Use of Force
The Use of Force topic provides news, information and training on one of the most commonly discussed areas in police training programs. Learn how to educate your community about use of force, the risks unarmed individuals pose and more.
The Kim Potter case reignited concerns about “TASER confusion,” but with proper training and use, officers can reduce risk without abandoning one of law enforcement’s safest force options
Spark discussion in the training room or shift briefing with a quote from “The Art of War”
Court affirms that tactics used to disperse unruly crowd did not violate protesters’ constitutional rights, dismisses excessive force lawsuit and grants officers qualified immunity
Erik Hernandez was found guilty of manslaughter in the 2023 shooting death of Justin Reffel, who was attempting to flee from Hernandez and another officer in a vehicle
“Someone who defends his life is not guilty of murder, even if he is forced to deal his aggressor a lethal blow,” Rep. James DeSana said, citing the Catechism
Torrington Police Department Sgt. Gerald “Jay” Peters saw the suspect resisting officers by trying to hit them with his elbow and kicking them in the shins, according to the ruling
The 8th Circuit upheld officers’ use of force in Aden v. City of Bloomington, citing Graham factors and qualified immunity
Repeated incidents of weapon confusion point to deeper flaws in training, tactics and system design — and demand a shift in how we prepare for high-stress encounters
In Dimock v. City of Brooklyn Center, the court ruled warrantless entry and deadly force was lawful, citing exigent circumstances doctrine
Following a Ninth Circuit decision on use of force, one sheriff’s new policy has sparked debate over legal interpretation, responder safety and the future of crisis response models
A shirtless man with a chainsaw in a nursing home. A minute and 41 seconds of chaos. What would you have done and how long would it have taken you to decide?
The Omaha Police Department has adopted an approach where its interviewing investigators do not watch video evidence before interviewing officers involved in serious uses of force
From crisis calls to tactical decision-making, discover how to apply de-escalation effectively while balancing officer safety, public trust and evolving policies
Meet three black belt officers using martial arts to transform police training — locally, virtually and internationally
While she has been recognized for her strong shooting skills, McBride’s career has also been marked by controversy, including a fatal officer-involved shooting incident in 2020
Officers face split-second decisions, but politics and misinformation are shaping the rules they must follow — often with dangerous consequences
At SHOT Show 2025, Force Science and VirTra explored the reality behind police decision-making under stress, the impact of hindsight bias, and why high-fidelity training is critical for officer preparedness and accountability
Get insights into how the duty to intervene is transforming law enforcement through leadership, accountability and legal frameworks
Former Las Cruces police officer Brad Lunsford shot the man in the head after the man put his hands on a second officer’s TASER
The Supreme Court’s ruling in Barnes v. Felix could help resolve whether use of force should be judged by the moment of threat doctrine or the totality of the circumstances
The most relevant and important human factors that every investigator, administrator and trainer should understand when conducting use-of-force investigations and reviews
The 171-page consent decree outlines reforms for Minneapolis PD, such as preventing excessive force, ending racial bias and improving interactions with youth
“As attorney general, I will not permit Oklahoma police officers to face criminal prosecution for conduct adhering to their training,” said AG Gentner Drummond
Jared Reston’s (a cop who’s ‘been there’ repeatedly) 10 fundamentals to help any cop win a gunfight
Former Kansas City Police officer Eric DeValkenaere has been freed after his 2021 conviction of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Cameron Lamb in 2019
It’s a safety measure that protects not only officers but citizens and property too
The agreement requires the agency to revise use of force policies, ensure traffic stops are constitutional and improve protest responses
A jury cleared Penny of criminally negligent homicide in Neely’s 2023 death; a manslaughter charge was dismissed in deliberations because the jury deadlocked on that count
Jurors have been deliberating for several days on whether to convict Daniel Penny of manslaughter in the death of Jordan Neely; they will now consider a negligent homicide charge
MOST POPULAR
- Illinois sheriff to retire after death threats following deputy’s fatal shooting of unarmed woman
- NYC mayor defends NYPD response after videos show clash between protesters, officers
- Former Calif. deputy faces federal charges in killing of man who was fleeing other LEOs
- Charges dropped against 2 officers accused of not trying to stop use of force in Christian Glass case
- UCLA police chief reassigned following criticism over handling of campus demonstrations