use of force

Question 1

It is the policy of the department that officers hold the highest regard for (uof)

Answer 1

1. the dignity and
2. liberty of all persons and
3. place minimal reliance upon the use of force

Question 2

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is committed to protecting

Answer 2

people,
their property and
rights
while providing the best in public safety and service.

Question 3

de-escalation is An officer’s actions to (3)

Answer 3

1.slow down,
2.stabilize, and
3.resolve
an incident as safely as possible by reducing danger through the use of verbal persuasion, tactics, resources, and transitioning through force options

Question 4

imminent threat is An impending violent act that can cause

Answer 4

harm, or
resistance
And will likely occur if not instantly confronted or addressed

Question 5

objectively reasonable

Answer 5

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.

Question 6

substantial bodily injury is an injury that creates a substantial risk of

Answer 6

death,

causes serious permanent disfigurement,

or results in a prolonged loss or impairment of the functioning of any body part.

Question 7

Officers are legally authorized to use deadly force

Answer 7

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.

Question 8

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. An officer’s use of force must balance against the level of resistance exhibited by the subject.

Answer 8

objectively reasonable

Question 9

officers will only use the amount of reasonable force necessary to

Answer 9

effect an arrest.

Question 10

Graham v. Connor

Answer 10

⦁ 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

Question 11

Five additional factors

Answer 11

⦁ 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

Question 12

a strategy to diminish the likelihood and the severity of force

Answer 12

De-Escalation

Question 13

When reasonable, officers should assemble and
(deescalation) (5)

Answer 13

gather information about the incident

assess the risks,

assemble resources and equipment,

attempt to slow momentum, and

communicate and coordinate a response

Question 14

What are factors that would cause an officer to utilize de-escalation techniques, crisis intervention, or other alternatives to force when reasonable? (4)

Answer 14

When subjects are at extremes of age (under 13 over 70),
physically frail,
visibly or known to be pregnant,
or disabled,

Question 15

In responding as a team, officers should manage the containment or isolation of the subject. In their interaction with a subject officers will, when feasible, use (4)

Answer 15

1.advisements,
2.warnings,
3.verbal persuasion, and
4.other tactics as alternatives to higher levels of force.

Question 16

Supervisors will possess a thorough knowledge of

Answer 16

tactics and ensure that officers under their supervision perform to a standard.

Question 17

In dynamic and highly charged incidents, supervisors will

Answer 17

provide clear direction
and
communication
to officers regarding their positioning and roles.

Question 18

Duty to Intervene

Answer 18

intercede to prevent the use of unreasonable force.

The officer will promptly report these observations and the efforts made to intervene to a supervisor.

Question 19

Duty to intervene reporting (time frame)

Answer 19

10 days

Question 20

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

Answer 20

continuously monitor the subject and immediately summon medical attention.

Question 21

After a use of force, Officers will monitor

Answer 21

for signs of life (e.g., pulse, respiration, and chest movement) and update responding medical personnel via Dispatch with any changes in the subject’s condition.

Question 22

Officers should render medical aid

Answer 22

within the scope of their departmental training and skill level while awaiting the next level of medical care

Question 23

Officers will not restrain subjects who are in custody and under control in a manner that

Answer 23

compromises their ability to breathe.

Proned handcuffed subjects will be immediately placed in a recovery or seated position once safe to do so

Question 24

While handcuffed subjects are seated they will not be

Answer 24

forcefully bent forward at the waist, and pressure will not be applied to their back, neck, or head

Question 25

officer to continually assess the subject’s actions to determine, based on policy, training, and experience

Answer 25

which use of force option will de-escalate the situation and bring it under control in a safe manner

Question 26

Levels of resistance

Answer 26

Compliant
Obstructive
assaultive
life threatening

Question 27

⦁ Ability

Answer 27

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

Question 28

⦁ Opportunity

Answer 28

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.

Question 29

Imminent Jeopardy

Answer 29

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

Question 30

⦁ Preclusion

Answer 30

lesser alternatives have been reasonably considered and exhausted before the use of deadly force, to include disengagement.

Question 31

⦁ If feasible, before the use of any approved weapon,

Answer 31

the officer will communicate with other officers in the area and issue a warning to the subject. Officers will give the subject a reasonable opportunity to comply. This is particularly important in preventing sympathetic fire when utilizing projectile weapons or the ECD.

Question 32

⦁ When a vicious dog is encountered and the safety of officers or others is compromised

Answer 32

an officer should use a catchpole (preferred tool) or may use OC spray or ECD to stop or ward off an attack as options other than deadly force

Question 33

⦁ Approved Use for Handcuffs: (11)

Answer 33

⦁ During investigative detentions (“Terry Stops,” see LVMPD 5.100, Search and Seizure) where one or more of the following factors are present and only for as long as the circumstances exist, not to exceed 60 minutes (per ⦁ NRS 171.123):

⦁ Articulable facts that the subject is physically uncooperative

⦁ Articulable facts that a subject’s actions may present physical danger to themselves or others if not restrained

⦁ Reasonable possibility of flight based on the actions of the subject

⦁ Information that the subject is currently armed

⦁ The stop closely follows a violent crime, and the subject matches specific parts of a description

⦁ Articulable facts that a crime of violence is about to occur

⦁ Suicidal persons

⦁ During a search warrant service, as is reasonably necessary, to safely execute the warrant

⦁ Persons being transported to detoxification facilities

⦁ By officers moving in-custody subjects

Question 34

⦁ Disapproved Use (handcuffing)

Answer 34

⦁ If medical circumstances make it unreasonable to handcuff an arrestee, officers will refrain from handcuffing. (Arrestees will be handcuffed behind the back, unless impractical or impossible due to prisoner obesity, handicap, or other reason. Special restraints will not be used unless approved by a supervisor.)

⦁ Proned handcuffed subjects will be immediately placed in a recovery or seated position once safe to do so. Continued pressure applied by an officer’s body weight will not be used on a proned handcuffed subject’s back, neck, or head.

⦁ When responding to a security office where a subject has been placed in handcuffs prior to the officer’s arrival, the officer will not place LVMPD handcuffs on the subject until the officer has reasonable suspicion or probable cause based on their independent investigation.

⦁ Officers will check handcuffs for tightness and double lock before transport.

⦁ When a handcuffed subject first complains that handcuffs are too tight, the officer having custody of the subject will, as soon as reasonably possible, check the handcuffs for proper tightness. If they are too tight (per training), they will be loosened and double locked.

Question 35

vehicle containment technique (VCT)

Answer 35

A preplanned containment tactic restricted for use only by units in the SWAT Bureau and the Major Violator Section. It employs extremely low-speed and intentional vehicle contact with a subject’s vehicle. The purpose is to prevent a vehicle pursuit and render a vehicle immobile.

Question 36

⦁ Officers are authorized to fire their weapons:

Answer 36

⦁ To protect themselves or others from what is reasonably believed to be an imminent threat of death or substantial bodily injury.

⦁ To 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 ⦁ (NRS 171.1455).

Question 37

Officers will not discharge their firearm at a moving vehicle unless:

Answer 37

⦁ A person in the vehicle is an imminent deadly threat to officers or others by means other than the vehicle (such as an occupant firing a handgun at an officer).

⦁ The driver is using the vehicle as a weapon to inflict mass causalities (such as a truck driving through a crowd).

Question 38

Shooting at or from a moving vehicle is

Answer 38

ineffective, dangerous and unpredictable

Question 39

⦁ An officer may deploy a rifle based on any of the following:(4)

Answer 39

⦁ There is a potential for deadly force or the subject is armed with a deadly weapon.

⦁ Distance and the use of cover are considerations due to the suspect’s location.

⦁ The suspect is barricaded.

⦁ The deployment has been pre-approved (e.g., Airport Bureau or officers assigned to a special event).

Question 40

Rifle deployment, supervisor will

Answer 40

⦁ Proceed immediately to the incident and assume tactical control.

⦁ Ensure proper deployment of rifles and address over-deployment and crossfire issues.

Question 41

Post use of force a supervisor will:

Answer 41

⦁ Respond, without delay, to an incident in which reportable force is used.

⦁ Determine the level of force;

⦁ Conduct an investigation by interviewing the subjects, officers, medical personnel, and witnesses.

⦁ Ensure photographs are taken and placed into Blue Team, to include the subjects, the scene, officers involved, and collect any evidence.

⦁ For the review of body worn camera video, see LVMPD 7.136, Body Worn Cameras.

⦁ Check the surrounding area for any video surveillance, obtain a copy, and ensure the third-party video is impounded as evidence and noted in Blue Team.

⦁ Review all applicable reports to ensure accuracy and completeness.

Question 42

Use of Deadly Force or Force Resulting in Death or Substantial Bodily Injury The first-arriving supervisor will(13)

Answer 42

⦁ Act as incident commander until relieved and will:

⦁ Ensure medical attention is provided for those in need.

⦁ Ensure the crime scene is safe and secure, preventing the possibility of contamination or alteration.

⦁ This responsibility includes the removal of unauthorized persons, including officers from the inner perimeter of the crime scene. A degree of tact and good judgment must be exercised to avoid alienating potential witnesses who may possess information of value.

⦁ Update Dispatch and request that notifications be made.

⦁ Dispatch will update the CAD event accordingly.

⦁ Coordinate the search for outstanding suspects.

⦁ Oversee the identification and isolation of witnesses.

⦁ Ensure witness officers and subject officers are separated and placed in a secure environment with a monitor officer. The monitor officer will:

⦁ Not talk to the officer about the facts and circumstances of the incident.

⦁ Ensure that subject/witness officers remain at scene. Under no circumstance will any representative be allowed to move the location of any subject or witness officer prior to a FIT supervisor’s approval.

⦁ Ensure that subject officers and witness officers do not discuss the incident being investigated.

⦁ Remain with the officer until the firearms countdown is completed or dismissed by a FIT supervisor.

⦁ Provide FIT detectives on the names and locations ofthe subject officers and potential witness officers. If there is concern that an officer is not a witness officer, but a subject officer, the ranking FIT supervisor will make the final determination regarding the status of the officer(s).

⦁ Remain on scene, and do not leave until released by theFIT supervisor.

Question 43

⦁ The Public Safety Statement (PSS)

Answer 43

is a series of questions asked of the shooting officer to obtain information to determine if an immediate threat to public safety exists.

The PSS must be taken in a timely manner and appropriate action conducted based on the information received from the PSS.