Instructional goal
Law enforcement officers will encounter many situations during which they need to consider and apply physical force that includes deadly and non-deadly force. This course will provide students an overview of force options and will identify the legal and other factors officers must consider when choosing a force option based on the totality of the circumstances. Mandatory use-of-force reporting requirements for law enforcement officers will be reviewed, as will potential areas of liability in use-of-force situations.
Objectives
- Define deadly force and identify the three circumstances when the use of deadly force by a law enforcement officer against another person is justified by law.
- Define non-deadly force and identify two of the three circumstances when the use of non- deadly force by a law enforcement officer against another person is justified by law.
- Identify three of the four individual action categories as used in situational use of force.
- Identify at least three deadly and/or non-deadly force options for each individual action category.
- Identify at least five additional factors to be considered prior to an officer’s use of force.
- Identify at least three use of force situations that require reporting to the Maine Attorney General.
- Identify three of the five areas of potential liability arising from unreasonable use of force situations.
