Use of Force and Defensive Tactics Flashcards

Under Virginia law, what obligation does an officer have if they witness a colleague filing a false use of force report?

Answer: Report the false report to supervisors or the appropriate authority

Officers have an ethical and legal obligation to report false or inaccurate use of force reports; failing to do so can result in criminal liability and termination.

Which condition MOST justifies upgrading from less-lethal to lethal force mid-encounter?

Answer: The less-lethal option has failed and the subject is now armed and poses an imminent deadly threat

Lethal force becomes justified when less-lethal options have failed and the subject now presents an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury.

What is the legal significance of the 'totality of circumstances' in a use of force review?

Answer: All facts known to the officer at the time of the encounter are evaluated together to assess reasonableness

Under the totality of circumstances test, reviewers evaluate all facts known to the officer at the moment force was used to determine reasonableness.

When applying a carotid restraint (vascular neck restraint), the MOST critical medical risk is:

Answer: Cutting off blood flow to the brain, potentially causing unconsciousness or death

Vascular neck restraints restrict blood flow through the carotid arteries to the brain and carry serious risks of unconsciousness, brain damage, or death.

Which behavior by a subject represents 'active aggression' on a use of force continuum?

Answer: Physically attacking the officer or another person

Active aggression involves physically attacking or attempting to physically attack an officer or third party, justifying a higher level of force response.

A K-9 officer deploys a police dog to apprehend a fleeing felony suspect. Under use of force principles, this deployment must be:

Answer: Objectively reasonable, proportionate to the threat, and consistent with agency policy and training

K-9 deployments are subject to the same objective reasonableness standard as other force options and must be proportionate and policy-compliant.

Which scenario BEST represents a justified use of force under the imminent threat standard?

Answer: A subject who is actively swinging a metal pipe at the officer during the current encounter

The imminent threat standard requires an active, present threat — a subject actively swinging a weapon during the encounter meets this standard.