Policy Text
\n\n--- Page 1 ---\n\nSEMINOLE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE NUMBER:
G - 49
GENERAL ORDER
RESCINDS:
SUBJECT: Response to Resistance
EFFECTIVE: March 28, 2003
REVISED: August 29, 2025
Table of Contents:
I. Purpose
II. Scope
III. General
IV. Definitions
V. Ensuring Medical Assistance
VI. Relief from Duty
VII. Reports and Analyses
VIII. Lethal Response
IX. Post-Action Procedures Following Lethal Response Incidents
X. Less-Lethal Response Incidents
XI. Post-Action Procedures Following Less-Lethal Response Incidents
XII. Response to Resistance Matrix
I. PURPOSE:
The Seminole County Sheriff's Office recognizes and respects the value and integrity of human life. When
meeting resistance to lawful commands, Deputy Sheriffs and Detention Deputies are vested with the authority to
respond accordingly to protect themselves and the public welfare. The intent of this directive is to establish clear
policy on the correct response to resistance by Sheriff’s Office employees.
Furthermore, it is the intent of this policy to make clear its compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local
laws regarding the use of force by all Deputy Sheriff’s and Detention Deputies whether full-time, part time or
volunteer.
II. SCOPE:
A. Only that degree of force reasonably necessary to accomplish lawful objectives, and not to use force
against any person or animal except when necessary, is authorized for purposes of self-defense, in defense
of another, to overcome physical resistance to arrest, to prevent the escape of an arrested person, or to
restore order in the correctional facility.
B. In no event, and under no circumstances, will the application of force be used as a method of punishment.
C. For purposes of this directive, the titles Deputy, Deputy Sheriff, and Detention Deputy are used
synonymously.
III. GENERAL:
A. Deputies must inform a person they seek to arrest of their authority and the cause of arrest, if possible and
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GO # 49 PAGE 1 OF 18\n\n--- Page 2 ---\n\nfeasible, except when such person flees or forcibly resists before the Deputy has an opportunity to inform
the person or when the giving of such information would imperil the arrest.
B. Deputies will continuously evaluate the subject’s level of resistance to ensure their response is a
reasonable response to the level of resistance of the suspect.
C. Deputies will also evaluate situations and utilize de-escalation efforts and techniques, when possible, to
decrease the emotional level, behaviors, or intensity of persons involved in a situation.
D. If a deputy observes force used by another law enforcement officer (employed by SCSO or another
agency) which, under the totality of the circumstances, leads them to believe that the force is not being
used in accordance with the law or applicable agency policies, they shall intervene, if possible, to prevent
or stop the known or apparent use of excessive force by another officer when it is objectively reasonable
to do so and provide aid to the subject, as may be necessary. The deputy shall notify their supervisor of
such incident as soon as practicable. Supervisors shall review all response to resistence reports involving
a member of the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office in the manner set forth in this policy. Instances of
reported use of excessive force used by another agency shall be reported by the supervisor to the agency
employing that officer.
E. The Professional Development Divison is responsible for ensuring that agency training protocols adhere
to or exceed applicable state and federal laws regarding the use of force by its deputies, and provide
substantive instruction on the agency’s use of force policies and procedures, de-escalation techniques and
related legal updates on a regular basis.
IV. DEFINITIONS:
A. Administrative Review (of Response to Resistance Reports):
Administrative reviews of BlueTeam Response to Resistance Reports are a mandatory part of the
reporting process. Administrative reviews are conducted by chain of command personnel to ascertain if
policy, training, equipment, or disciplinary issues should be addressed.
B. Chokehold:
A physical maneuver or technique which applies pressure to a subject’s laryngopharynx, larynx or trachea
for a prolonged period of time, which blocks or severely limits the person’s airway and thus their ability
to breathe for the purpose of incapacitation.
C. Danger Zone:
The area around a subject that they control and from which they can reach the Deputy in one movement.
D. De-escalation Techniques:
Taking action or communicating verbally or non-verbally during a potential force encounter in an
attempt to stabilize the situation and reduce the immediacy of the threat so that more time, options, and
resources can be called upon to resolve the situation without the use of force or with a reduction in the
force necessary.
E. Felony:
A crime punishable by death or imprisonment in excess of one year in a state penitentiary.
F. Forcible Felony:
As defined by Chapter 776.08, Florida Statutes: treason, murder, manslaughter, sexual battery, robbery,
carjacking, home-invasion robbery, aggravated stalking, burglary, arson, kidnapping, aggravated assault,
aggravated battery, aircraft piracy, unlawful throwing, placing, or discharging of a destructive device or
bomb, and any other felony involving the use or threat of physical force or violence against any person.
G. Great Bodily Harm (Serious Bodily Injury):
An injury that creates a substantial risk of death, protracted and obvious disfigurement, serious permanent
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H. Last Resort:
When all practical means to avoid using a lethal response have been exhausted.
I. Less-Than-Lethal Response:
Any response other than that which is considered lethal response, and which is not likely or intended to
cause death or great bodily harm.
. J. Lethal Response (deadly force):
Any use of force that creates a substantial risk of causing death or serious bodily injury, consistent with
United States Court precedent.
K. Line Duty:
Refers to routine duty where the carrying of a firearm or other authorized weapon is a requirement of the
job function.
L. Misdemeanor:
A crime punishable by imprisonment in a county correctional facility not to exceed one year.
M. Objectively Reasonable:
The determination that the decision to use force, and the level of force used, is what a reasonable and
prudent law enforcement officer would use under the same or similar situations based upon the officer’s
evaluation of the situation, experience, training, and the totality of the circumstances known to or believed
to exist by the officer at the time the force is used and is consistent with United States Supreme Court
precedent.
N. Physical Force:
The physical power used to overcome another person, and is not likely to cause death or great bodily
harm.
O. Reasonable Belief:
Those facts or circumstances a Deputy knows, or should know, to cause an ordinary and reasonable law
enforcement officer of sound thinking and within the bounds of common sense, to act and think in a
similar way under similar circumstances.
P. Response to Resistance / Levels of Resistance:
The definition, limitation and regulation of that particular degree of response authorized relative to the
level of resistance offered by a subject.
Q. Vascular Neck Restraint:
A technique which is designed to restrict blood flow to a person’s brain by compressing neck arteries and
render a person temporarily unconscious. It is not designed to to restrict a person’s airflow.
R. Warning Shots:
Intentionally discharging a firearm in an attempt to warn or frighten a subject into compliance with some
action or inaction, but not intended to cause physical harm.
S. Weapons:
Includes lethal and intermediate defensive weapons approved for use by Deputies. A letha