CJS 2310 Use of Force

CJS 2310: Use of Force

Description

Use of Force identifies and examines current Supreme court cases, case law, and Minnesota State law on the application of force by peace officers while providing a variety of situations where force may or may not be authorized by providing an understanding of the concepts of reasonable use of force and report documentation. This course will focus on familiarizing students through hands on instruction with a variety of verbal commands, escorting principles, pain compliance, countermeasures, restraint, ground fighting, and baton techniques. Specific instruction on electronic control weapon (ECW) and chemical agents will be given during the course. Students will be required to demonstrate proficiency after receiving instruction in these techniques through a variety of static and dynamic testing, including reality-based training exercises.

Credits

4

Prerequisite

Must be formally accepted into the Peace Officer Program

Corequisite

None

Topics to be Covered

1. Minnesota Criminal Code and Statutes

2. Legal Foundation for Peace Officer Use of Force

3. Conducting Searches and Seizures

4. Defensive and Control Tactics

5. Practical Use of Force Decision- Making

Learning Outcomes

1. Students will be able to successfully identify he knowledge base, respond to and properly handle all task associated with the following Professional Police Officer Education (PPOE) Learning objectives required by the Minnesota POST Board:

  • 1.2.2    Identify and discuss peace officer duties to intercede and report when observing another peace officer using illegal or unreasonable force as stated in Minn. Stat. 626.8475, circumstances that might make interceding challenging and ethical reasoning behind doing the right thing.
  • 1.2.3    Given scenarios where it would be appropriate for an officer to intercede in the use of force by another officer apply ethical reasoning skills to the situation.
  • 2.8.1    Explain Minnesota's statutes, case law, and policy related to the use of force and deadly force by peace officers, including the 2020 updates to Minn. State 609.06, 609.066, and 626.8475, and the State of Minnesota's Use of Force and Deadly Force Model Policy.
  • 2.8.2    Define deadly force, identify justified or prohibited circumstances, and associated liabilities, review the policy statements regarding the sanctity of life, treat everyone with dignity and without prejudice, and special care considerations.
  • 2.8.3    Explain the following terms: objectively reasonable, totality of circumstances, situational factors, pre-assaultive indicators, and, escalation and de-escalation as related to peace officer use of force.
  • 2.8.4 Discuss application of the term reasonable as it related to use of force.
  • 2.8.5    Given scenarios, identify when force is or is not authorized and give and defend reasonable choices for the application of various types of force depending on the circumstances of the scenario.
  • 2.8.6 Give Supreme Court case examples authorizing the use of deadly force.
  • 2.8.7    Analyze a variety of situations where force may or may not be authorized and demonstrate an understanding of the concept of reasonable use of force.
  • 2.8.8 Explain the Minnesota Statute that requires officers be trained in the use of those weapons and equipment the officer is issued or authorized to carry (Minn. Stat. 626.8452).
  • 2.8.9 Explain when force may be used to make an arrest.

  • 2.8.10  "Describe the limitation on the use of certain restraints as described in Minn. Stat. 609.06.

    Note: As of 2020 Minn. Stat. 609.06, states:

    A peace officer may not use any of the following restraints unless section 609.066 authorizes the use of deadly force to protect the peace officer or another from death or great bodily harm:

    (1) a choke hold;

    (2) tying all of a person's limbs together behind the person's back to render the person immobile; or                                                                                                                                                   (3) securing a person in any way that results in transporting the person face down in a vehicle.

    (4) For the purposes of this subdivision, ""choke hold"" means a method by which a person applies sufficient pressure to a person to make breathing difficult or impossible, and includes but is not limited to any pressure to the neck, throat, or windpipe that may prevent or hinder breathing, or reduce intake of air. Choke hold also means applying pressure to a person's neck on either side of the windpipe, but not to the windpipe itself, to stop the flow of blood to the brain via the carotid arteries."
  • 2.8.11  Explain the peace officer duty to intercede and report on another officer’s use of force as described in Minn. Stat. 626.8475.

  • 3.7.2    "Demonstrate strategies and techniques for safely taking a person into custody in a variety of locations when:

    - the subject is non-compliant or combative,

    - there are multiple subjects to be arrested, and

    - the subject(s) are larger and stronger than the officer."
  • 3.7.3    Identify limitations on the use of certain restraints by a peace officer as described in Minn. Stat. 609.06, including limitations on chokeholds, tying all of a person’s limbs together behind a person’s back and securing a person in any way that results in transporting the person face down in a vehicle.
  • 3.7.4    Describe and demonstrate protocols and procedures to safely transport a person in custody.
  • 3.8.1    Identify officer survival/safety issues related to searches of a person, a vehicle, and a building.
  • 3.13.51 Explain the prohibition against the use of deadly force in situations involving people who only poses a danger to themselves and how it may apply in mental health crises situations.
  • 4.1.1    Prior to engaging in practice in defensive and control tactics review considerations for legal, objectively reasonable and necessary use of force and deadly force by a peace officers, prohibitions against use of force and deadly force, limitations of the use of certain restraints, and facts and circumstances that influence what force is reasonable and necessary.
  • 4.1.2    Describe and demonstrate command presence and tactically safe approach techniques in a variety of law enforcement situations.
  • 4.1.3    Demonstrate “soft” empty hand control tactics that may be used on passive resistive subjects and resistive subjects including: distraction techniques, joint manipulations, pressure points, escapes from holds and grasps, come-along from escort techniques and the use of appropriate verbal communication.
  • 4.1.4    Demonstrate “hard” empty hand control techniques that may be used on aggressive, resistive subjects including: restraint techniques, blocks with hands, arms and legs, countermeasure striking techniques using hands, arms, elbows, legs, knees and/or feet, counter striking techniques used in ground fighting, and appropriate verbal commands.
  • 4.1.5    Explain when to handcuff, the risks associated with failing to handcuff and prohibitions against tying all of a person’s limbs together behind a person’s back to render the person immobile, and against securing a person in any way that results in transporting the person face down in a vehicle.

  • 4.1.6    "Demonstrate proper handcuffing techniques from several positions and under a variety of circumstances including:

    - use of clear and concise verbal commands,

    - techniques for use with cooperative and uncooperative subjects,

    - team handcuffing techniques; both standing & prone,

    - tactical positioning and subject control during handcuffing and searching,

    - application of handcuffs (placement, tightness) and double locking, and                - positioning and transporting of handcuffed subject."

  • 4.1.7    "Explain risk factors for in-custody death including symptoms of

    respiratory and cardiac distress and diabetic shock and the importance of monitoring people in custody and getting prompt emergency medical treatment as needed."

  • 4.1.8    "Demonstrate ground fighting tactics including defenses and escapes from positions on the ground or floor including:

    - escapes from the top superior position and the bottom superior (supine) position,

    - escapes from headlocks and chokeholds,

    - defending from four barriers: feet, knees, hands and elbows, and

    - practice in multiple subject and multiple officer scenarios."

  • 4.1.9    "Explain and demonstrate basic techniques for use of the baton and impact weapons including:

    - draws and grips with batons,

    - stances and carrying techniques with batons,

    - uses of the baton for physical control techniques,

    - uses of the baton as a blocking instrument,

    - uses of the baton for striking,

    - identification of body target areas for striking, and

    - baton retention techniques."
  • 4.1.10  Explain the make-up and characteristics of chemical agents, electronic control weapons used by peace officers.

  • 4.1.11  "Demonstrate basic techniques for the reasonable use of an electronic control weapon (ECW) (demonstrations may or may not include actual discharge of the device) including:

    - deployment methods, firing vs. drive stun,

    - proper aftercare and probe removal,

    - carry location and retention of E.C.W., and

    - safety guidelines on duration and number of cycles applied."

  • 4.1.12  "Demonstrate basic techniques for the reasonable use of chemical agents (demonstrations may or may not include actual discharge of the chemical agent) including:

    - delivery systems and methods for chemical agents,

    - dissemination methods of chemical agents,

    - factors to be considered before deploying chemical agents,

    - familiarization with the effects of chemical agents on a subject,

    - actual or simulated exposure to chemical agents in simulated law enforcement scenarios, and

    - after-care considerations and decontamination procedures."
  • 4.1.13  Demonstrate operation of and proficiency with weapons used by peace officers including impact weapons, electronic control devices, and chemical agents.
  • 4.3.1    Evaluate situations requiring the use of force, demonstrate when force is necessary and authorized, discuss reasonable force options, identify factors that determine the reasonableness of force, and apply this knowledge to evaluate the use of force scenarios in compliance with relevant policies and legal standards.
  • 4.3.2    Assess and (verbally in writing) articulate the reasons for using force, including pre-assaultive indicators and situational factors, and accurately document the incident according to policies and legal requirements.
  • 4.3.3    Describe situational implications, such as trauma, substance use, and mental health, which may require law enforcement officers to evaluate safety and apply appropriate use of force according to legal and policy standards.

2. Minnesota Criminal Code and Statutes

Credit Details

Lecture: 0

Lab: 4

OJT: 0

MnTC Goal Area(s): None