1.04 Use Of Force Flashcards
The U.S. Supreme Court in Graham v. Connor, acknowledged that the “____________” test in analyzing the use of force is “not capable of precise definition or mechanical application”.
Reasonableness test
True or false?
The San Diego Police Department recognizes and respects the value of human life, having this as it’s highest priority.
True.
What Penal Code section authorizes an officer to use reasonable force to make a lawful arrest, prevent an escape, or to overcome resistance.
Penal Code section 835a
True or false?
Officers are not required to retreat or desist from their efforts by reason of resistance or threatened resistance of the person being arrested.
True.
What does this define?
Behavior that consists of a refusal to comply with verbal commands and conveys a threat to the officer or another person, or consists of physical opposition to attempts of control by the officer.
Active Resistance
What does this define?
Behavior that complies with the officer’s verbal commands.
Compliant Behavior
What does this define?
Force that creates a substantial risk of causing death or serious bodily injury
Deadly Force
What does this define?
Behavior that consists of aggressive physical opposition to being physically controlled and conveys a threat of attack conveyed through aggressive physical actions or aggressive physical actions coupled with verbal threats.
Assaultive Behavior
True or false?
Verbal threats alone do not constitute Assaultive behavior.
True
True or false?
Assaultive behavior can only be directed at the officers.
False. It can be directed at the officers or others.
What does this define?
Levels of force that include close range strikes with an impact weapon. These strikes are designed to redirect or move a subject who fails to follow verbal commands. The amount of force used in delivering the strike should be reasonable given the circumstances. The intent of the technique is to move the subject backwards or to the side.
Crowd Control and Mobile Field Force Techniques
What does this define?
A tactic used when encountering compliant behavior. Such control consists of the officer’s mere presence, requests, explanations and orders.
Verbal Control
What does this define?
Behavior that consists of a refusal to comply with verbal commands and does not convey a threat to the officer or another person.
Passive Resistance
What does this define?
Behavior likely to cause serious bodily injury or death.
Life-threatening Behavior
What does this define?
The force needed to control a subject who engages in passive resistance. This level of force generally involves use of physical strength, pain compliance defense techniques, and control holds.
Lesser Controlling Force
What does this define?
The force needed to control a subject who engages in active resistance. This level of force may involve the use of techniques such as takedowns, distractions techniques, chemical agents, and the carotid restraint.
Greater Controlling Force
What does this define?
The act of gaining and/or maintaining control of a subject or situation.
Force
What does this define?
Acts used to divert or redirect a subject’s focus away from resistive behavior in order to assist the officer in gaining control of the individual.
Distraction Techniques
What does this define?
The force needed to stop Assaultive behavior against an officer or another person. This level of force generally involves impact strikes by the officer. Impact strikes can be delivered either by personal body weapons or impact weapons.
Defending Force
True or false?
Due to the potential for serious injury, intentional strikes with an impact weapon are prohibited from being directed at the head, face or throat of the subject.
False.
They are prohibited unless the subject’s actions and behavior pose a threat of death or serious bodily injury to the officer or others.
Should or shall?
Officers (should or shall?) maintain control of enforcement situations.
Should.
Should or shall?
Officers who are not readily identifiable as police officers, whether on- or off-duty,(should or shall?) identify themselves as police officers , unless identification would jeopardize the safety of the officer or others.
Shall.
True or false?
Officers may need to use a force option which is greater than the subject’s force level and which is reasonable under the circumstances.
True.
Which level of the Force Matrix does this define?
Officers attempt to gain compliance by talking or otherwise communicating with the subject, explaining what the subject is to do and giving the subject the opportunity to comply with the officer’s demands.
First Level.
Which level of the Force Matrix does this define?
Officers defend themselves or others against a subject’s assault, or threat of assault, with the use of defending force or lesser force options. Defending force includes strikes with hard impact and personal body weapons.
Fourth Level
Which level of the force matrix does this define?
Officers seek to control a subject’s active resistance by using lesser force options, in addition to neck restraint, chemical agents, distraction techniques, and taser.
Third level.
What level of the force matrix does this define?
Officers defend themselves or others against the subject’s life-threatening behavior with the use of deadly force.
Fifth level
What level of the force matrix does this define?
Officers use control tactics, such as escorting or compression and pain techniques, on subjects displaying passive resistant behavior. Controlling force is used when the subject passively fails to respond to verbal direction.
Second level.
True or False?
No officer should discharge a firearm in the performance of duty except during authorized training at a target range.
False.
No officer SHALL discharge a firearm in the performance of duty except during authorized training at a target range.
No officer shall discharge a firearm in the performance of duty except for 4 situations, what are they?
- During authorized training;
- When the officer has a reasonable belief that a subject (or animal) poses an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury to the officer or another person;
- When necessary to apprehend a fleeing suspect if there is cause to believe the suspect has committed a felony involving the infliction or threatened infliction of death or serious bodily injury, and the officer reasonably believes the suspect is armed with a deadly weapon and the suspect’s escape would pose an imminent threat to the officer or others; or,
- As permitted by Department Procedure 6.09, Handling of Injured Animals.
Should or shall?
A verbal warning to submit to the authority of the officer (should or shall?) be given prior to the use of the firearm, if feasible, and if doing so would not increase the danger to the officer or other persons.
Shall
Is the suspect’s age a factor to be considered before discharging a firearm?
Yes
Is the environment a factor to consider before discharging a firearm?
Yes
Is the type of crime a factor to be considered before discharging a firearm?
Yes
Is the suspect’s gender a factor to be considered before discharging a firearm?
No
Is a suspect’s size a factor to consider before discharging a firearm?
Yes
True or false?
Firearms are found to be an effective method of stopping vehicles.
False
True or False?
Firearms should not be discharged at a vehicle solely in an attempt to disable the vehicle.
False.
Firearms SHALL not be discharged at a vehicle solely in an attempt to disable the vehicle.
True or false?
Moving vehicles present a rapidly changing field of fire.
True
Officers (should or shall?) consider the ramifications when shooting at a moving vehicle.
Shall
What are the ramifications to consider when shooting at moving vehicles? There are three.
- Moving vehicles present a rapidly changing field of fire;
- If the driver is incapacitated, the vehicle would be uncontrolled;or
- The action could create a danger to the public that outweighs the need to use deadly force.
Officers (should or shall?) not discharge a firearm at a moving vehicle unless the officer has probable cause to believe that the subject or the vehicle poses an IMMEDIATE threat of death or serious physical harm to the officer and there is no reasonable alternative for the officer to avoid the harm.
Shall
Is an officer permitted to discharge a firearm if the officer has probable cause to believe that the subject or the vehicle poses an immediate threat of death or serious physical harm to other persons?
Yes.
Officers (should or shall?) not knowingly position themselves in the path of a moving vehicle.
Shall
True or False?
Warning shots may be used when the officer has reasonable belief that an animal poses an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury to the officer or another person.
True. Really. See section V, 8a.
True or false?
Warning shots are prohibited under any circumstances.
False.
True of false?
Warning shots are prohibited except under exigent circumstances when the warning shot is necessary to apprehend a fleeing suspect if there is probably cause to believe the suspect has committed a felony involving the infliction or threatened infliction of death or serious bodily injury, and the officer reasonably believes the suspect is armed with a deadly weapon and the suspect’s escape would pose an imminent threat to the officer or others.
True.
True or false?
Warning shots are prohibited except under exigent circumstances when the officer has reasonable belief that a subject poses an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury to the officer or another person.
True.
True of false?
Firearms are designed and intended for use as impact weapons and shall be used to strike another person.
False.
Should or shall?
Firearms are not designed or intended for use as impact weapons and (should or shall?) not be used to strike another person.
Shall.
Is there an exception to when an officer is permitted to use a firearm as an impact weapon?
Yes, when necessary to protect the officer or another person from death or serious bodily injury.
When force is used, officers (should or shall?) ensure that detailed, accurate reports describing the force used an all of the circumstances and facts surrounding the use of that force are prepared.
Shall.
In addition to the detailed reports (arrest, detention, or ARJIS-9) describing the force used, what other form needs to be completed?
The Force Effectiveness Form
Where can the Force Effectiveness Form be located?
In the Automated Field Reporting templates or the LAN
What is the sole purpose of the Force Effectiveness Form?
It is used for the sole purspose of capturing statistical data.
Should or shall?
When force is used, a Force Effectiveness Form (should or shall?) be completed.
Shall.
Is the use of a cord cuff considered a force incident requiring a report?
Yes
Is the pointing of a firearm at a person to gain compliance considered a reportable use of force?
Yes
True or false?
A weaponless defense technique applied to a person does not require a force report.
False.
Officers who use a force option shall personally prepare the appropriate report documenting their use of force. Is there an exception to the officer personally preparing this document?
An exception to an officer personally preparing a document (detailing force used) is if an SDPD investigator interviews the officer and his/her statements (regarding the force used) are documented in the investigator’s report.
If an officer is involved in a situation with an outside agency, do the SDPD officers involved document any use of reportable force by personnel of said agency?
Yes.
Should or shall?
The reporting officer (should or shall?) request documentation from the officers/deputies of the outside agency who deployed force options, describing their use of force.
Shall.
Whenever physical force used by an officer results in an injury that necessitates medical treatment of any person, the officer (should or shall?) immediately contact a field supervisor.
Shall
What is the number of the Department Procedure for Handcuffing, Restraining, Searching and Transporting Procedures?
6.01
The field officer (should or shall?) evaluate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Shall.
The field supervisor (should or shall?) notify the Watch Commander of Field Lieutenant.
Shall.
If the Watch Commander or Field Lieutenant deems the incident to be of significant magnitude, who should be notified?
Internal Affairs will be notified and given the opportunity to respond and conduct an on scene investigation.
When would the Watch Commander contact the Police Officers’ Association to report the general nature of the incident?
When Internal Affairs responds to the scene where force was used.
Do all statements made by the subject regarding his/her alleged or apparent injury need to be documented?
Yes.
All statements made by the subject regarding his/her alleged or apparent injury (should or shall?) be documented.
Should.
True or false?
Photographs shall be taken to document the absence of injury to the subject, officers or other persons.
True. They shall be taken to document existence or absence of injuries.
Photographs (should or shall) be taken of any damage to the clothing or personal property of the subject, officers, of other persons at the scene.
Shall.
Photographs (should or shall?) be impounded as evidence.
Shall.
True or false?
Chemical Agents may be used on subjects displaying Active Resistance Behavior.
True. OC spray may be used on a spitting person to assist officers in gaining control
True or false?
Pain Compliance is considered Lesser Controlling Force.
True.
Can close range strikes be used in crowd control situations by people displaying Active Resistance Behavior?
Yes.
What level of force does the approved use of the Carotid Neck Restraint begin?
Greater Controlling Force.
Is it acceptable to use Canine use of force on a subject displaying Assaultive Behavior?
Yes.
Is it approved to use Personal Body Weapons on a person displaying Active Resistance Behavior?
No.
Is it approved to use Firearms as a use of force against subjects displaying Assaultive Behavior?
No.
Can an officer use blows to the head as a use of force?
Yes, when defending against life-threatening behavior as defined in the Use of Force procedures.
