Force Continuum

The force continuum is an escalation and de-escalation triangle used to ensure that we use the minimum amount of force required to ensure the safety of ourself, fellow officers and the public.

1 - Officer presence – the professionalism, uniform, and utility belt of the law enforcement officer and the marked vessel or vehicle the officer arrives in. The visual presence of authority is normally enough for a subject to comply with an officer's lawful demands. Depending on the totality of the circumstances, a call/situation may require additional officers or on scene officers may request assistance in order to gain better control of the situation and ensure a more safe environment for all involved. It also will depend on the circumstances of the situation.
2 - Verbal commands/cooperative controls – clear and understandable verbal direction by an officer aimed at the subject. In some cases, it is necessary for the officer to include a consequence to the verbal direction so that the subject understands what will happen if the subject refuses to comply with the officer’s direction. The verbal command and the consequence must be legal and not considered excessive according to the continuum.
3 - Bodily Movement – a level of force that has a low probability of causing soft connective tissue damage or bone fractures. This would include joint manipulation techniques, applying pressure to pressure points and normal application of hand-cuffs Hard control Techniques/Aggressive response techniques – the amount of force that has a probability of causing soft connective tissue damage or bone fracture. This would include kicks, punches, stuns.
4 - Less than Lethal – an amount of force that would have a high probability of causing soft connective tissue damage or bone fractures. (e.g. expandable baton, baton, pepper spray, Taser, bean bag rounds, police dogs, etc.)These are designed to impact muscles, arms and legs, and intentionally using an less than lethal weapon on the head, neck, groin, knee caps, or spine would be classified as deadly or lethal force
5 - Lethal force/Deadly force – a force with a high probability of causing death or serious bodily injury. Serious bodily injury includes unconsciousness, protracted or obvious physical disfigurement, or protracted loss of or impairment to the function of a bodily member, organ, or the mental faculty.

Is important, that when you are under threat or risk of serious harm, that you attempt to ‘one up’ the class level. Punches should be met with Taser/Baton. Bats should be met with Lethal.

Lethal Force is our highest level an officer can escalate to, careful consideration should be applied when deciding lethal force is to be used. When lethal force is used the intention is to shoot to kill.

• Shooting tires is not authorisation of lethal force, it is used in an attempt to disable a vehicle and should be used as a last resort when no other mobile unit can chase. This could cause a needless escalation for retaliation of lethal force towards yourself or other LEOs.

• LEOs should not be the ones to escalate force, they should match what they are presented with in a safe and controlled manner.

• Lethal force is used to regain control of a situation by neutralising a threat. Remain cautious while carrying, using or operating Lethal Force.

• Vehicles attempting to ram officer vehicles at high speeds of over 100MPH is considered lethal force. They are not trained to perform PIT maneuvers. As such this will be met with lethal. Officers can open fire when safe to do so, this should be done by the passenger of the vehicle at controlled speeds of under 30MPH in non built up areas or from outside of a stationary cruiser. When opening fire you are not shooting to disable the vehicle, shoot to kill the individual. Remember you can deescalate, if the suspects leave the vehicle on foot unarmed, you can deescalate.

Use of Class 2 Weaponry

Class 2 Weaponry should be carried and used in the following situations:

• Observance of Class 2’s.

• Based on alert level

• An Officer is outnumbered or solo in a situation against class 1`s

• Incidents at Bolingbroke Penitentiary.

Use of Class 3 Weaponry

Class 3 Weaponry should be carried and used in the following situations:

• Observance of Class 3’s.

• Based on alert level

• An Officer is outnumbered or solo in a situation against class 2`s

Rifle Rack – This Is used to store only Class 2 firearms. Once we are off High alert we will move to using these rifle racks.