LINCOLN — Eight proposed policies outlining how police handle pursuits, residents’ complaints, use of force and hostage situations will be the topics for a public hearing at 7 p.m. today in the town office.

Town Manager Glenn E. Aho said the proposed policies were prepared by the Maine Criminal Justice Academy as minimum operating standards for all police departments.

A new law, titled An Act to Amend the Laws Governing the Training and Certification of Law Enforcement Officers, requires all law enforcement agencies to adopt written policies covering the following: use of force; barricaded persons and hostage situations; persons exhibiting deviant behavior; domestic violence; hate or bias crimes; police pursuits; residents’ complaints of police misconduct; and criminal conduct engaged in by law enforcement officers.

“You can look at them as an insurance policy,” Aho said.

Without written policies outlining standard operating procedures, the manager said, the town faced greater liability exposure. He said some towns had no written policies outlining police operating procedures but reacted to situations based on past practice or verbal policies.

“In a court of law it is hard to legitimize your policies based on past practice,” Aho said. “This way they are written. They are consistant and they are approved by the Maine Criminal Justice Academy,” he added.

The manager said Lincoln has four of the eight policies, but they are not necessarily identical to those proposed by the academy.

Copies of the policies are available for review at the town office.