Use Of ForcUse of Force

Force is a complex subject within the LEO and a critical one to understand.

In the execution of our duties, we may need to utilize force to gain control of a subject and make an arrest. Our goal for all situations is to safely secure a suspect and hand them along with a criminal case to the judicial system for trial and sentencing.

Naturally, the level of resistance by a suspect may require officer’s  to deploy increased force to safely detain the individual. You should always aim to utilize reasonable force at all times based on the present circumstances. 

 For example, shooting someone is in most cases, not an appropriate use of force against an unarmed subject.

The most simple way to explain force is via a process of escalation.

If a subject has bare fists, Utilize your hands or baton.

 If they have a bladed weapon, and you have a cover officer with a lethal weapon, you may utilize a taser. 

(If you are alone and facing someone with a Melee/bladed weapon, utilize lethal force.)

At all times when facing a subject with a melee weapon, attempt to maintain a distance of roughly 30ft (10m) this allows reaction time to safely stop the subject should they attempt to reach you.

 If they have a firearm, a firearm is a justifiable response.

Lethal force is justified when a subject presents an imminent threat to your safety, and or the safety of others. (Note: Simply holding a weapon does not justify lethal force necessarily, nor does having previously justified lethal force. Treat every interaction as a flexible continuum.)

At all times, we should be communicating with the suspect, and warning them of our intent to use force against them if they do not comply with our lawful orders.

Commands such as “Stop resisting.” or “If you do not stop resisting I may have to use force.” can be utilized to gain compliance.Reasonable force is defined as: Force is reasonable if a reasonable person would think it necessary to use force and would have used the same level of force as the defendant. This test is fundamentally objective: the defendant may not decide for himself what is reasonable based on his own values.

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