Use of Force Documentation Checklist

    I.   Background Information.
    
         A.   Day/date/time:

         B.   Location/address/specific area:

         C.   Officer(s) involved:

         D.   Subject(s) involved:

         E.   Witness(es):

   II.   Approach Considerations.
 
         A.   Decision-making -- why did you initiate contact, i.e. justification and desirability?
 
              1.   Dispatched / duty assignment / uniformed?

              2.   Reasonable Suspicion.

              3.   Probable Cause. 

              4.   Other reasons.

         B.   Tactical Deployment -- how did you approach?

                1.    Control of distance.

                2. Positioning.

                3.   Team tactics.

        C.   Tactical Evaluation -- what were your perceptions?

              1.   Threat Assessment Opportunities?

a.   Levels of Resistance - Describing what the subject is doing.

  (1). Unresponsive (Subject apparently unconscious).
  (2). Non-responsive (Subject conspicuously ignoring).
  (3). Dead-weight tactics (Subject’s decision not to 
  Assist. his/her movement).
  (4). Resistive tension (Subject tightening up muscles).
  (5). Defensive resistance (Subject attempting to get
  away).
  (6). Aggressive / active resistance (See note below).
  (7). Physical assault (Subject’s personal weapons
  striking at officers).
  (8). Great bodily harm assault (Subject's actions/ability
  to cause harm).
  (9). Life-threatening assault (Subject's ability to cause
  death).
  (10). Life-threatening weapon assault (Subject's ability to
  cause death).
 
Note: 
“Active resistance” occurs when an officer encounters behavior that physically counteracts his or her attempt to control, and which creates risk of bodily harm to the officer, subject, and/or other person.

b.   Early Warning Signs?  Explain. 

     (1).  Conspicuously Ignoring.  
     (2).  Excessive Emotional Attention. 
     (3).  Exaggerated Movement.                           
     (4).  Ceasing All Movement.
     (5). Known Violent Background.        

c.   Pre-attack Postures?  Explain.

    (1).  Boxer Stance.
    (2).  Hand Set.
    (3).  Shoulder Shift.
    (4).  Target Glance.
    (5).  Thousand-yard Stare.

d. Subject apparently "Emotionally Disturbed", i.e.  mentally ill, under of influence of a drugs and/or alcohol, or is obviously in crisis and out of control? Explain.

e. Weapon Threat Assessment -- what weapons have you brought to the scene?  What weapons has the subject brought to the scene?  What other weapons are available?  Explain.

        2.   What were the Officer(s) / Subject(s)  Factors?

        a.   Number of Participants?

        b.   Individual Factors                           Officer                Subject 
                                       
                      (1). Relative Ages.

                      (2).  Relative Strengths.

                      (3).  Relative Sizes.

                      (4).  Relative Skill Levels.         

3.   Were there any Special Circumstances?  Such as:

                   a.  Your Reasonable Perception of Threat.

                   b.   Sudden Assault.

                   c.   Your Physical Positioning.

                   d.   Subject's Ability to Escalate Force Rapidly.

                   e.   Your Special Knowledge about the Subject.

                   f.   Your Injury or Exhaustion.
 
                   g.   Other Special Circumstances.

4. Describe the Level/Stage/Degree of Stabilization achieved at each point of the disturbance:

                 a. Presence Stabilization -- describe type and degree to which the officer's or officers' physical presence stabilized the scene. 

                 b. Verbal Stabilization -- describe type and degree to which the officer's verbal commands stabilized the scene. 

                 c. Standing Stabilization -- describe type, degree of stabilization, and if restraints were on yet.
   
                 d. Wall Stabilization -- describe type, degree of stabilization, and if restraints were on yet.
  
                 e. Ground Stabilization -- describe type, degree of stabilization, and if restraints were on yet.
  
                 f. Special Restraints -- describe type, degree, and degree of immobilization.
 

Note:   
Your Decision-making, Tactical Deployment, and Tactical Evaluation should include utilization of the Tactical Communication S.A.F.E.R. Concept which should be used in both verbal testimony and written report to articulate why [omit: the] you moved beyond words.

 III. Intervention Options.                     Officer                      Subject
           

     A.   Presence.    

     B.   Dialog.         
                                      
     C.   Control Alternatives

     D.   Protective Alternatives

     E.   Deadly Force

Note: 
The use of any force option is dependent on the officer's Tactical Evaluation of the situation, based on Threat Assessment Opportunities, Officer(s) / Subject(s) Factors and Special Circumstances.

Summation of what happened in chronological order ...

IV. Follow-thru Considerations.

     A.   Stabilization  ------>  Application of Restraints, if appropriate.
 
     B.   Monitoring / Debriefing.

     C.   Searching, if appropriate.

     D.   Escorting, if necessary.

     E.   Transportation, if necessary.

     F.   Turnover  ----->  Remove Restraints, if necessary.

       Additional comments ...

   V. Investigative Findings.

      A.   Background Information.

      B.   Medical / Psychological History.

      C.   Booking Information.

      D.   Post-booking Information.

      E.   Other Information.