agencies in Tolleson, Lake Havasu City, Greenlee County and Paradise Valley still allow the practice under certain discretionary conditions.

Policing experts argue that policies allowing warning shots conflict with Shannon’s Law, which criminalizes negligently firing a gun in an Arizona municipality, even if officers may be granted governmental immunity if their action is deemed reasonable.

FOX 10 Investigator Justin Lum has more on why these departments can bypass Shannon’s Law.

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