Use of Force Test

Force Continuum

Levels of Force an officer can use in a given situation.

Level 1 - Officer Presence

The presence of an officer in a uniform is enough to deescalate a situation.

Level 2 - Verbal Commands

Use of voice to achieve desired results with an assertive and calm tone.

Level 3 - Empty Hand Control

Level of control employed by police officers minus the aid of equipment or weapons

Soft Empty Hand Techniques

At this level minimal force would involve the use of bare hands to guide, hold, and restrain — applying pressure points, and take down techniques that have a minimal chance of injury.

Hard Empty Hand Techniques

At this level the use of Force includes kicks, punches or other striking techniques.

Level 4 - Pepper Spray, Baton, Taser

When the suspect is violent or threatening, more extreme, but non-deadly must be used to bring the suspect under control or affect an arrest. Before moving to this level of Force, it is assumed that less physical measures have already been tried. 

Level 5 - Deadly Force

If a police peace officer has probable cause to believe that a suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious physical injury to the officer or others, then the use of this level is justified. 

Intermediate Weapons

This includes the use of any weapon to control a subject that is not part of the human body. The intent is to disable the subject, not to cause permanent injury. (Tasers & Pepper Spray)

Hard Intermediate Weapons

 Typically an ASP (expandable baton) or trained K-9. Gives an officer another tool to use before having to use their firearm.

Graham v Connor

Established the reasonableness of excessive force used by officers. 

Tennessee v Garner

It’s illegal to use deadly force to stop the escape of a non-dangerous fleeing suspect

Where you can’t hit

Head, Neck, and Spine

Where you can hit

Anywhere on the body other than the head, neck, and spine within reason.

Expandable Baton

ASP

Unarmed Self-Defense Moves

Arm Bar, Goose neck, and Chicken Wing

Triangle of Aggression

An area in which the officer can be potentially assaulted by direct contact from the aggressor’s arm, legs or potential weapons.

The Observation Zone

The distance from which an officer can speak to a suspect but is out of the suspect’s reach and sudden movement area

The Physical Contact Zone

The distance from which the opponent can reach the officer with a kick or an edged weapon

The Intimate Zone

Area within which an opponent can immediately strike with hands, elbows, and knees, without having to move any closer.