3.110 Use of Force Policy Flashcards
It is the policy of this department that officers hold the _________ ________ for the dignity and liberty of all persons and place minimal reliance upon the use of force.
Highest regard
The proper use of force is essential for ensuring impartial policing and for building trust in the community. There are circumstances where individuals will not comply with the law unless compelled or controlled by police officers through the use of force. Officers must remain mindful that they derive their authority from the community and that _____________________ degrades the legitimacy of that authority
Unreasonable force
An officer’s actions to slow down, stabilize, and resolve an incident as safely as possible by reducing danger through the use of verbal persuasion, tactics, resources, and transitioning through force options.
De-escalation
The movement, progression, or reduction from the application of one force type to another.
Force transitions
An impending violent act, harm, or resistance that will likely occur if not instantly confronted or addressed.
Imminent threat
Broad categories of force options in escalating stages of intensity that are identified as low-level force, intermediate force, and deadly force.
Levels of control
An objective standard of force viewed from the perspective of a reasonable officer, without the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, and based on the totality of the circumstances presented at the moment the force is used.
Objectively reasonable
The placement of a subject’s body in a manner that does not restrict breathing or obstruct the airway, i.e., on their side or upright.
Recovery position
An injury that creates a substantial risk of death, causes serious permanent disfigurement, or results in a prolonged loss or impairment of the functioning of any body part.
Substantial bodily injury
When may officers use force?
Protect themselves or others,
overcome resistance,
to effect a lawful detention,
a lawful arrest, or
to conduct a lawful search
Officers should, if reasonable, make their intent to detain, arrest, or search the subject
When are officers authorized to use deadly force to effect an arrest, when in compliance with NRS and the legal standards under Tennessee v. Garner?
- Protect themselves or others from what is considerably believed to be an imminent threat of death or substantial bodily injury
- Prevent the escape of a fleeing felon who the officer has probable cause to believe has committed a violent felony crime and is an imminent threat to human life if escape should occur
Officer will give warning, if feasible, before the use of deadly force.
What are the objective factors that affect the reasonableness of force? (Graham v Connor plus the 5 additional factors)
- The severity of the crime
- Whether the suspect poses an immediate threat to the safety of officers or others
- Whether the suspect is actively resisting arrest or attempting to evade arrest by flight
- The influence of drugs/alcohol or the mental capacity of the subject
- The time available to make a decision
- The availability of officers or resources (including the number of officers present at the time) to de-escalate the situation
- The proximity or access of weapons to the subject
- The environmental factors and/or other exigent circumstances
Any officer present, regardless of rank, and observing another officer using force that is clearly beyond what is justified or objectively reasonable under the circumstances will, when in a safe position to do so, intercede to prevent the unreasonable use of force.
Duty to intervene
Duty to intervene reporting
The officer will promptly report these observations and the efforts made to intervene to a supervisor. If the supervisor is using unjustified force, the officer will report it to the next level of supervision. If the observing officer is a supervisor, they will issue a direct order to stop the violation.
What will the reporting officer on a duty to intervene incident do?
Document in writing no later than 10 days after the occurrence:
- Date, time and location of incident
- Identity, if known, and description of participants
- Description of actions taken as a result
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is committed to protecting people, their property and rights while providing the best in public safety and service. The proper use of force is essential for ensuring ___________________ and for _____________________. There are circumstances where individuals will not comply with the law unless compelled or controlled by police officers through the use of force. Officers must remain mindful that they derive their authority from the community and that unreasonable force degrades the legitimacy of that authority (see LVMPD 8.174, Respect for Individual Rights of Persons).
Impartial policing
Building trust in the community
The department seeks to manage use of force beyond the Graham v. Connor (1989) standard and its minimum requirements by establishing further parameters for the application of force and to offer explicit direction to officers. __________________, __________________, and ________________ will always be the foundation of officer decision-making in the broad range of possible use of force situations.
Sound judgment,
the appropriate exercise of discretion,
and
the adherence to department policy.
Weapons meeting department specifications for which officers receive proficiency and safety training.
Approved weapons
The department respects the __________ of every human life, and the application of deadly force is a measure to be employed in the most extreme circumstances where lesser means of force have failed or could not be reasonably considered.
Sanctity
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is committed to protecting ________________, ____________________ and ______________
while providing the best in public safety and service.
People, their property and rights
Officers will only use a level of force that is ______________________ to bring an incident or persons under control and to safely accomplish a lawful purpose.
Objectively reasonable
In a confrontation, an officer will continuously ___________ their response and adjust any use of force accordingly based upon the level of resistance encountered. Failure to ____________ each application of force can lead to a violation of law and/or policy.
Reassess
The intent is to gain control of a subject and then transition into a custody phase where an officer is able to focus on the subject’s welfare. In choosing a force option, the nature and severity of the crime underlying the police and citizen interaction must be considered.
Policing requires that at times an officer must exercise control of a violent or resisting subject to make an arrest or to protect the officer, other officers, or members of the community from risk of harm. Clearly, not every potential violent confrontation can be de-escalated, but officers do have the ability to impact the direction and the outcome of many situations based on their decision-making and the tactics they choose to employ. As a strategy to diminish the likelihood and the severity of force, officers will attempt to de-escalate confrontations.
De-Escalation
When reasonable, officers should gather information about the ________, ________, _________ and ____________ attempt to ________________, and __________and _______________. Officers should start to develop a tactical plan prior to arriving at the scene and, when applicable, utilize intervention techniques by coordinating approaches to persons who are in crisis, are believed to be mentally ill, or have developmental disabilities
incident, assess the risks, assemble resources and equipment
Slow momentum, and communicate and coordinate a response.
