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Teaching the Tactics of Intervention

NCJ Number
180363
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 66 Issue: 11 Dated: November 1999 Pages: 30-33
Author(s)
Greg Miraglia
Editor(s)
Charles E. Higginbotham
Date Published
1999
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article discusses teaching law enforcement personnel the tactics of intervention in events involving police use of excessive force.
Abstract
Law enforcement must be sensitive to issues relating to excessive force. Excessive force ranges from name-calling to unnecessarily aggressive escort holds to assaults. An officer's level of aggression should be an appropriate reaction to a suspect's behavior, and when it is excessive, an assisting officer should know how to intervene and how to manage the scene following the incident. When the use of force is clearly excessive, witnessing officers must take action. Procedures include approaching the offending officer, notifying a supervisor, calling for medical aid if appropriate and documenting the incident. The tactics for handling incidents of excessive force is a contemporary topic for basic training curriculums and for in-service training. It should be considered by every agency executive and training manager as part of risk management and the development of law enforcement professionalism.