Tag Search Result: Use-of-Force Policies

Perhaps nowhere in contemporary American society does the question of the right tool for the right job come into play more often than in matters of police use of force.

In smaller agencies, policy manuals—if they existed—were just a few policy statements. Now there are multiple bound volumes that no officer can be expected to memorize, let alone understand. — Tom Aveni, Police Policy Studies Council

Maintaining a balance between one's identity as a woman and as a police officer is never going to be easy. Knowing this, Sgt. Stefani Gombar of the Phoenix PD cherishes one piece of advice she received in the academy from a female officer: "Don't lose yourself."

The tactical teams portrayed in the movies and on television typically use an assortment of automatic weapons and high-powered rifles to shoot down terrorists and hostage takers. But those of us in the business know that the vast majority of our missions do not involve the use of deadly force.

Years ago when I was attending my police academy recruit training, one of the many questions my fellow recruits and I pondered was: Will I get sued? In my case, the answer turned out to be, "Yes." And several times at that!

At 75, Joe Arpaio is serving his fourth term as sheriff of Maricopa County, Ariz. It's a job he's held for 15 years, much to the delight of the voting population in the Phoenix area and much to the dismay of politically correct, civil liberties advocates who characterize his policies as cruel and the man himself as a dangerous dinosaur.

Documentation and self-control are the keys to protecting yourself against charges of unreasonable force on persons in custody.