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.
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
Court reaffirms Graham totality standard giving officers legal clarity
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
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
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
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
“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
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