Law enforcement officers should use only the amount of force necessary to solve an incident, make an arrest, or protect themselves or others from harm. The levels of force police use include basic verbal and physical restraint, less-lethal force, and lethal force.
Levels Of Force
Officer Presence — No force is used. Considered the best way to resolve a situation.
Verbalization — Force is not physical.
Less-Lethal Methods — Officers use less-lethal technologies (Taser, Baton, Pepper Spray, & Beanbag shotgun) to gain control of a situation.
Lethal/Deadly Force — Officers use lethal weapons to gain control of a situation. Should only be used if a suspect poses a serious threat to the officer or another individual