Levels of Control Flashcards
Low Level Force
a level of control that balances against a subject who is compliant or obstructive and is neither likely nor intended to cause injury. Examples are handcuffing a compliant arrestee or proning a subject out on a high-risk vehicle stop.
Intermediate Force
a level of control that balances against a subject who is assaultive and has the potential to cause injury or substantial pain.
Deadly Force
a degree of force which balances against a subject whose actions are lifethreatening and likely to result in death or substantial bodily injury.
Deadly Force Options
a. Baton (striking head, neck, chest, spine, groin, or kidneys)
b. Low lethality shotgun (fired at a distance less than seven yards)
c. 40mm specialty impact weapon (fired at a distance less than five yards)
d. PIT (speeds more than 40 mph)
e. Ramming
f. Firearm use
Intermediate Force Options
a. Empty hand tactics (strikes, kicks)
b. DSD specialty restraint devices (including restraint chair)
c. Baton/Impact tools (jabs, strikes)
d. Oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray
e. Electronic control device (ECD)
f. Low lethality shotgun (fired at a distance of seven yards or greater)
g. 40mm specialty impact weapon (fired at a distance of five yards or greater)
h. Canine (with bites)
i. PIT (speeds 40 mph or below)
Low Level Force Options
a. Officer presence
b. Verbal communication
c. Empty hand tactics: physical restraint, hand control (escorts, gripping, wristlocks), takedowns (not likely to cause injury, complaint of injury or complaint of continuing pain)
d. Handcuffs/Hobbles/DSD specialty restraints (excluding restraint chair as defined in NRS 193.350)
e. Baton (as escort tool) f. Canine (on leash)
g. Vehicle containment technique (VCT) (This requires a Use of Force Report.)
Elements of Deadly Force
- Ability
- Opportunity
- Imminent Jeopardy
- Preclusion
Ability
exists when a person has the means or capability to cause substantial bodily injury or death to an officer or others. Ability may include the subject’s size, age, strength, combative skill, level of aggression, and any weapons in their immediate control.
Opportunity
exists when a person is in a position to effectively resist an officer’s control or to use force or violence upon the officer or others. Examples which may affect opportunity include:
a. Relative distance to the officer or others.
b. Physical barriers between the subject and the officer
Imminent Jeopardy
based upon the known facts and circumstances, the officer reasonably believes the subject poses an imminent threat to the life of an officer or others, and the officer must act immediately to prevent death or substantial bodily injury
Preclusion
lesser alternatives have been reasonably considered and exhausted before the use of deadly force, to include disengagement.
