POST - Peace Officer Standards and Training Arrest and Control Techniques Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An officer uses a firm arm-bar takedown on a subject who was actively resisting arrest but not armed. The subject later complains of excessive force. According to the precedent set in Graham v. Connor, the officer's actions will be judged based on what standard?
- The subjective intent and motivation of the officer at the time.
- The severity of the injuries sustained by the subject.
- The objective reasonableness from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene. (Correct answer)
- The 20/20 vision of hindsight during a court review.
Correct answer: The objective reasonableness from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene.
The Supreme Court case Graham v. Connor established that all claims of excessive force must be judged under the Fourth Amendment's 'objective reasonableness' standard. This means the use of force is evaluated based on the facts and circumstances confronting the officer at that moment, from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, without regard to the officer's underlying intent and not with the benefit of hindsight.
Question 2: What is the primary tactical reason for double-locking handcuffs after they have been applied to a subject?
- To signal to other officers that the subject has been fully searched.
- To make it more difficult for the subject to pick the single lock.
- To increase the subject's discomfort and encourage verbal compliance.
- To prevent the handcuffs from tightening and to make them more difficult to defeat. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: To prevent the handcuffs from tightening and to make them more difficult to defeat.
Double-locking handcuffs serves two critical functions: it prevents the ratchet from tightening further, which can cause injury to the subject and create liability for the officer, and it makes the locking mechanism more secure, hindering attempts to pick or shim the lock.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes the primary purpose and scope of a 'search incident to lawful arrest'?
- A limited pat-down of the outer clothing to search only for weapons.
- A thorough search of the arrestee's person and the area within their immediate control to find weapons or evidence. (Correct answer)
- A complete search of the arrestee's entire vehicle, regardless of where they were arrested.
- A cursory visual inspection of the arrestee for any obvious signs of contraband.
Correct answer: A thorough search of the arrestee's person and the area within their immediate control to find weapons or evidence.
A search incident to a lawful arrest allows an officer to conduct a full search of the arrested person and the area within their immediate control (often called the 'lungeable' area or 'wingspan'). The purpose is to ensure officer safety by finding weapons and to prevent the destruction or concealment of evidence related to the crime of arrest.
Question 4: An officer is attempting to control a resistant subject who is standing. To effectively take the subject to the ground with minimal effort and risk of injury, the officer should focus on disrupting the subject's:
- Center of balance. (Correct answer)
- Line of sight.
- Breathing pattern.
- Verbal communication.
Correct answer: Center of balance.
Most police control and takedown techniques are based on the principle of balance displacement. By disrupting a person's center of balance, an officer can use leverage and body mechanics to control a subject with significantly less force than would be required in a direct strength-on-strength confrontation, reducing the risk of injury to both parties.
Question 5: In a typical use of force model, which of the following is an example of 'hard empty hand control'?
- Applying a wrist lock to guide a subject's hands behind their back.
- Drawing a firearm and holding it at a low-ready position.
- Using a firm grip on a subject's arm to escort them.
- Delivering a knee strike to a subject's thigh to stop their resistance. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Delivering a knee strike to a subject's thigh to stop their resistance.
'Hard empty hand control' techniques, such as strikes, kicks, or certain takedowns, have a higher probability of causing injury and are used to counter active aggression or assaultive behavior. 'Soft' techniques, like joint locks and pressure points, are intended to gain compliance with a lower likelihood of injury.
Question 6: During a physical struggle, a subject grabs for the officer's holstered handgun. What should be the officer's immediate and primary action?
- Trap the subject's hand against the holster with their own hand and body weight, then create an angle. (Correct answer)
- Immediately create distance by pushing away from the subject.
- Attempt to de-escalate the situation verbally.
- Apply a pain compliance technique to the subject's neck or head.
Correct answer: Trap the subject's hand against the holster with their own hand and body weight, then create an angle.
The primary principle of weapon retention is to secure the weapon first. This is achieved by clamping down on the subject's hand with the officer's own hand and using body weight to keep the weapon in the holster. Creating an angle and moving the body is the next step to gain a leverage advantage. Pushing away can give the subject leverage, and verbal commands or secondary techniques are not appropriate until the weapon is secured.
POST - Peace Officer Standards and Training Arrest and Control Techniques Questions and Answers
An officer uses a firm arm-bar takedown on a subject who was actively resisting arrest but not armed.
The subject later complains of excessive force.
According to the precedent set in Graham v.
Connor, the officer's actions will be judged based on what standard?