Verbal De-escalation:
Use of Force Continuum
- Police Presence
- Verbal Direction
Rhetoric Triangle
Moment of truth: Officer’s appearance
Appearance matters, manage your moment of truth
- Keep a pressed uniform, shiny boots, well put together appearance
Dr. George Thompson’s 5 universal truths:
Credibility = Prerequisites for being credible
3 types of people
SGT Dolan’s Dust em’ off rule
Following an interaction with a citizen it would be wise to explain the reasons for the encounter and the actions taken. It serves to enhance the officer’s legitimacy
- “Pick em’ up, dust em’ off, and send em’ on their way!”
Ethical appeal
Also known as police legitimacy
Know indicators of assault
1964 Civil rights act = Standardized use of force
What are officers most often sued for?
-Civil Rights violations
- Excessive force
- False arrest
Theories of liability:
Ramifications
Johnson v. Glick = Shocks the conscious
Tennessee V. Garner (1974): Can not kill over property
Graham V. Connor 1989
Graham suspected of stealing after running out of gas station when the line was too long (needed something before going into diabetic shock). Goes into diabetic shock and is beaten
The Graham Factors- At least three factors must be taken into consideration
When can I use force?
TCA 39-11-620: Deadly Force
Standard of force by categories of persons
What are the 5 levels of use of force?
least to most severe
1. Officer presence
2. Verbal commands
3. Soft or hard controls
4. Intermediate weapons
5. Lethal force
8th amendment
right against cruel/unusual punishment - Glick test (shocks the conscience)
TCA § 38-8-128: Duty to intervene
De-escalation
Time, Distance, Cover when you have the chance to de-escalate