Managing the Use of Force Incident: For Criminal Justice Officers, Supervisors, and Administrators

Lawsuits are a fact of life for the criminal justice officer. They are predictable, preventable, and winnable. Managing the Use of Force Incident reveals a new and innovative approach to law enforcement liability management. Written by a cop for cops, this book presents the information necessary to minimize department and officer liability, win excessive force lawsuits, and properly manage a high profile use of force incident. Four main areas of litigation management are addressed: understanding causation, focus on prevention, creating a proactive defense, and effective use of force training. Presented in three parts, the book follows a logical sequence, beginning with properly investigating excessive force complaints, the circumstances that damage an officer's credibility, the causes of corrections and police litigation, the protocols that minimize officer and department liability, developing defensible use of force policies, identifying the pitfalls of implementing new force options (Taser, impact munitions, chemical agents), and the importance of an effective use of force training program. The unique examples and dialogues used in the narratives are realistic representations of what occurs on the street and in the correctional facility. Additional topics include standards governing the use of force, threat assessment, preparing for the use of force incident, documenting and managing the use of force incident, and the use of force training. There are five force continuum models that are utilized to train criminal justice officers in the use of force incident. They consist of the stair-step continuum, the pie or wheel continuum, the interlocking rings continuum, the matrix continuum, and the relative continuum that includes corresponding illustrations. Rather than focus on a reactive approach to what criminal justice personnel cannot do as set forth in court rulings and jury verdicts, this book places its emphasis on what officers, trainers, supervisors, and administrators can do proactively to prevent lawsuits and create an effective preparatory defense against citizen complaints and excessive force litigation.