Recent events in our society have brought about attention and public outcry regarding the use of force by law enforcement. One example is the case in Ferguson, Missouri. It is important that police officers understand what constitutes use of force, and in what circumstance it should be employed, not only for the protection of the agency and its officer(s) involved, but for civilians, as well.
One definition of the use of force, according to the International Association of Police Chiefs (IACP), is “the amount of effort required by police to compel compliance by an unwilling subject." (National Institute of Justice, 2015). The report adds, “The level of force an officer uses varies .based. on many factors, including the officer’s level of training or experience.” And, “Use of force is an officer’s last option”
Questions also arise regarding the legality of the use of force by law enforcement. In a publication by Community Oriented Policing Services or “COPS” (n.d.), the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights was quoted as stating, “in diffusing situations, apprehending alleged criminals, and protecting themselves and others, officers are legally entitled to use appropriate means, including force."
A law enforcement training video, “Use of Force.” (2014), illustrates a five-tiered model of response in which a law enforcement officer might respond to a given situation. The tier moves from “blue.” wherein peaceful compliance is evident, to “red” in which there may be a serious threat of bodily injury or death to the officer(s) involved and/or private citizens. It demonstrates that there may be escalation or de-escalation within these tiers as the situation progresses. Granted, the video is short, and is but a brief overview of the model used by the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.
The video does not address “unnecessary” or “excessive” use of force, nor does it address circumstances which may involve the mentally ill or juveniles. Serious threats should not be taken lightly by law enforcement, and every effort should be made to diffuse the situation with the least amount of force required. Regardless of the individual’s mental state, or age, an officer must rely on their instinct, training and experience to determine the amount of force necessary to protect themselves and the general public.
References
Alderson, B (2014, January 16).Use of force-Police/Law enforcement training video [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylNA7oWgwg4
Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice (2015). Police use of force. Retrieved from www.nij.gov//law-enforcement//use-of-fo. www.nij.gov//law-enforcement//use-of-fo
U.S Department of Justice; COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) Use of force. Retrieved from www.cops.usdoj.gov/default.asp?Item=1374;
