235 Defensive Tactics & Threat Assessment Flashcards
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Read the first 7 235 Defensive Tactics & Threat Assessment flashcards as text
Which scenario best illustrates the 'opportunity' element of the threat triangle?
Answer: An armed subject is within striking distance of the officer
Opportunity exists when the subject is close enough and unimpeded enough to actually carry out the threatened harm at that moment.
When conducting a threat assessment on a crowd situation, which environmental factor increases risk most significantly?
Answer: Limited exit routes for the officer
Limited egress options reduce the officer's ability to create space, retreat, or maneuver, significantly increasing tactical vulnerability.
Under defensive tactics principles, 'verbal commands' serve which tactical purpose during a confrontation?
Answer: They communicate expectations, provide a lawful order, and may de-escalate the situation
Verbal commands inform the subject of expected behavior, establish a legal directive, and can reduce the need for force if the subject complies.
The 'Reasonable Officer' standard in use-of-force analysis requires judging actions from the perspective of:
Answer: An officer with similar training facing the same circumstances in the moment
Courts evaluate force from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene with the same information and training, not with the benefit of hindsight.
Which of the following best describes 'dynamic risk assessment' during an evolving confrontation?
Answer: Continuously re-evaluating threat level as conditions change throughout the encounter
Dynamic risk assessment requires ongoing threat evaluation because a subject's behavior, weapons, and environmental factors can change rapidly during an encounter.
Under Act 235 training, using force against a subject who has ceased resistance and is under control would be considered:
Answer: Excessive and potentially criminal
Force must stop when resistance ceases; continued force after a subject is controlled constitutes excessive force and can result in criminal charges.
Which of the following is a recognized sign that a subject may be preparing to draw a concealed weapon?
Answer: Protective touching or checking of a specific body area where a weapon is hidden
Individuals carrying concealed weapons often unconsciously touch or check the weapon's location, a behavior known as 'security touching' or a 'gun check.'