Policy Text
DEFINITIONS:
ACTIVE RESISTANCE - Is a subject's use of physically evasive movements directed
toward an officer such as bracing, tensing, pushing, or pulling to prevent the officer
from establishing control over the subject. Examples include but are not limited to the
subject physically anchoring himself/herself to a person or object to prevent being
removed, the subject bracing or pulling away from the officer when the officer grips the
subject's arm, and the subject attempts to run when the officer touches or attempts to
grab the subject.
AGGRESSIVE RESISTANCE - Is a subject's attacking movements toward an officer
that may cause injury but are not likely to cause death or great bodily harm to the
officer or others. Examples include but are not limited to the subject balling up his/her
fist and approaching the officer, the subject pushing the officer back as the officer tries
to take the subject into custody and the subject grabbing any part of the officer’s body.
COMPLIANCE - Is the verbal and/or physical yielding to an officer’s authority without
apparent threat of resistance or violence.
DEADLY FORCE RESISTANCE - Is a subject's hostile, attacking movements with or
without a weapon that create a reasonable perception by the officer that the subject
intends to cause and has the capability of causing death or great bodily harm to the
officer or others.· Examples include but are not limited to the subject refusing to drop a
knife when ordered to by the officer and moving toward the officer, the subject shooting
or pointing a gun at an officer or other person and/or the subject trying to use a vehicle
to run down an officer.
DE-ESCALATION - is decreasing the use of force or resistance.
DISENGAGEMENT - Is discontinuing a command or physical use of force. Officers are
legally permitted to escalate their use of force as the subject escalates his/her level of
resistance. The officer's choices are determined by the subject's actions and the risk of
physical harm posed to the officer or others. Once the officer achieves control or
compliance, he/she must de-escalate the use of force. Under certain circumstances,
disengagement may be the best tactical option, for example, when the officer is waiting
for backup, when the officer is injured or outnumbered, or when the suspect has superior
firepower.
ESCALATION - Is increasing the use of force or resistance.
PASSIVE RESISTANCE - Is a subject's verbal and/or physical refusal to comply with an
officer's lawful direction, causing the officer to use physical techniques to establish
control. Examples include but are not limited to the subject refusing to move at the
officer's direction, the subject refusing to leave the vehicle when arrested during a traffic
stop and/or the subject refusing to take his/her hands out of their pockets or from
behind his/her back.
PROCEDURE: