Force Decisions: A Citizen's Guide to Understanding How Police Determine Appropriate Use of Force

Force Decisions: A Citizen's Guide to Understanding How Police Determine Appropriate Use of Force

<strong>USA Best Books Award WINNER - 2013<br /></strong><strong>ForeWord's Book of the Year Award FINALIST - 2013</strong><br /><p>In a free and peaceful society where so many have been taught that <br />all violence is wrong, citizens are often confused and dismayed when <br />officers use force, even when the force is perfectly lawful and <br />justified.</p><br /><br /><p>This book allows you to ‘take’ a basic USE OF FORCE class just as if <br />you were a rookie at the police academy. Below are some highlights of <br />what is included in ‘your’ basic use of force class:</p><br /><br /><p>SECTION 1. TRAINING. I explain policy and laws that officers are <br />taught. We examine use of force, how to define a threat, and the <br />difference between excessive force and unnecessary force. </p><br /><br /><p>SECTION 2. CHECKS AND BALANCES. This section explains how an <br />officer’s decisions are examined if suspected of being bad decisions.</p><br /><br /><p>SECTION 3. EXPERIENCE. We explore how officers see the world that <br />they live in. Somewhere in the fog between training and experience, the <br />officer has to make a decision. Sometimes decisions will be made in a <br />fraction of a second and on partial information. Sometimes a decision <br />will change the lives of everyone involved—forever.</p><br /><br /><p>SECTION 4. ABOUT YOU. Review what you should have learned. Why does <br />community action fail? What is it that can really be done? Know how to <br />behave when faced by an officer. Until this section, I have tried to put<br /> you in the headspace of an officer, giving you an overview of his <br />training and a taste of his experiences. Now I will try to let you feel <br />like a suspect. That’s a lot of mind bending for one book. Get plenty of<br /> sleep and drink lots of water.</p>