Use of Force Principles Flashcards

Which type of force is generally considered to be at the lowest level of a use-of-force continuum?

Answer: Officer presence and verbal commands

Officer presence combined with verbal commands represents the least intrusive level of force and is typically the first option on any use-of-force continuum.

When is an officer justified in drawing and pointing a firearm at a subject?

Answer: When there is a reasonable belief that the situation may require use of deadly force

Drawing and pointing a firearm is justified when there is a reasonable belief that circumstances may escalate to require deadly force, even if the trigger is not pulled.

A suspect flees on foot after committing a property crime with no indication of violence. Under Garner, can an officer use deadly force to stop the flight?

Answer: No, deadly force is not justified because there is no significant threat of harm to others

Tennessee v. Garner prohibits use of deadly force against a non-dangerous fleeing felon who poses no significant threat of death or serious injury to others.

What does 'duty to intervene' require of Virginia law enforcement officers?

Answer: Officers must physically intervene or report when witnessing another officer using clearly unlawful excessive force

Virginia law and DCJS standards impose a duty on officers to intervene when they witness a colleague using clearly excessive or unlawful force, and to report such incidents.

How does the 'reactionary gap' principle inform an officer's use-of-force decisions?

Answer: It accounts for human reaction time by recognizing that an officer may need to act before a threat fully materializes

The reactionary gap recognizes the time it takes a human to perceive and respond to a threat, justifying proactive defensive action before a weapon can be deployed against the officer.

When an officer applies a control technique and a subject becomes compliant, the officer should:

Answer: Reassess the situation and reduce force to match the current level of resistance

Force must be continually reassessed; once compliance is achieved, officers must reduce or cease force to remain proportional to the current threat level.

Which of the following best describes a 'less-lethal' weapon?

Answer: A weapon designed to incapacitate with a reduced likelihood of causing death or serious injury compared to firearms

Less-lethal weapons are designed to incapacitate with a lower probability of causing death or serious injury, though they can still cause serious harm or death in certain circumstances.