NYPD Police Student Guide: Use of Force Vocabulary Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering legal definitions, procedural standards, force classifications, court rulings, and departmental regulations from the NYPD Police Student Guide on Use of Force.

Person Experiencing an Emotional Crisis (PEEC)

The official term replacing 'emotionally disturbed person' (EDP) in Department training materials pursuant to EXC § 170-J, effective September 26, 2026.

De-escalation

Taking action to stabilize a situation and reducing the immediacy of the threat so that more time, options, and/or resources become available, with the goal of gaining voluntary compliance.

Physical Force

That type of force not amounting to deadly physical force; e.g., punches, kicking, pushing, grabbing, holding, restraining, etc.

Deadly Physical Force

Physical force which, under the circumstances in which it is used, is readily capable of causing death or other serious physical injury; e.g., shoot, stab, strike with a weapon, etc.

Physical Injury (PI)

Impairment of physical condition or substantial pain; does not have to be visible.

Serious Physical Injury (SPI)

Physical injury which creates a substantial risk of death, or which causes death or serious and protracted disfigurement, protracted impairment of health, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily organ.

Person Licensed or Privileged

A person who has the right to be in a building or upon a premises, including owners, tenants, authorized guests, employees, or police/peace officers acting in the performance of their duties.

Objectively Reasonable Standard

Standard evaluating whether a particular application of force was acceptable based on the perspective of a reasonable officer facing the same totality of facts known at the time of the incident, rather than in hindsight.

Tactics

The science of structuring potentially dangerous confrontations in ways that keep the use of force to a reasonable limit and best assure the safety of the public, officers, and suspects.

Tennessee v. Garner

United States Supreme Court decision (1985) holding that apprehension by deadly force is a Fourth Amendment seizure and is permitted when an officer has probable cause to believe the suspect poses a threat of serious physical harm to the officer or others.

Graham v. Connor

United States Supreme Court decision (1989) establishing that all claims of excessive force during an arrest, investigatory stop, or seizure are analyzed under the Fourth Amendment 'objective reasonableness' standard.

Barnes v. Felix

United States Supreme Court decision (2025) establishing that totality of circumstances inquiry under the Graham standard is not limited to a short 'moment-of-threat' window and has no time limit.

Compliant

Behavior where a person contacted acknowledges direction or lawful orders given and offers no passive resistance, active resisting, or active aggression.

Passive Resistance

Minimal physical action to prevent a member of the service from performing their lawful duty, such as standing motionless or going limp.

Active Resisting

Physically evasive movements to defeat attempts at control, including bracing, tensing, pushing, or verbally signaling an intention to avoid or prevent being taken into custody.

Active Aggression

Threat or overt act of an assault (physical or verbal) coupled with present ability, reasonably indicating an assault or injury to any person is imminent.

Situational Anxiety

Anxiety caused by new situations, changing events, or specific events that make a particular individual uncomfortable.

Excessive Force

Use of force deemed by an investigating supervisor as greater than that which a reasonable officer, in the same situation, would use under the circumstances existing and known at the time.

Diffusion of Responsibility

A psychological factor preventing active bystander intervention caused by the feeling that there is no need to intervene since other people are present who may intervene.

Pluralistic Ignorance

A psychological factor preventing active bystander intervention caused by the feeling that there is no need to intervene since no other person on scene seems to believe intervention is needed.

Civil Rights Law § 28

Statute creating a legal duty for officers to provide or obtain medical care for physical or mental health issues for persons under arrest or in custody.

Chokehold

Any pressure to the throat, carotid artery, or windpipe which may prevent or hinder breathing or reduce intake of air or blood flow.

Aggravated Strangulation

Class C Felony under Penal Law § 121.13-A committed when a police officer or peace officer commits criminal obstruction of breathing or uses a chokehold/similar restraint causing serious physical injury or death.

Unlawful Methods of Restraint

Prohibited actions under Administrative Code § 10-181 including sitting, kneeling, or standing on the chest or back of a subject in a manner that compresses the diaphragm.

Threat, Resistance or Injury (T.R.I.) Interaction Report

An online FORMS report completed to record reportable force, suspected or alleged excessive force, or injuries sustained in connection with police action.

Professional Presence

Visible, physical presence of uniformed officers used as a force option to deter crime and maintain public order.

Verbal Persuasion

Non-physical force option consisting of requests, suggestions, and rational urging to peacefully convince individuals to comply.

Command Voice

Firmly given directions without profanity letting individuals know authoritatively that compliance with lawful orders is required.

Firm Grips

A physical hold on an arm, shoulder, or body part not intended to cause pain or disablement, but used to gain attention, reinforce verbal techniques, or guide movement.

Compliance Holds

Tactical holds (e.g., arm locks, wrist holds) designed to overpower a subject or inflict temporary pain that ends as soon as compliance is gained.

Oleoresin Capsicum (O.C.) Pepper Spray

Department-issued water-based aerosol spray used from a distance of $3$ to $12\,ft$ to cause temporary inflammation and tearing of mucous membranes.

Conducted Electrical Weapon (CEW)

A hand-held less lethal device designed to deliver an electrical charge through fired probes or direct contact to temporarily affect motor functions or sensory nervous system.

Warning Arc

The activation and discharge of a TASER 7 CEW displaying visible and audible arcing of electricity between front electrodes to encourage voluntary compliance.

Cartridge Mode

Activation of a CEW where a cartridge is discharged and probes are propelled toward a subject to achieve neuromuscular incapacitation (NMI).

Drive-Stun

Contact activation where the front electrodes of a TASER 7 CEW are brought into direct or close proximity contact with a subject's body or clothing.

Level 1 Force Incident

Force classification covering hand/foot strikes, take-downs, grappling, OC spray discharge, mesh restraining blankets, CEW cartridge mode, or police action resulting in physical injury.

Level 2 Force Incident

Force classification covering impact weapons, canine bites, CEW drive-stun mode, alleged excessive force, attempted prisoner suicide without SPI, or injuries like contusions, loss of teeth, or stitches.

Level 3 Force Incident

Force classification covering force capable of causing SPI/death (excl. firearms), chokehold/prohibited restraint allegations, excessive force causing SPI, attempted suicide with SPI, or SPI from police action.

Level 4 Force Incident

Force classification covering all UMOS firearm discharges, non-UMOS discharges of service firearms, or incidents resulting in death or SPI likely to cause death in custody or during apprehension.

Crossfire

The unintentional placement of any person, including officers and bystanders, who are not lawful subjects of deadly force into a position where they may be injured by firearms discharge.

Standard NYPD Challenge

The mandatory verbal challenge 'Police! Don't Move!' given in armed confrontations where feasible and consistent with personal safety.

Confronted Officer

An officer (usually plainclothes or off-duty) armed and taking police action whose identity and objectives are not immediately apparent to a challenging officer.

Challenging Officer

A uniformed or plainclothes officer who comes upon a scene where an unidentified armed person is observed.

Mass Casualty Vehicle Ramming Attack

Form of attack in which a subject deliberately rams a motor vehicle into a crowd of people or a building.

Justification Defense

A defense to criminal charges under NYS Penal Law Article 35 where an actor admits committing an otherwise illegal act but claims special authorized circumstances.

Penal Law § 35.15

Statute governing justification for the use of physical force and deadly physical force in defense of a person.

Penal Law § 35.20

Statute governing justification for the use of physical force in defense of premises or real property, and deadly force to prevent arson.

Penal Law § 35.25

Statute governing justification for the use of physical force to prevent or terminate larceny or criminal mischief.

Penal Law § 35.30

Statute governing justification for the use of physical force and deadly physical force in making an arrest or preventing an escape.

Penal Law § 35.10

Statute defining special cases authorizing designated groups (parents, wardens, common carriers, preventing suicide, physicians) to use physical force.