Chapter 31- Use of Force & Weapons Flashcards
BASIS FOR USE OF FORCE:
The decision to resort to force and the degree of force to be used must be based on the totality of the circumstances confronting the officer at the time, judged from the perspective of what actions would be taken by a reasonable officer on the scene faced with similar facts, or what reasonably appears to be fact, to the officer at the time the action is taken. An officer may use that force which he reasonably believes is ____ to prevent serious physical harm, either to the officer or to others.
necessary
_____is: Threatening body language associated with verbal threats, or the subject is refusing to comply with the officer’s instructions and has the apparent ability to physically endanger the officer. Examples of this include, but are not limited to:
a. Blading the body
b. Assuming a “boxer stance”
c. Circling the officer
d. Moving hands from open to closed, forming a fist, etc.
Active physical resistance
____ is: Using only the level of force necessary that reasonably corresponds to the threat present to safely achieve lawful objectives. Officers should consider the nature and severity of the underlying event and individual(s) involved, and consider whether other reasonable options exist to safely control the situation.
Proportionality
____ is: Techniques used to create more reaction time, more physical distance from threats and more maneuvering space so that officers can assess and mitigate volatile conflict situations more safely. If employed with successful results, these techniques afford officers the opportunity to resolve conflict situations with the least amount of force necessary. Reducing or eliminating conflict situations will improve scene safety and reduce injuries.
Tactical flexibility:
The standard used by courts to determine whether or not the use of force is justifiable was outlined in ____v. _____, 490 U.S. 386 (1989).
In determining whether force used in a particular arrest, investigatory stop, or other seizure is reasonable, the inquiry is whether the officers’ actions are “objectively ________” in light of the facts and circumstances confronting them, without regard to their underlying intent or motivation.
- Graham v. Connor
- reasonable
Reasonable Force:
Pursuant to Florida law, a law enforcement officer, or any person whom the officer has summoned for assistance, need not retreat or desist from efforts to make a lawful arrest because of resistance or threatened resistance to the arrest, and may use ____ force to complete the arrest.
reasonable
Prohibitions Regarding the Use of Deadly Force At or From Motor Vehicles: Police officers are prohibited from discharging their firearms at a moving vehicle unless a person in the vehicle is imminently threatening the officer or another person with deadly force by a means other than the vehicle itself. The only exception is an apparent act of ___ where the vehicle is being used as a weapon.
terrorism
*Physically being in the path of a moving vehicle shall not be justification for discharging a firearm at the vehicle or any of its occupants. An officer in the path of an approaching vehicle shall move to a position of safety rather than discharging a firearm at the vehicle or at any of the occupants of the vehicle. Police officers are prohibited from discharging their firearms from a moving vehicle unless exigent circumstances exist warranting the imminent defense of human life.
Supervisors ___ respond to any scene where a weapon (including a firearm, edged weapon, rocks, or other improvised weapon) is reported or when an officer and/or dispatcher believes that there is a potential for significant violence or aggression.
will
*If a supervisor was involved or witnessed a use of force incident, he/she should not prepare or investigate any portion of the SRRR. A supervisor not involved in the incident should respond and prepare the
SRRR.
Supervisory responsibility at contact shootings and in-custody deaths: The on-scene uniformed supervisor is responsible for ensuring the following:
The prompt security and integrity of the shooting scene by establishing ___ perimeters (an interior perimeter for concerned investigators, departmental command staff, and supervisors, and an exterior perimeter for media, members of the public, etc.). No other officer, regardless of rank, should enter the scene prior to the arrival of a HB investigator, HB supervisor or FDLE investigator.
two
No firearms should be impounded, checked, or in any way disturbed by anyone other than MDPD Crime Scene and Evidence Bureau personnel. However, these actions must be performed in the presence of the FDLE investigator, a HB investigator, or HB supervisor, after
the HB Lieutenant has consulted with the FDLE investigator. **Officers equipped with body-worn camera (BWC) systems that captured the incident will stop recording by powering down the device at the conclusion of the event.
Incidents Involving MDPD Law Enforcement Officers Occurring Outside MDC: If the incident occurred in Broward, Monroe, Palm Beach, or Collier Counties, a PCB investigator will respond. Response of departmental personnel to incidents which occurred beyond adjacent counties will be evaluated on an individual basis, and appropriate personnel assigned by the concerned chief, assistant director, or supervisor of an office reporting to the Director, as appropriate.
info.
ECW:
The ECW should be activated for one standard cycle of (__ seconds). The duration of any deployment or cycle should not exceed __ seconds, unless tactically
necessary to seize an individual for custodial treatment purposes. The PCB will also keep an accounting/log of all ECW incidents which involve three or more cycles/deployments and/or any ECW deployments/cycles exceeding __ seconds of duration.
5 & 15
ECW:
If a ECW is deployed on an animal, should a supervisor complete the SRRR?
No! In the event an animal is struck
with an ECW, the Miami-Dade Animal Services Department will be requested to respond to the scene. An SRRR is not necessary; however, the ECW Usage Report will be completed and forwarded to MDPSTIRC’s Police Officer Service Training Section
ECW/ Medical Considerations:
Continuous monitoring of the person must take place regardless of whether MDFR is called or not, especially within the first ___ minutes after an ECW application.
60
Documentation and photographs:
The supervisor shall document the ECW cartridge(s) serial number in the narrative of the SRRR. Subject or officer injury shall be photographed and attached to the SRRR. The supervisor shall ensure that a completed draft copy of the SRRR shall be faxed to PCB within __ hours of the incident. The final SRRR shall be forwarded to the concerned Assistant Director for review within __ days of the incident. The Assistant Director reviewing the final SRRR may forward a copy to the Director when deemed necessary
24 & 5
ECW:
1. Personnel equipped with an ECW will be responsible for ensuring proper operation of the ECW by removing the cartridge and conducting a spark test every __ day. The spark test will be documented on the bottom of the Daily Activity Report, i.e., time of test, the word “Test”, and the ECW serial number.
- For officer safety and equipment maintenance purposes, officers
should not be limited to a single daily spark test; however, firings which appear to be unsystematic and/or reckless should be reviewed by a ____ or higher.
- working
- lieutenant
