When a crime has been committed and the police have arrived, several people may be present. A person may not know who is involved in the crime or what role they played. The person must be taken into custody or brought to the location of the scene for questioning.
Certain defensive tactics can be used to take a suspect into custody and prevent them from escaping at any time during an altercation with police officers. These techniques are meant for use when it is necessary for arresting a criminal.
Each technique should be used according to its level of effectiveness, legal requirements, and policy of the particular department. To ensure safety when applying these techniques, a police officers should be trained in their use and application.
Physical force techniques are the most used methods for taking a suspect into custody. These techniques are meant for use against a person who does not cooperate with police and is resisting arrest efforts. The person may be resisting because they know they have done something wrong and fear legal consequences.
This type of resistance may include running, fighting, hiding, or trying to leave without being taken into custody. Physical force may also be necessary when the person is aggressive, violent, or armed in an attempt to either prevent apprehension or injure the police officer. When physical force is required, the police officer must use only enough to gain control of the suspect and place them under arrest.
Here are the common defensive tactics for Police officers:
Ankle Vice
This technique is used to control and subdue a person who is running from the police. The police officer will run at the person and leap and wrap their legs around one ankle while pulling the person to the ground with them.
This technique can be used to prevent a suspect from running away or to take them into custody after they have already been apprehended.
Elbow Lock/Press/Bar
This technique is used when a suspect is grabbing the police officer or trying to flee while being taken into custody. The officer will use his arms, elbows, and body parts to create pressure on the suspect’s arms, wrists, or shoulders to force them into compliance.
Armbar Redistribution of Mass
This technique is used to move a person toward the ground and control them when they are not complying with police instructions. The officer will attempt to force the person down by using the weight of their body against them. They then throw the person over their leg, or pushing on their arm.
Cuffing
This technique is used to put handcuffs on a compliant or unresisting suspect. When handcuffing takes place, it is important for police officers to protect themselves from exposure to BBP. This may be transmitted when blood comes in contact with broken skin, nose bleeds, or head injuries.
Officers should be aware that most BBP is transmitted through contact with the blood, by-products, or the body fluids of an infected individual.
Contact between blood and broken skin is often enough to send a BBP. Officers must use hand protection techniques when placing handcuffs on a suspect to help prevent this contact.
Brachial Stun Technique
This technique is used to take a suspect into custody when they are resisting arrest by fighting or are threatening with a weapon. This technique is used when the officers believe that a suspect may be carrying a weapon, but have not been told so by the person they are attempting to arrest.
The officer will give commands to stop and drop the object, then attempt to make contact with the suspect’s body. When contact is achieved, it will cause a non-verbal loss of consciousness (NLOC) in the suspect.
Chokehold
This technique is used when there is an immediate threat for personal injury to police officers. The officer will use this technique in only two circumstances. These are when the suspect is resisting by fighting and/or threatening with a weapon:
- If a handgun had already been seen during the altercation and the suspect is near the officer, no matter how slowly or submissively they are acting. Officers should be advised not to use this technique without their firearm drawn and pointed at the subject’s head, chest, or center mass.
- If a suspect attempts to reach for an object that may resemble a weapon but is not one.
Conclusion
Physical defensive tactics are generally used to gain control of a subject during a struggle. If a suspect can move out of an officer’s control, or cause an injury, a physical defensive technique may be used. The officer must use only the amount of force necessary, and no more than is required for officer safety. Officers need to know that excessive and unnecessary force may result in the violation of several federal and state laws.