Читать книгу Force Decisions. A Citizen's Guide to Understanding How Police Determine Appropriate Use of Force онлайн

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The attitude seems to be that if it is written into policy as a continuum, the format alone could influence citizens to believe that the officer is required to tap an armed hostage taker on the shoulder, and then attempt a takedown or wristlock, and then try a baton before shooting to save the hostage.

I have never actually seen someone who believed this, just heard rumors.

Another argument stems from the legal world. Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386 (1989) is one of the fundamental findings that define force law and policy in the United States. One of the most far-reaching and important implications in Graham is the understanding that force incidents are so chaotic and unpredictable that it will never be possible to decide in advance, or to present a formula about what is and isn’t appropriate.

In that hierarchy of preferences, there are a few that civilians express concern over that make sense to officers. The first is tangible harm versus emotional harm.

Certain segments of our society honestly believe that “words can cut like a knife.” No one could believe that who had ever seen a knife wound. In order to accomplish a legitimate goal I will, if necessary, scream, insult or even demean rather than touch. I would rather, by far, hurt someone’s feelings than someone’s body. It is a lower level of force. It is preferable to be rude and have the offensive drunk leave on his own power than to be nice and push him out. Nice and no touch combined are better of course, but only if it works.