POST Arrest and Control Techniques 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The term 'excited delirium' is significant in arrest situations because suspects exhibiting this condition:
- Are more likely to flee than fight
- May have superhuman strength, extreme agitation, and face a high risk of sudden death in custody (Correct answer)
- Respond well to standard pain compliance techniques
- Are typically unarmed
Correct answer: May have superhuman strength, extreme agitation, and face a high risk of sudden death in custody
Excited delirium subjects are extremely dangerous to control and face a high risk of in-custody death, requiring immediate medical intervention after restraint.
Question 2: When searching a handcuffed subject before transport, officers should perform the search:
- Only if the suspect consents
- Systematically from head to toe using a consistent pattern to avoid missing areas (Correct answer)
- Only of outer clothing
- With the suspect facing the officer at all times
Correct answer: Systematically from head to toe using a consistent pattern to avoid missing areas
A systematic head-to-toe search pattern ensures thoroughness and reduces the risk of missing concealed weapons or contraband.
Question 3: An officer attempting a single-officer arrest of a combative suspect should FIRST attempt to:
- Immediately apply a chokehold
- Gain distance, call for backup, and use verbal commands to de-escalate while awaiting assistance (Correct answer)
- Rush in and apply handcuffs as fast as possible
- Draw a firearm to gain compliance
Correct answer: Gain distance, call for backup, and use verbal commands to de-escalate while awaiting assistance
Creating distance and requesting backup preserves officer safety and allows for a more controlled, lower-risk arrest when backup arrives.
Question 4: The 'interview stance' (or 'interview position') gives an officer an advantage because it:
- Signals aggression to the suspect
- Blades the body, keeps the weapon side back, and allows rapid movement in any direction (Correct answer)
- Keeps both hands visible to the suspect
- Places the officer directly in front of the suspect
Correct answer: Blades the body, keeps the weapon side back, and allows rapid movement in any direction
The bladed interview stance protects the weapon side, improves balance, and allows quick movement to respond to threats.
Question 5: Which of the following is the MOST important consideration when deciding the appropriate level of force to use?
- The officer's personal frustration level
- The totality of the circumstances known to the officer at the time (Correct answer)
- The suspect's prior criminal record alone
- The number of officers present
Correct answer: The totality of the circumstances known to the officer at the time
Courts evaluate force decisions based on the totality of circumstances — all facts known to the officer at the moment force was used.
Question 6: During handcuffing, an officer should position themselves to one side and slightly behind the suspect primarily to:
- Allow the suspect to see the officer clearly
- Reduce the suspect's ability to strike the officer and protect the officer's weapon side (Correct answer)
- Make verbal communication easier
- Speed up the handcuffing process
Correct answer: Reduce the suspect's ability to strike the officer and protect the officer's weapon side
A position to the side and slightly behind limits the suspect's attack angles and keeps the officer's weapon away from the suspect's reach.
Question 7: A suspect who is handcuffed begins complaining of chest pain and difficulty breathing. The officer should:
- Ignore the complaint as a manipulation tactic
- Immediately request EMS and monitor the suspect closely while loosening any restrictive positioning (Correct answer)
- Remove the handcuffs and allow the suspect to sit freely
- Continue transport and notify the jail medical staff upon arrival
Correct answer: Immediately request EMS and monitor the suspect closely while loosening any restrictive positioning
Chest pain and breathing difficulty can indicate a life-threatening emergency; officers have a duty of care and must summon medical aid immediately.
POST Arrest and Control Techniques 5
The term 'excited delirium' is significant in arrest situations because suspects exhibiting this condition: