Use of Force and De-Escalation Flashcards
History and Development of the SCCJA Defensive Tactics
FBI/FLETC/GST/karate/ju-jitsu/wrestling/MMA
Components of Acceptability
Three Components:
- Tactical acceptability
- Medical acceptability
- Legal acceptability
Talk about Tactical acceptability
3-minute Rule, commonality of technique, stimulus-response-training (static, fluid, and dynamic)
Define gross motor skills
large muscle movement, explosive strength, 5 or fewer repetitions
Define fine motor skills
small muscle movement, dexterity and accuracy skills
Define complex motor skills
series of movements, hand/eye coordination
Define closed motor skill
fixed environment, it doesn’t change (dart throwing)
Define open motor skill
constantly changing environment (tennis/driving)
What hypothesis is used to determine the relationship between motor skills and stress?
the Inverted U Hypothesis
Talk about medical acceptability
HFRG System explored medical implications of each defensive technique… techniques are broken down into normal use (used at normal speed with no resistance) and accelerated use (full speed and full resistance)
Risk factors for SIDS (sudden in-custody death syndrome) are considered… place suspect in recovery position if necessary
Discuss legal acceptability
HFRG developed a force continuum based on existing non-lethal force and lethal force law… this continuum can be used in report writing and court testimony procedures to ensure that officers can defend their actions
Most common types of resistive behavior
- resistance from the escort position
- resistance while applying handcuffs
- passive resistance
- active aggression
Case Law applying to defensive tactics/force continuum
Graham v. Connor… “objective reasonableness”
Use of force guidelines under Graham v. Connor
- all force must be reasonable
- all force must be necessary
- officer’s actions will depend on the subject’s actions, variables/totality of the situation, and the officer’s knowledge of their own physical abilities
Levels of Resistance
- psychological intimidation (staring down/posturing)
- verbal noncompliance (verbal resistance/threats)
- passive resistance (dead weight)
- defensive resistance (actively resisting)
- active aggression (physical assault)
- deadly force assault
Levels of Control
- officer presence (identification of authority)
- verbal direction (commands meant to gain compliance/arrest)
- empty hand control (soft or hard)
- intermediate weapons
- deadly force
- de-escalation of force by officers
What case affects officers’ decision-making process with regards to intermediate weapons?
Estate of Ronald H. Armstrong v. Village of Pinehurst… basically said tasers cannot be used as a pain compliance tool and can only be used if the officer believes he or she is in immediate danger.
what is the last level of control?
“lethal force”
Elements of Deadly Force
Deadly Force (amount of force likely to cause great bodily harm)
Serious bodily injury (injury that creates a substantial risk of death or that causes death, serious permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of bodily member or organ)
What are the three requirements for the use of deadly force in self-defense?
- Ability (capability or means to cause great bodily harm/death)
- Opportunity (in a position to cause great bodily harm or death)
- Jeopardy (Intent… an overt threatening move or gesture that could cause great bodily harm or death)
What case law impacts the use of deadly force in law enforcement?
Tennessee v. Garner… lays out two specific justifications for the use of deadly force:
- to prevent death or serious injury to an officer or another
- to prevent escape if the officer reasonably believes the subject poses a deadly threat
Additional justifications:
- don’t unnecessarily endanger yourself or the public
- use verbal commands whenever feasible
Force continuum factors and reporting force
4 key factors:
- severity of crime
- whether the suspect poses an immediate threat
- whether the suspect is actively resisting arrest
- whether the suspect is attempting to evade arrest by flight
Additional factors used by courts when applying the standard of Graham v. Connor
- the number of suspects and officers involved
- size/age/gender and condition of officer and subject
- duration of action
- whether force applied resulted in injury
- previous violent history of the subject
- use of alcohol or drugs by the suspect
- suspect’s mental or psychiatric history
- the presence of innocent bystanders who might be harmed by force
- availability of officer weapons (IE intermediate weapons)
When should an officer write supplemental reports after being involved in a critical and/or violent incident?
after sleep and rest… 24 and 48-hour increments due to the effects of critical incident amnesia.
Principles of controlling resistive behavior
- pain compliance
- distraction technique
- balance displacement
- motor dysfunction
- stunning
Discuss pain compliance
use of stimulus pain to control resistive behavior
- stabilize body part
- pressure/counter pressure
- repetitive/loud verbal commands
- alleviate pressure when commands are obeyed