DCJS Use of Force Principles 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of force is generally considered to be at the lowest level of a use-of-force continuum?
- Deadly force
- Less-lethal munitions
- Officer presence and verbal commands (Correct answer)
- Hard empty-hand control
Correct 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.
Question 2: When is an officer justified in drawing and pointing a firearm at a subject?
- Any time the officer finds the situation stressful
- Only after shots have already been fired at the officer
- When there is a reasonable belief that the situation may require use of deadly force (Correct answer)
- Only with supervisor authorization
Correct 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.
Question 3: 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?
- Yes, any fleeing felon may be stopped with deadly force
- No, deadly force is not justified because there is no significant threat of harm to others (Correct answer)
- Yes, because property crimes are always serious felonies
- Only if the officer verbally warned the suspect first
Correct 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.
Question 4: What does 'duty to intervene' require of Virginia law enforcement officers?
- Officers must make an arrest whenever they witness any crime
- Officers must physically intervene or report when witnessing another officer using clearly unlawful excessive force (Correct answer)
- Officers must intervene in all domestic disputes regardless of jurisdiction
- Officers must take over command from a superior officer when disagreeing with their decisions
Correct 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.
Question 5: How does the 'reactionary gap' principle inform an officer's use-of-force decisions?
- It requires officers to wait until a suspect has already attacked before responding
- It accounts for human reaction time by recognizing that an officer may need to act before a threat fully materializes (Correct answer)
- It mandates a physical distance of exactly 21 feet in all encounters
- It is a documentation requirement for post-force reporting
Correct 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.
Question 6: When an officer applies a control technique and a subject becomes compliant, the officer should:
- Continue applying the same level of force to ensure compliance is maintained
- Immediately increase force to prevent any future resistance
- Reassess the situation and reduce force to match the current level of resistance (Correct answer)
- Maintain maximum force until a supervisor arrives
Correct 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.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes a 'less-lethal' weapon?
- A weapon that cannot kill under any circumstances
- A weapon designed to incapacitate with a reduced likelihood of causing death or serious injury compared to firearms (Correct answer)
- Any weapon used by a civilian rather than a law enforcement officer
- A firearm loaded with rubber bullets that is always non-lethal
Correct 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.
DCJS Use of Force Principles 4
Which type of force is generally considered to be at the lowest level of a use-of-force continuum?