NCJ Number
185447
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 69 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2000 Pages: 16-20
Date Published
October 2000
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article describes the systematic approach for reviewing a police officer's use of force as practiced by the Beloit Police Department (Wisconsin).
Abstract
Beloit police use the Disturbance Resolution Model recommended by the State. This model addresses three areas of a use-of-force incident: events immediately before the conflict, intervention options and the force-option continuum during the conflict, and follow-through considerations. The Beloit department has used this model on all use-of-force incidents for several years and has found it to be effective. The "approach" considerations of the review process focus on several areas that officers should consider before the conflict occurs. The review examines decision making regarding legal justification for an approach by the officer or officers and whether the officers had adequate resources to deal effectively with the disturbance. Tactical considerations deal with the officers' abilities to assess threat potential and determine whether they can use safe and efficient tactics to gain control. Another phase of the approach review involves an assessment of the officers' tactical evaluation. Once the approach considerations are reviewed, intervention options are assessed. This segment of the review focuses on the severity of the crime at issue, the suspect's imminent threat to the safety of officers or others, and the suspect's active resistance or attempt to evade arrest by flight. The third component of the review focuses on how the officers managed the subject following his/her incapacitation through the use of force. Findings from a review can fall into one of five categories: "trained and justified," "not trained but justified," "trained but not justified," "not trained and not justified," and "dynamic application." The meaning of each of these findings is explained in the article. 7 notes