Use of Force Flashcards
What is the LVMPD committed to?
protecting people, their property, and rights while providing the best in public safety and service.
The proper use of force is essential for ensuring impartial policing and for building WHAT in the community
Trust
Officers must remain mindful that they derive their authority from WHO?
The community
What does the use of unreasonable force do?
degrades the legitimacy of that authority
What is the court case the department uses as then
“Use of force standard”?
Graham v Conner (1989)
What are “approved weapons”?
weapons meeting Department specifications for which officers recieve proficiency and safety training
What is “de-escalation”?
An officers actions to slow down, stabalize, and resolve an incident as safely as possible by reducing danger through the use of verbal persuasion, tactics, resources, and transitioning through force options
What are “force transitions”?
The movement, progression, or reduction from the application of one force type to another
What is an “imminent threat”?
An immending violent act, harm, or resistance that will likely occur if not instantly confronted or
addressed.
What are “levels of control”?
broad categories of force options in escalating stages of intensity that are identified as low-level force, Intermediate force, and deadly force
What is “objectively reasonable”?
An objective standard of force viewed from the perspective of a reasonable officer, without the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, and based on the totality of the circumstances presented at the
moment the force is used.
What is the “recovery position”?
the placement of a subjects body in a manner that does not restrict breathing or obstruct the airway (i. e. on their side or upright)
What is “substantial bodily injury”?
An injury that creates a substantial risk of death, causes serious permanent disfigurement, or results in a prolonged loss or impairment of the functioning of any body part
Officers are legally authorized to use deadly force to effect an arrest when in compliance with Nevada Revised Statues (NRS) and the legal standards under WHAT COURT CASE?
Tennessee v. Garner (1985)
What are the two legal standards established in Tennessee v Garner that authorize officers to use deadly force to effect an arrest?
- Protect themselves or others from what is reasonably believed to be an imminent threat of death or substantial bodily injury.
- prevent the escape of a fleeing felon who the officer has probable cause to believe has committed a violent felony crime and is an imminent threat to human life if escape should occur.
Officers will give WHAT before the use of deadly force?
A warning, if feasible
What does NRS 171. 1455 state?
officers will only use the amount of reasonable force necessary
In a confrontation what will an officer CONTINUALLY DO?
reassess their response and adjust any use of force accordingly based upon the level of resistance encountered
Per the The United States Supreme courts’ decisions and interpretations of The Forth Amendment of the United States Constitution state an officer shall only use such force that is … WHAT?
Objectively reasonable
What court cased was used to set forth standards to examine whether a use of force is constitutional?
Graham v Conner
Force must be judged from what?…
the perspective of a judicious officer on the scene, rather than with 20/20 vision of hindsight
What are the 8 objective factors that affect the reasonableness of force ?
- the severity of the crime
- Whether the subject poses an immediate threat to the safety of officers or others
- Whether the subject is actively resisting arrest or attempting to evade arrest by flight
- the influence of drugs or alcohol or the mental capacity of the subject
- the time available to an officer to make a decision
- the availability of officers or resources (including the number of officers present at the time) to de-escalate the situation
- The proximity or access of weapons to the subject
- the environmental factors and/or other exigent circumstances
In attempt to de-escalate, when responding as a team, officers WILL do WHAT when feasible?
use advisements, warnings, verbal persuasion, and other tactics as alternatives to higher levels of force
Any officer present, regardless of rank, and observing another officer using force that is clearly beyond what is justified or objectively reasonable under the circumstances will, when in a safe position to do??
intercede to prevent the use of unreasonable force and will promptly report these observations and the efforts made to intervene to a supervisor
What if a supervisor is using unjustified force?
It will be reported to the next level of supervision
If the observing officer to unjustified use of force is a supervisor what will the issue?
A direct order to stop the violation
How long does a reporting officer have to document the incident in writing? And what 3 things will be included?
No later than 10 days
- Date, time, and location of incident
- Identity, if know, and description of the participants
- Description of the actions taken as a result of the observation
Whenever an officer applies a use of force option upon a subject that results in either observable signs or complaints of injury or difficulty in breathing, the officer WILL do what?
continuously monitor the subject and immediately summon medical attention
Incidents involving persons who are in a prolonged encounter with officers will be considered WHAT?
Emergencies
After a use of force incident officers will monitor for what?
Signs of life
i.e. pulse, respiration, and chest movement
Medical attention will be summoned for the following use of force applications, regardless of visible injury or complaint of injury:
- baton/impact weapons-any strikes to the head, neck, chest, spine, kidneys, or groin area
- Canine-all bites
- electronic control device (ECD)- probe strikes to the head, neck, chest, or groin area
- Oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray-direct exposure to the facial area
- Use of force with a projectile weapon:
A. low lethality shotgun- all strikes
B. 40mm specialty impact weapons-an strikes - Handgun/shotgun/rifle-all strikes
- Use of force with a vehicle
A. precision intervention technique (PIT)
B. Ramming-all
