DCJS Firearms Training & Use of Force Techniques 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under Virginia law, when an officer fires a warning shot, which consideration is MOST critical?
- It is always permitted when a suspect is fleeing
- The shot must be aimed at the ground directly in front of the suspect
- A warning shot is generally discouraged because every round must have a safe backstop (Correct answer)
- Warning shots are required before using deadly force
Correct answer: A warning shot is generally discouraged because every round must have a safe backstop
Warning shots are generally discouraged in law enforcement because every projectile fired must have a safe backstop and the officer is accountable for where it lands.
Question 2: What does the 'Graham v. Connor' standard require when evaluating an officer's use of force?
- Force must be judged by what the officer subjectively believed at the time
- Force must be evaluated from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, not with 20/20 hindsight (Correct answer)
- Officers must use the minimum possible force in every situation regardless of threat
- Force is only justified after a verbal warning has been ignored
Correct answer: Force must be evaluated from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, not with 20/20 hindsight
Graham v. Connor established the objective reasonableness standard — force is judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene without 20/20 hindsight.
Question 3: Which of the following is an example of 'positional asphyxia' risk during a restraint?
- Handcuffing a subject with arms behind the back while seated upright
- Placing a handcuffed subject face-down on their stomach and leaving them unmonitored (Correct answer)
- Using a pressure point technique on the wrist
- Applying an arm-bar takedown on a standing subject
Correct answer: Placing a handcuffed subject face-down on their stomach and leaving them unmonitored
Positional asphyxia can occur when a restrained person is left face-down (prone), which restricts breathing, especially in combination with excited delirium or drug use.
Question 4: When conducting a press check on a semi-automatic pistol, what is the officer verifying?
- That the safety is engaged
- That a round is chambered and the firearm is loaded (Correct answer)
- That the magazine is properly seated
- That the trigger reset is functioning correctly
Correct answer: That a round is chambered and the firearm is loaded
A press check involves slightly retracting the slide to visually or tactilely confirm that a round is chambered in the firearm.
Question 5: During low-light firearms training, officers are taught to use a flashlight primarily to:
- Blind the suspect before firing
- Identify the threat and ensure a proper target before using force (Correct answer)
- Signal backup without using the radio
- Illuminate sights only after the decision to fire has been made
Correct answer: Identify the threat and ensure a proper target before using force
Proper low-light technique requires using a flashlight to identify the threat — officers must know what they are shooting at before using deadly force.
Question 6: Which factor is NOT part of the 'totality of circumstances' analysis in a use-of-force review?
- The severity of the crime at issue
- Whether the suspect posed an immediate threat to officer or public safety
- Whether the suspect was actively resisting arrest
- The officer's years of service and promotion history (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The officer's years of service and promotion history
The Graham v. Connor totality test focuses on the crime's severity, immediate threat, and active resistance — an officer's career history is not a relevant factor.
Question 7: What is the correct response when an officer experiences a 'failure to fire' (trigger pull produces no discharge)?
- Immediately rack the slide, point toward the ground, and assess
- Tap the magazine base, rack the slide to clear a possible malfunction, then reassess (Correct answer)
- Drop the magazine and perform a visual inspection before continuing
- Place the firearm on safe and holster it immediately
Correct answer: Tap the magazine base, rack the slide to clear a possible malfunction, then reassess
The standard immediate action drill for a failure to fire is Tap-Rack-Assess: tap the magazine to seat it, rack the slide to eject a bad round and chamber a new one, then reassess the threat.
DCJS Firearms Training & Use of Force Techniques 2
Under Virginia law, when an officer fires a warning shot, which consideration is MOST critical?