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.
When your words fail, you must be prepared to physically prevail
Recent findings provide empirical evidence that motor movements, like the firearm draw performance, can be initiated before the startle response is completed
After being incapacitated by bear spray and facing down an armed suspect, this LEO attributes his survival to his training
Video shows the LEO picking up a woman and slamming her to the ground after she approached the area where her relatives were being detained
Police said the suspect fought with officers and a CEW failed to subdue him
The subject was also struck by a squad car
The trial placed the PD’s policies under a microscope, questioning whether LEOs are too quick to use lethal force
The officer testified he felt he had no other choice but to shoot in the moments after a “loud bang” on his squad car made him fear a possible ambush
Nouman Raja was the first Florida LEO in nearly 30 years to be convicted and sentenced for an on-duty shooting
From 2008 to 2017, more than half a million LEOs were assaulted—most by people using personal weapons. This trend points toward the need for safer contact and interview techniques
State legislature removed all mention of UOF from Senate Bill 230, leaving options for LE to negotiate on new rules or oppose the bill
Officials are debating on statewide guidelines on when officers can use force and requiring that every LEO train in ways to avoid opening fire
The LEO was ordered to surrender his gun and badge until an investigation into Thursday’s UOF incident is complete
The entire exchange, from the shots fired to the suspect’s death, lasted 17 minutes
Officers will no longer be permitted to participate in “warrior”-style training, even on their own time
The officer, a five-year veteran of the force, was shot in the right armpit
The debate over how to safely reduce police use of force in California must be grounded in facts, not driven by emotion
VirTra now offers a monthly subscription program to provide customizable, realistic simulation training without a large capital investment
The department is investigating an officer’s use of force on a woman while breaking up a fight during a festival
While the ‘FBI Miami shootout’ is best known for its influence on the development of better ammunition for law enforcement, there are other important lessons to learn
A balance of both live-fire range training and FoF training or video simulation is the best option for officers
Results found that force of any kind was rare and police-citizen interactions were not influenced by gender or race
Assembly Bill 392 is a difficult web to untangle
Mohamed Noor is charged in a 2017 death that drew international attention, cost the chief her job and forced major revisions to the PD’s BWC policy
Here’s how the prevalence of deadly force opportunity in ordinary police experience can inform training
This is potentially the worst position for officers because they are subject to chokes and strikes to the back of the head
There is a long “hangover legacy” of court decisions that are not in harmony with the latest human-factors research
Officers expecting a gun to be present are much more likely to shoot a suspect who is holding nothing more threatening than a cell phone
The stickers are designed to help alert police when they are dealing with someone who has a physical or mental disorder
We need more balanced and comprehensive reporting of police use of force against “unarmed” individuals
Researchers examined the ability of law enforcement officers and civilians to detect objects in the hands of other people
California currently lets officers use deadly force when they have a reasonable fear of being harmed
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