reply to post by Lonewulph
At the top of the continuum is obviously Deadly force. Shoot a bad guy one time or fifty times its still deadly force, run them over with your car,
bulldozer, or thow them into a spinning wood chipper, deadly force...it is still authorized. It doesn't matter what method you use to kill someone who
is threatening you or someone else with death or great bodily harm.
As we go up the continuum from the bottom level there is "Verbal command." You are the police, you tell them to stand there, not here, don't be too
loud at 10pm, drive slower, whatever..You are representing the authority of your city, county, or state. and you are paid to enforce those laws
written by the people whether you agree with said laws or not.
But, since YOU are enforcing them, everybody believes YOU agree and support them. Wrong. You are not allowed to state your opinion on some of these
stupid laws and ordinances, just do as you're paid to do and enforce them.
But I don't want to arrest the guys who refuse to stop feeding the homeless in the parks. Tuff cookie! do it now or you're fired. Look they are all
filming me and cussing out me out, the mean 'policeman', look at him harassing those poor hungry homeless people! Pigs!
Why don't you guys go and cuss out the city officials that are making me enforce that? Go scream your case on the steps on the state capital. I didn't
make up this stupid law because I don't like the homeless. Now I have to arrest them because they are ignoring my 'Verbal Command' and won't leave, oh
goodie, I will look like a total jerk.
Back to the continuum. You are called to a bar, a drunk man inside is raising hell and wont leave.
You get there and ask him to step outside so you can work things out. He's drunk and belligerent as hell, calling you every name in the book, ef you
effing pig and so on. Outside, you convince him to leave, he heads to his car..."uh, hold on there old timer.. you're way to drunk to drive, you got
somebody I can call to come get you?"
ef you , you effing this and that. "okay sir, the bar owner doesn't want your car to stay here so we have to tow it okay?"
You, officer, walk over to his car to complete the form and call for the truck. From behind you, here comes pop, screaming #BS! You aint towing
anything you effing pig I'll kick yer arse! He slaps a hand on your shoulder following his verbal threat. **STOP**
Where are we at this point on the force continuum? What force are you 'authorized' to use to stop his aggression toward you a law enforcement
officer?
To determine what force can be used we must determine what force the suspect is using, he will dictate your actions. Fine.
Is he armed? No. Hands/fists (battery is imminent) coming at you, and a verbal threat, (assault).
Is he complying with verbal instruction? No.
Are you in fear for your life? No. (He is not a football linebacker and I'm not a 5' tall female officer)
On the continuum, against an unarmed aggressor who is threatening to batter you, you may:
Use an approved 'take down' technique such as arm bar, etc. to take him to the ground.
Use your approved chemical agent spray.
Use your approved Taser.
Use your approved Baton (stick), and strike him on his legs and arms until he complies with you verbal commands.
What will you choose to do? As an experienced seasoned LEO you would most likely, call for back up, grab pop by his arms, place him on your car, try
to talk sense into him while wrenching his arms behind him to be handcuffed for his obvious offenses.
As an inexperienced, fresh out of college, ex football player, 24 year old you may choose one of your other options instead. Why? Because you are
absolutely offended that anyone could ever talk to you like that, and defy your authority by not cooperating with your verbal commands, how dare he
disrespect your badge, and.. you're already pissed because he's been cussing you out, spitting all over you, he's pissed himself, you don't want to be
there.
So you wrap him up in an arm-bar and take him to the ground. His 80 year old, drunk head hits the ground, fracturing C5, and he stops moving. You call
for an ambulance, he's in the hospital in a coma.
Here comes the media lol
Now, did the inexperienced officer act within the scope of the Use of Force Continuum? Yes, he used an arm-bar technique to take the aggressor to the
ground and hand cuff him. It authorized at that level. (There really is no pretty way to take someone to jail that does not want to go.)
In the process he got injured because the idiot didn't protect how the old man landed, not that he had to, but an experienced officer would
have...usually... depending on the officer.
What else could he have done?
Chemical spray, nah too messy, have to call the FD to decon him afterwards, and it will be in your uniform all night. -Continued
edit on 28-11-2012 by Lonewulph because: (no reason given)