LD20 - Use of Force / Deescalation

3 ways to be disciplined (in trouble)

• administratively (department punishment)

• criminally (prosecuted)

• civilly (sued)

3 ways to intervene in the application of restoring or maintaining professional control

• advanced (before situation escalates)

• intermediate (verbal, physical, restraint while situation is developing)

• delayed (discussion, admonishment, training after situation)

what was my legal justification to use force

• xyz happened during the situation

• he did (xyz) so I had to do (xyz)

what is my legal authority to use force

• 835(A) PC

  • affect arrest, prevent escape, or overcome resistance

• Graham v. Connor

  • graham factors

    • severity of the crime

    • immediate threat

    • active resistance or flight

goal for use of force is always to

gain control of suspect / situation

define ‘deescalation’

strategies and techniques used to lower the intensity

types of use of force

• non-deadly (minimal risk of injury)

• intermediate (significant risk of injury)

• deadly (substantial risk of injury or death)

types of resistance

• compliant

• passive (not responding to verbal commands but also not physically resisting)

• active (physically resisting)

• assaultive (aggressively/combatively resisting)

• life threatening

define ‘deadly force’

substantial risk of causing seriously bodily injury or death