Purpose: This policy was created to educate police officers on the use and restrictions of force when placed in difficult situations. This policy will also explain how to distinguish lethal from non lethal tactics and weaponry. We want for them to exercise good judgment and caution when apprehending suspects; not only for their own safety, but the safety of others.
Section I: Definition of Lethal/Non Lethal Force
1). Lethal Force is when a police officer kills or causes seriously bodily harm to someone by some action on his or her part. Examples are below as followed:
a). Shooting someone
b). Knocking someone down
c) Beating them to death
d) Restriction of air flow during detaining the suspect.
2). Non lethal force is when a police officer has to use mace, stun gun, baton, or his own body to stop and/or arrest. This course of action could have hurt a suspect, but did not cause serious injury or death.
a). However, if the deaths were caused entirely from the stun guns, tasers and it was a common occurrence, than it should be considered lethal. If it is an anomaly, it was not a common occurrence. The police need some tools to help take down or control suspect who are fighting them. Anytime the police officer physically assault another person, there is a strong possibility that death can occur.
Section II: Parameters Explained when using Deadly/Non-Deadly Force
In the line of duty, police officers are often called upon to use some type of force when trying to keep the public safe. However there are restrictions when applying force.
1). There are rules concerning both lethal and non-lethal force. According to the Moral Penal Code, there are restrictions on police officers regarding lethal force.
a). L...
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Deadly Force. West’s Encyclopedia of American Law, edition 2. (2008) Retrieved on June 26th, 2010 from http://www.legel-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Lethal+Force
The City of West Palm Beach Discipline Administration Manual (2006) Retrieved July 1st, 2010 from: http://www.wpbpolice.org/policies/downloads/-I-09DISCIPLINARYPROCEDURES.htm
Pine Bluff Police Department Policy and Procedure Manual (2008). Retrieved June 24th, 2010 from http://www.pbpd.org/Policies%20PDF/Chapter-V/POL-0550%20 (Use%20of%20Force)%205-7-08.pdf
Town of Madison Police Department Policy and Procedure Manual (2008). Retrieved June 23rd, 2010 from http://www.town.madison.wi.us/police/Policy/TMPD_PNP_032310/28570.pdf
Use of Force: New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice (2000). Retrieved July 1st, 2010 from http://www.state.nj.us/lps/dcj/agguide/useforce.htm
Over the years, our nation has witnessed countless cases of police brutality. It has developed into a controversial topic between communities. For instance, deindustrialization is the removal or reduction of manufacturing capability or activity can lead to more crimes when people are laid off. Police officers are faced with many threatening situations day-to-day gripping them to make split second decisions; either to expect the worst or hope for the best. The police are given the authority to take any citizen away for their action that can ruin their lives. With that kind of power comes great responsibility, which is one main concern with the amount of discretion officers have is when to use lethal force. The use of excessive force might or
Smith, M. R., Petrocelli, M., & Scheer, C. (2007). Excessive force, civil liability, and the taser in
When law enforcement officers use excessive force when making an arrest or dealing with the public, this is known as police brutality. As one of the biggest police departments in America, the New York Police Department often finds itself in the midst of police brutality cases. Officers are allowed to use some force to restrain a suspect, make an arrest, prevent an escape, or defend themselves. However, there is a fine line that cannot be crossed when it comes to using force. Landing on the other side of that police brutality line can potentially put an officer in trouble, and may even cost him his job.
Law Enforcement Action Forum Newsletter. State of Michigan, City of Jackson, Oct 2001. Web. Oct. 2001
Over the years, this country has witnessed many cases of police brutality. It has become a controversial topic among communities that have seen police brutality take place in front of their homes. Officers are faced with many threatening situations everyday forcing them to make split second decisions and to expect the worst and hope for the best. Police officers are given the power to take any citizens rights away and even their lives. With that kind of power comes responsibility, that’s one major concern with the amount of discretion officers have is when to use force or when to use lethal force. The use of excessive force may or not be a large predicament but should be viewed by both the police and the community.
Around the world police officers are trained to do their job effectively, and with six months or more of training to be well disciplined, and a coordinated team of professionals in what they do. Every move they make counts, anything done without technique could cost them their life or someone else’s. The have to be effective with all the weapons they are equipped with such as sharp shooters with their pistols or heavier weaponry like a shotgun or assault rifle. They also need to know when exactly to use their less lethal weapons such as the electric rifle known as a Taser or the OC spray also known as mace or pepper spray. They may also use the self-defense techniques taught during their time in training of mixed martial arts that they gained knowledge in, taking someone down with an arm maneuver or something similar.
"FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin: A History." FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin 81.12 (2012): 1-2. Academic Search Premier. Web. 30 Mar. 2014.
Information On The Use Of Police Discretion. (2004, January 6). Information On The Use Of Police Discretion. Retrieved November 18, 2013, from http://www.caught.net/prose/policediscreti
Police brutality is a very real problem that many Americans face today. The police carry an enormous burden each day. Police work is very stressful and involves many violent and dangerous situations. In many confrontations the police are put in a position in which they may have to use force to control the situation. There are different levels of force and the situation dictates the level use most of the time. The police have very strict rules about police use force and the manner in which they use it. In this paper I will try to explain the many different reason the police cross the line, and the many different people that this type of behavior effects. There are thousands of reports each year of assaults and ill treatment against officers who use excessive force and violate the human rights of their victims. In some cases the police have injured and even killed people through the use of excessive force and brutal treatment. The use of excessive force is a criminal act and I will try and explore the many different factors involved in these situations.
For example, according to Dara lind “Officer’s aren’t supposed to shoot to kill. They’re supposed to do whatever is necessary to disable the threat”(Lind). Whenever an officer gets caught up in a difficult situation where deadly force is needed for the most part officers do shoot to kill because they feel like there life is in danger themselves. Yes like they said they are supposed to do whatever is necessary so therefore if shooting to kill someone is necessary to them then for police officers it is the right thing to do. But in reality in some occasions deadly force by a cop resulting in someone’s death is not needed and there should be other alternatives to handle difficult problems like that. In addition, “Usually, the point from where the officer believes he has to use deadly force to the point where he uses deadly force -- where he pulls
The degree of force that officers use is heavily influenced by police discretion in real-world situations rather than espoused by a certain agenda. Discretion can be classified into four different categories where administrators, the community, and the individual police officer exercise differing degrees of influence in decision-making. What is needed to help officer discretion is a central ethos that will guide discretion when all other rules fail to help.
Most law enforcement agencies have policies that determine the use of force needed. The policies describe the escalating series of actions an officer can take to resolve a situation, first level is officer presence which means no force is used, and just the mere presence can reduce
Over the years, this country has witnessed many cases of police brutality. It has become a controversial topic among communities that have seen police brutality take place in front of their homes. Officers are faced with many threatening situations everyday forcing them to make split second decisions and to expect the worst and hope for the best. Police officers are given the power to take any citizens rights away and even their lives. With that kind of power comes responsibility, that’s one major concern with the amount of discretion officers have is when to use force or when to use lethal force. The use of excessive force may or not be a large predicament but should be viewed by both the police and the community.
The use of Deadly Force by Police Officers has increased throughout Country, this has cause public outrage as people have demanded that there be changes in the Police Departments throughout the United States. Many citizens do not know that goes on thought the mind of a Police Officer, they are risking their own lives to protect the citizens around them. In order for a Police Officer to use Deadly Force there are many factors that are required in order for the Officer to engage in deadly force.
According to the National Police Academy, in the past year, there have been over 7,000 reports of police misconduct; fatalities have been linked to more than 400 of these cases (Gul). Police brutality is often triggered by disrespect towards the police officer. The most noticeable form of brutality is physical, where Chemical gas, batons, tasers, and guns, can be used for physical intimidation or to actually hurt people. Police brutality can also take the form of verbal abuse or psychological intimidation. It seems reasonable to understand that sometimes the police are put into situations where excessive force may be needed. But, because some officers use these extreme actions in situations when it is not, police brutality should be addressed and looked into by both the police and the public. For instance, a police officer who beats a nonviolent protester with a baton would probably be accused of excessive use of force, under the argument that the police officer probably could have dealt with the situation less violently.