DCJS Use of Force and Defensive Tactics 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which Virginia Supreme Court or legislative standard requires that officers intervene when they witness another officer using clearly excessive force?
- The Good Samaritan Rule
- The duty to intervene, codified under Virginia law and DCJS training requirements (Correct answer)
- The mutual aid compact
- The Blue Wall of Silence doctrine
Correct answer: The duty to intervene, codified under Virginia law and DCJS training requirements
Virginia law and DCJS standards impose a duty on officers to intervene and stop clearly unlawful excessive force by a fellow officer.
Question 2: A suspect armed with a knife advances toward an officer from 30 feet away. The officer should FIRST:
- Wait until the suspect is within 10 feet before reacting
- Create distance, issue clear verbal commands, and consider drawing a firearm if the threat is imminent (Correct answer)
- Always deploy pepper spray as the first response to edged weapons
- Attempt a physical disarm technique immediately
Correct answer: Create distance, issue clear verbal commands, and consider drawing a firearm if the threat is imminent
Creating distance, issuing verbal commands, and preparing defensive options gives the officer time and space to respond appropriately to an edged weapon threat.
Question 3: The 'excited delirium' phenomenon is significant in use of force situations because it:
- Gives officers legal immunity from use of force claims
- Indicates a medical emergency that can be worsened by certain restraint positions and requires immediate medical attention (Correct answer)
- Always justifies maximum force to subdue the subject
- Only occurs in drug-related arrests
Correct answer: Indicates a medical emergency that can be worsened by certain restraint positions and requires immediate medical attention
Excited delirium is a medical emergency where certain restraint positions can be fatal; officers must request immediate medical attention when it is suspected.
Question 4: Under Graham v. Connor, the 'immediate threat to safety' factor considers:
- What happened during the arrest after the subject was secured
- Whether the suspect poses an immediate threat to officers or others at the moment force is used (Correct answer)
- The suspect's prior criminal history from previous arrests
- The threat posed at the time the initial call was dispatched
Correct answer: Whether the suspect poses an immediate threat to officers or others at the moment force is used
The immediate threat factor under Graham focuses on the threat present at the exact moment force is applied, not prior history or events after the fact.
Question 5: Which of the following is a key principle of DCJS-trained defensive tactics regarding handcuffing?
- Handcuffs should be applied as loosely as possible to avoid injury claims
- Handcuffs should be double-locked to prevent tightening and checked for proper fit (Correct answer)
- Only one hand should be cuffed if the subject is seated
- Handcuffs should always be applied in front of the body for safety
Correct answer: Handcuffs should be double-locked to prevent tightening and checked for proper fit
Handcuffs should be double-locked to prevent them from tightening and causing injury, and checked to ensure they are not too tight.
Question 6: An officer fires a warning shot into the air in a crowded urban area to stop a fleeing suspect. This action is BEST assessed as:
- An accepted and standard practice under Virginia DCJS guidelines
- Generally prohibited because projectiles can fall and injure uninvolved persons (Correct answer)
- Required before using deadly force against a fleeing suspect
- Acceptable as long as the officer documents the action
Correct answer: Generally prohibited because projectiles can fall and injure uninvolved persons
Warning shots in populated areas are generally prohibited because projectiles return to earth and can injure uninvolved bystanders.
Question 7: What is the purpose of the 'reactionary gap' concept in defensive tactics training?
- The time it takes to write a use of force report
- The minimum distance officers maintain to allow time to react to a subject's sudden attack (Correct answer)
- The gap in training between academy and field experience
- The time between a supervisor's order and an officer's compliance
Correct answer: The minimum distance officers maintain to allow time to react to a subject's sudden attack
The reactionary gap is the distance an officer maintains to provide enough time and space to react defensively if a subject suddenly attacks.
DCJS Use of Force and Defensive Tactics 4
Which Virginia Supreme Court or legislative standard requires that officers intervene when they witness another officer using clearly excessive force?