The use of deadly force is a pivotal point in the philosophy of defensive and arrest tactics. In order for us as officers to use deadly force responsibly and effectively, we must fully understand the factors leading up to and during the use of deadly force. Things such as intervention options, preclusion, and imminence among others need to be understood. The topics to be covered herein will set forth steps preceding deadly force, deadly force itself, and court cases pertinent to its use.
In order to decide whether the use of force is wise or pertinent to the situation, an officer would like to know as much information as possible as to whether the subject poses a threat to you and how much of a threat they present. Tactical evaluation is the means in which an officer would go about acquiring this information. Factors to be considered when performing a tactical evaluation fall into four categories: threat assessment opportunities, officer/subject factors, special circumstances, and the level/stage/degree of stabilization. .
Threat assessment opportunities are behaviors by the subject that can give you information about the threat potential a subject possesses. Indicators to be considered are the level of resistive tension, early warning signs like conspicuously ignoring you, pre-attack postures, indicators of mental illness, emotional disturbance, and weapon control factors. The differences between an officer and the subject can have a great impact on the way a threat is assessed. The number of participants on each side is a major concern, as well as age, size, strength, and skill level of those involved. There are also special circumstances to be considered in your threat assessment. Factors like your reasonable perception of threat, special knowledge of the subject, injury or exhaustion, and availability of backup are examples of such circumstances. Finally, the level, stage, or degree of stabilization of the subject should be accounted for.