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.
“What Cops Want” survey findings reveal major gaps in officer training — from frequency to realism. These fixes can help agencies close the gap and protect both officers and the public
Officers want more frequent, realistic and integrated training, but agencies continue to fall short
The 11th Circuit ruled deputies did not use excessive force in shooting Joseph Heid, who shot at officers during a domestic violence call
New York City Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt’s words resonate for law enforcement today as much as they did a century ago
Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels stated that collecting some pieces of use of force data required by the grant program would be difficult and time consuming
The 5th Circuit ruled that deputies acted constitutionally in TASER use on an impaired suspect, clearing them of excessive force claims
Taking prompt action supports officer wellness, preserves investigative integrity and sets the stage for long-term recovery
Johnny Hollman Sr. died in August 2023 as former officer Kiran Kimbrough tried to take him into custody for allegedly causing a crash and refusing to sign a citation
Greg Meyer, retired LAPD captain and expert witness, explains how media myths distort public perception and what officers and police leaders can do to correct the record
Video taken by witnesses showed several Haverhill officers holding a man face down, although it was not clear how long he was restrained or when he became unresponsive
Mark Dial was convicted of voluntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and possessing an instrument of crime and sentenced to 9.5 months in prison; he had already served 10 months
A judge sentenced the retired Mount Vernon police sergeant to six months in prison for tasing a man seven times in two minutes while he was handcuffed
From grappling to weapon retention, this year’s “What Cops Want” survey responses reveal what skills officers say are missing and how training programs can evolve
Just 30 minutes after completing Axon’s VR TASER training, Lincoln PD Officer Alessandra Winterbauer used her TASER 10 to prevent a suicide-by-cop outcome
Incident highlights critical training points on vehicle stop strategy, force transitions, weapon cues and pursuit tactics
Cincinnati officer cleared in OIS of armed man; suspect’s father accused of using car to kill deputy
The fleeing suspect pointed a loaded gun at Cincinnatti PD officers during the incident, the county prosecutor stated; the next day, the suspect’s father fatally struck a deputy with his car
Understanding the protective protocols and legal standards that shaped agents’ response during a high-security DHS event
Accessed too early, the hand holding the handcuffs is useless until the arrestee is in a position of control
In dismissing the charges, U.S. District Judge Michael Brown said now-retired Sung Kim’s actions amounted to “textbook self-defense”
Det. Sgt. Brian Keely made a reasonable decision to try to block the fleeing man from entering a restaurant, even if the officer’s actions were risky, the judge stated
Court reaffirms Graham totality standard giving officers legal clarity
Dial testified he heard his partner yell “gun” and thought he saw a gun in Eddie Irizarry’s hand before the 2023 officer-involved shooting occurred
When officers responded to a domestic violence call at the wrong address, a man opened the door and pointed a gun at them; a judge ruled the threat against officers was imminent
HB202 rewrites Alabama’s police immunity law and adds new definitions for courts to determine whether an officer is justified in a use of force and immune from prosecution
“To assess whether an officer acted reasonably in using force, a court must consider all … facts and events leading up to the climactic moment,” the majority opinion stated
Two officers. Two gun grabs. Here’s what went wrong — and what you can learn
To bridge the gap between legal justification and public scrutiny, agencies must evolve how they train officers to perform under stress and assess threat cues in real time
The force used by officers against a man they mistakenly believed was a wanted suspect was justified due to his resistance during the arrest, a judge ruled
A jury took about 8 1/2 hours over two days to find Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith not guilty on all charges after a nine-day trial in state court in Memphis
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