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 ability to avoid turning a professional situation into a personal one goes a long way
The electronic control device that is used today was invented by NASA aerospace scientist Jack Cover
“Risk comes from not knowing what you’re doing” — Warren Buffet
Former NYPD sergeant Erik Duran was convicted of manslaughter after throwing a cooler that caused the 2023 death of Eric Duprey
The petition for a light sentence for Sgt. Erik Duran included signatures from federal agents, officers across the country and some cops worldwide
A judge ruled that the officers acted objectively reasonably in fatally shooting Manuel Paez Terán, were within their rights in shooting pepper balls at him and were protected by qualified immunity
Video from Hartford PD shows Steven Jones advancing toward several officers with a knife; now-former officer Joseph Mangano fired multiple shots, fatally wounding Jones
Chief Jim McDonnell found two officers justified in using deadly force against Gillian Lauren, but the Police Commission concluded they made serious tactical mistakes
The Court ruled that it was not clearly established that Vermont State Police Sgt. Jacob Zorn violated Shela Linton’s Fourth Amendment rights, entitling him to qualified immunity in the 2015 case
Friendly fire and constitutional force: How courts analyze missed targets
The Norristown PD officer was charged with assault, oppression and reckless endangerment after the use of force was deemed unnecessary
The man’s death was caused by “cardiac dysrhythmia in a person with acute intoxication due to the combined effects of cocaine and ethanol while being restrained prone by [Haverhill] police”
Blendon Township Officer Connor Grubb was cleared of murder charges in the officer-involved shooting of a woman who drove her car into him
Public reaction to the Minneapolis ICE shooting reflects widespread misunderstandings of how deadly force in vehicle encounters is evaluated under law, policy and training
The review board found that Blendon Township Officer Connor Grubb did not violate department policy when he fatally shot Ta’Kiya Young in 2023
Public reaction has been swift, but the incident will be assessed under federal use-of-force standards, vehicle threat analysis and Supreme Court precedent — not political pressure or hindsight
A veteran officer’s perspective on perception, movement and survival when a vehicle accelerates toward police
Effective instructors require ongoing development, real-world problem-solving skills and legal articulation — not just a certificate on file
I believe I am witnessing a paradigm shift that will compel us to rethink nearly everything we’ve accepted as normal in control tactics
Graham factors and qualified immunity shield most officers but allow excessive force claim after one officer’s two final shots
The Court’s reset of the deadly force standard shaped the year, but questions about officer-created jeopardy and emergency home entry signal more Fourth Amendment challenges ahead
No qualified immunity for officers who fired at an uninvolved driver, finding their force and vehicle seizure unreasonable
Court upholds qualified immunity, ruling blurry video evidence didn’t disprove officers’ reasonable belief a suspect posed a deadly threat
You can’t control the chaos — but you can train the brain that faces it. Learn how to build decision-making that holds under pressure
Colonie PD’s new program blends neuroscience and field realism to reduce one of policing’s highest-liability risks
Law enforcement experts share strategies to improve officer safety in vehicle encounters, emphasizing training and legal standards
Shifting from judgment to learning can turn every body-worn camera review into a powerful training opportunity
Circuit court ruled an officer could be held liable for failing to stop jail staff from assaulting detainee, citing duty to intervene
Brad Lunsford was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the shooting of a man who had gained control of his TASER; a judge awarded him a new trial due to errors in jury handling
MOST POPULAR
- LAPD releases first body-cam footage after in-custody death
- Federal appeals panel: LRADs can be considered excessive force
- Lawyers demand release of body cam video of fatal OIS of armed man
- What are the costs of raising police use of force to a ‘higher standard’?
- Judge: Former LEO must stand trial for fatal OIS of stranded motorist