DCJS Use of Force and Defensive Tactics 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under Virginia law, what obligation does an officer have if they witness a colleague filing a false use of force report?
- Cover for the colleague if the force appeared reasonable
- Report the false report to supervisors or the appropriate authority (Correct answer)
- No obligation exists unless the officer was directly involved
- Wait until a formal complaint is filed by the subject before acting
Correct 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.
Question 2: Which condition MOST justifies upgrading from less-lethal to lethal force mid-encounter?
- The subject is verbally abusive but not physically threatening
- The less-lethal option has failed and the subject is now armed and poses an imminent deadly threat (Correct answer)
- A crowd is watching and the officer feels embarrassed
- The subject attempts to flee on foot
Correct 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.
Question 3: What is the legal significance of the 'totality of circumstances' in a use of force review?
- Only the last action taken before shots are fired is considered
- All facts known to the officer at the time of the encounter are evaluated together to assess reasonableness (Correct answer)
- The judge considers only the subject's perspective
- Post-incident information discovered later is the primary consideration
Correct 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.
Question 4: When applying a carotid restraint (vascular neck restraint), the MOST critical medical risk is:
- Minor skin abrasions from the technique
- Cutting off blood flow to the brain, potentially causing unconsciousness or death (Correct answer)
- Temporary discomfort from pressure on the jaw
- Soreness in the officer's forearm after the technique
Correct 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.
Question 5: Which behavior by a subject represents 'active aggression' on a use of force continuum?
- Refusing to sit down when asked
- Physically attacking the officer or another person (Correct answer)
- Arguing loudly but remaining still
- Walking away from the officer without permission
Correct 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.
Question 6: A K-9 officer deploys a police dog to apprehend a fleeing felony suspect. Under use of force principles, this deployment must be:
- Approved by a court before every deployment
- Objectively reasonable, proportionate to the threat, and consistent with agency policy and training (Correct answer)
- Reserved only for misdemeanor suspects to limit injury
- Used only after the officer has personally chased the suspect on foot
Correct 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.
Question 7: Which scenario BEST represents a justified use of force under the imminent threat standard?
- A subject who threatened an officer yesterday but is now unarmed and calm
- A subject who is actively swinging a metal pipe at the officer during the current encounter (Correct answer)
- A subject who was previously convicted of assault but is now cooperating
- A subject who is handcuffed and yelling obscenities
Correct 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.
DCJS Use of Force and Defensive Tactics 5
Under Virginia law, what obligation does an officer have if they witness a colleague filing a false use of force report?