Use of Force Flashcards
(42 cards)
Weapons meeting department specifications for which officers receive proficiency and safety training.
Approved Weapons
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 forces and deadly force.
Levels of Control
An objective standard of force viewed from perspective of a reasonable Officer, without the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, and based on the totality of 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
It is the policy of this department that Officers hold the highest regard for the _____ and _____ of all persons and place _____ reliance upon the use of force.
Dignity - Liberty
Minimal
Officers may use force to protect themselves or others, _____ _____, to effect a _____ detention, a _____ arrest, or to conduct a _____ _____.
Overcome Resistance - Lawful - Lawful - Lawful Search
Officers are legally authorized to use deadly force to effect an arrest when in compliance with Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) and the legal standards under Tennessee v. Garner (1985) to:
- Protect themselves or others from what is reasonably 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.
Objective factors that affect the reasonableness of the force include (Graham v. Connor 1989):
- The severity of the crime
- Whether the subject poses an immediate threat to the safety of officers or others
- Whether the subject 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 an officer 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 officers 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 use of unreasonable force.
Duty to Intervene
Duty to Intervene - Reporting
Reporting officer will document in writing no later than 10 days after the occurrence:
- Date, time, and location of the incident
- Identity, if known, and description of the participants
- Description of the actions taken as a result of the observation
Use of Force - Medical Attention
Whenever an officer applies a use of force option upon a subject that results in either observable signs or complaints of injury or difficulty in breathing, the officer will continuously monitor the subject and immediately summon medical attention.
Use of Force - Subject’s Actions (Level of Resistance)
Complaint - Obstructive - Assaultive - Life Threatening
Use of Force - Officer’s Response (Level of Control)
Low Level - Intermediate - Deadly Force
A person contacted by an officer who acknowledges direction or lawful orders given and offers no resistance
Complaint
The subject is uncooperative, not complying with an officer’s commands, or their physical actions are intended to prevent an officer from placing the subject in custody or under control; the subject’s actions are not directed at harming officers or others
Obstructive
The subject demonstrates the intent to harm the officer, others or themselves
Assaultive
The subject’s actions are likely to result in death or substantial bodily injury to the officer or others
Life-Threatening
A level of control that balances against a subject who is compliant or obstructive and is neither likely nor intended to cause injury
Low Level Force
A level of control that balances against a subject who is assaultive and has the potential to cause injury or substantial pain
Intermediate Force
A degree of force which balances against a subject whose actions are life-threatening and likely to result in death of substantial bodily injury
Deadly Force
