Are officers supposed to use equal arms?

Question

When I was in high school (late 80's) I was taught that officers could only break out a weapon of equal force as the suspect is showing. What are the true guidelines?

Answer 1

No. Officers use what is referred to as the +1 (Plus One) Force Continuum. That means that whatever level of force a suspect is using, the officer can go one step above that to contain the situation or make the arrest.

If a suspect is yelling, shouting, cursing, etc., the officer can use physical force to restrain the suspect with his hands and handcuffs. If the suspect attempts to physically resist by fighting, pushing, running, etc., the officer can go up to the next level of force by using non-lethal weapons, such as batons, mace/pepper spray, taser, etc. If the suspect is using any object as a weapon to attack the officer, like a stick, bat, pipe, etc., then the officer is allowed to use deadly force. If the suspect is using a real weapon, like a gun or knife, then the officer is still using deadly force, because there is no step up from that.

As an extra note, an officer can only truly use deadly force if they can articulate that at that moment, they feel that the suspect has the ability (he's got a weapon) and opportunity (he's right in front of me) to kill the officer or some other person, and there is jeopardy (this guy's gonna kill me!). But if you put an average adult in front of me with a pipe, who's running at me and yelling, "F*** the police!" (it's happened), that fits the +1 level of force and I can articulate that my life was in imminent danger. Deadly force is justified.

Answer 2

The officer can escalate force based on the threat.

Here are some examples:
If you are a female officer who is 5'1" and a 7' suspect says he will kill you before he goes to jail, then he picks up a park bench to throw at you, using deadly force should be OK.

If you are a 5'11" female, and a man of your own height & weight takes a swing at you, you can use your nightstick or your taser, you can use OC, or if you feel like it, you can block the punch and dislocate his elbow.

If a suspect tries to grab your weapon, better do whatever you have to. If they get your weapon, they are not going to say "Tag, you're it!" and run off into the night. They are going to blow your head off with your own gun.

Hope that helps.

Answer 3

They are to use the level of force needed to contain the situation. Up to deadly force they normally will use one level higher than the suspect.

If he has no weapon they will use a tazer, mace, baton to detain the suspect if they are not following the orders of the officer.

Police officers don't stand toe to toe and try to fight it out, they are to detain the suspect.

They can only use deadly force ( gun) or baton with lethal blows, if they or someone else is in danger of thier life

Answer 4

We use the "one plus one" theory. It comes from Graham v. Connor. It says, in essence, that an Officer is authorized, If Necessary, to use one level of force higher than the resistive subject in order to gain and maintain control.

This means that if someone is using hands-on force against the Officer, the Officer can use a non-lethal weapon to control the subject.

The ruling does not say "always use one level higher", but that one level higher can be justified if it can be shown to have been necessary.

Answer 5

Don't know the guidelines, but the equal force thing definatley isn't true. If a suspect pulls a knife, an office is going to pull a gun.

Answer 6

You aren`t going to try and find out are you? They will take the necessary measures to take you down with their weapon of choice if resistance is met.

Answer 7

any means neccessary to diffuse a situation

Answer 8

it changes according to situations and necessity