Use Of Force Policy

1. Verbal Force: This involves the use of verbal commands, instructions, or warnings  to gain compliance from individuals involved in a situation.

2. Soft or Empty-Hand Control Techniques: These techniques include physical contact, such as joint locks, pressure points, strikes, or holds, with the intention of gaining control or restraining a subject without causing significant injury.

3. Chemical Agents: This includes the use of substances such as pepper spray to incapacitate or disorient individuals, allowing officers to gain control or safely resolve a situation.

4. Conducted Electrical Weapons (CEWs): Also known as tasers, these devices deliver an electrical shock to temporarily incapacitate a subject by disrupting their neuromuscular system.

5. Impact Weapons: These may include batons, expandable batons, or other impact devices used to strike or immobilize an individual, usually targeting non-lethal areas of the body.

6. Lethal Force: The most extreme level of force involves the use of firearms or other weapons with the intention of causing death or serious bodily harm. Lethal force is typically employed as a last resort in situations where there is an immediate threat to the life of an officer or others.

The decision to use force is typically based on the principles of necessity, proportionality, and reasonableness. These principles require officers to consider factors such as the severity of the threat, the risk to themselves or others, the level of resistance, and the availability of other options before using force. Policies will provide specific guidance on when each type of force is appropriate and the factors to consider in making those determinations.