Use of Force
In this research paper, I will present a better understanding of what law enforcement officers encounter and when they need to utilize the use of force continuum. I will also present case studies where use of force has been used to protect an officer, the public in which they serve, or even be used in the extent as excessive use of force. This paper will give a in-depth detailed understanding how many people who are not in the law enforcement industry, may feel that someone has been excusive while using force within a service they provide to their community. I will give an insight to when force should be used and when force should not be used. By the end of this paper I will provide facts and informative information that will give
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The use of force continuum is based on some departments SOPs. Most departments stick with the use of force continuum put into place by the Department of Justice. (Lyman,2010) As referred in the book, the force continuum shows that there is permissible use of force that increases with each threat level. First level is the Verbalization, this level is when you are giving commands or orders and telling a suspect or individual what you expect them to do. There are many ways that different department policies require. The one that I am familiar with is ASK, TELL, MAKE. This falls in the first category of the verbalization. Asking a individual to show their hands in a manner. If they refuse then you must tell them with a firmer direction to show you have control of the situation. Remember that when you show someone that you have no control you lose the situation. Once they do not obey the command when you tell them, then you make them by going hands …show more content…
Graham, a diabetic, asked a friend to drive him to a store to get some orange juice to help the onset of an insulin reaction. When Mr. Graham entered the store, Mr. Graham noticed that he did not have enough time due to how crowed the store was and hurried out the door back to his friend’s car. Officer Connor, a city police officer noticed Mr. Grahams activity and became very suspicious. Officer Connor then conducted an investigative stop, ordering Mr. Graham and his friend to stand by till he could determine what had happened at the store. Mr. Grahams conditions continued to determinate and tried to explain to Officer Connor but Mr. Graham was handcuffed and ignored. Once Officer Connor found that nothing had happened at the store, Mr. Graham was then released but had multiple
On June 26, 2006, a Sheriff Officer of the State of Florida, William Wheetley and his drug detection dog, Aldo, were on patrol. Furthermore, Officer Wheetley conducted a traffic stop of the defendant Clayton Harris for expired tags on his truck. As Officer Wheetley approached the truck, he noticed that Harris was acting nervous/anxious, more than he should have, and he also noticed an open can of beer in the cup holder next to him. At that moment, Officer Wheetley knew that he was hiding something, he requested to search
On November 12, 1984, Graham was having an episode where he was having an insulin reaction and unable to drive. Graham then asked his friend, Berry to drive him to the nearest store so that he could get some orange juice. Upon arrival Graham entered the store and he notice the line was long, he then hurried out of the store and back to the car (what police often consider the behavior of a robber). Sitting in his patrol car Officer Connor noticed Graham’s suspicious behavior, and he then proceeded to make an investigative stop. After approaching the car, Graham’s friend Berry explained to Connor that Graham was a diabetic and was having a reaction and needed some help. Connor order them to stay inside the car. Once his back up arrived, Connor then went back to the store to see if anything had happen. After finding out that nothing had taken place,
In order to complete this assignments I need to gather as much information as I can from different sources, such as course notes, internet and a Newspaper.
The use of force, particularly with correlation to officer morale and/or inadequate education/training, has become particularly problematic. Measures should be taken to reduce the injury to suspects, particularly physical injury resulting from poor officer tactics or malicious intentions not related to upholding the law. These are problems, which, if properly handled and rectified, will result in improved officer morale, improved relationships with the public as well as ensure a continued upstanding reputation for the oldest police force in the nation.
The purpose of a Use of Force Continuum is to clarify, to both the law enforcement officer and residents, the proper guideline as to how much force may be used against a resisting subject in a given situation.
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.
Crime is a part of society encompases the news and the public. A variety of studies of media content have estimated that as much as 25 percent of the daily news is devoted to crime (Surette 1992) and that crime is the largest major category of stories in the print and electronic media (Chermak 1994, 103). (Lawrence 18). With crime at an all time high, police are constantly having to deal with more and more issues. This can lead to stressed out and fed up officers, which can lead to poor decisions by an officer. The use of force by police is a highly controversial topic as it raises questions about a government’s ability to use force against its citizens (Lawrence 19). Today’s society is caught up on the ideals of civility and equality before the law, making police use of force a touchy
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.
The Police Use-of-Force Continuum simply lays out the five levels of force used by officers from the presence of an officer to the use of deadly force. The force continuum is used to guide an officer's reaction and to focus his or her perception of risk. For example, if a complaint is made the corresponding force an officer would use is his presence, engaging in communication, such as verbal commands. The federal Law Enforcement Training Center also designed a nationally recognized force continuum. This model shows the different applications of force that color codes appropriate officer perceptions based on a suspect's level of resistance and the level of legitimate force and it includes the necessary tactics associated with each of the levels. There's three different levels: Blue for normal day to day law enforcement activities, Orange for harmful threat perception, and Red for lethal threats. There is no clear definition of what excessive force actually is. In order to know if an officer's force is excessive people such as the supreme court refer to the Fourth Amendment’s standard of "Objective
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.
Recently in the United States there has been in increase in deaths that have come from police officers using deadly force. The use of force is inevitable as a police officer, many times their own lives or the life’s civilians are at risk when it comes to determine what type of force a officer should use. There are many incidents where police officer have to react in a matter of seconds and has to choose between his own life or that of the individual causing the disturbance. When a Police Officer uses deadly force has caused outraged with the public, stirring up protests and creating a scandal for the police officer and the Police Department. Many do not know when it is right for an officer to use deadly force and what constitutes it, or what happens when the officer does not use the appropriate amount of force that is required to control the situation. There has been many changes in Police Departments around the country to try to reduce the use of deadly force in response to the issues that have occurred because of it.
Policy paper on the Police Use of Force and Accountability Executive summary An argent need for regulation of the controversial use of force by the police officer is articulated in a contemporary Police Use of Force and Accountability policy agenda of the United States government. Use of force by a police officer can jeopardize the stability of a police department and its relationships with the community overnight (Skolnick & Fyfe, 2013). This paper examines police use of force and accountability and gives a brief description on the need of changing policies, training, and police “culture” with respect to use of force.
Gul, Zakir, Hakan Hekim, and Ramazan Terkesil. “Controlling Police (Excessive) Force: The American Case.” International Journal of Human Sciences 10.2 (2013): 285-303. Academic Search Premier. Web. 12 Mar. 2014.
The police protocol on force, using the force continuum, is not a bad thing itself; however, with misguided views and misunderstanding it can be applied in a bad way. The force continuum serves as a guidance tool for officers to follow in order to properly uphold their duties. Each individual department has the ability to implement the use of a force continuum that goes along the lines of the Constitution in order to educate officers on what amount of force they can or cannot use. This in theory is a perfect way for officers to implement justice without infringing on any American citizens’ personal rights. This would have a positive effect on society and allow the law to be enforced with limited debate amongst the public. Officers often misinterpret or just do not understand how this continuum is supposed to work. Consequently, people are put at risk because of a lack of knowledge and training. Officers make decisions in a few seconds that impact not only their lives but also the lives of people around them forever. The public opinion versus how police perceive things also plays a role in this debate. Many people assume that as a way to show dominance, police officers will freely use force in order to show that they are in control. Although there are problems internally in