09 September, 2014

How do police departments train cops how to use force? - Vox

How do police departments train cops how to use force? - Vox: Departments are pretty consistent in what they tell officers to do when a civilian is compliant or when a civilian is attacking them. But the response to civilians who are resisting arrest — the middle of the force continuum — is less consistent. Some agencies teach cops that they're not supposed to use "pain compliance" techniques (like twisting a civilian's arm behind her back) unless the civilian is physically resisting arrest or trying to run away, and that they are not allowed to use "hard hands" (punching or kicking) unless the civilian is "physically active" (i.e. trying to hit the officer). Others say that hard hands are appropriate when a suspect is physically resisting arrest. Still others say that pain compliance is fine even when a suspect is just verbally resisting arrest or using passive resistance.