DPSST Defensive Tactics Flashcards

DPSST training classifies 'deadly force' as force that:

Answer: Is likely to cause death or serious physical injury

Deadly force is defined as force likely to cause death or serious physical injury, regardless of the method used.

Which DPSST concept addresses the idea that officers should not initiate or escalate a confrontation unnecessarily?

Answer: Duty to de-escalate

The duty to de-escalate obligates officers to use communication and patience to avoid unnecessary force escalation.

According to DPSST, less-lethal weapons such as OC (pepper) spray are intended to:

Answer: Temporarily incapacitate a subject to allow for safe restraint

Less-lethal tools like OC spray are designed to temporarily incapacitate a subject so officers can safely take them into custody.

In DPSST's force model, 'active aggression' by a subject typically justifies which officer response?

Answer: Hard empty-hand control or intermediate weapons

Active aggression—such as striking or attempting to strike an officer—justifies hard empty-hand control or the use of intermediate weapons.

DPSST standards require that after using force, an officer must ensure that:

Answer: Medical aid is provided or requested if the subject is injured

DPSST mandates that officers request or render medical aid for any subject injured during a use-of-force incident.

The DPSST concept of 'totality of circumstances' in use-of-force decisions means:

Answer: All relevant factors at the moment of the decision must be considered together

Totality of circumstances requires evaluating all known facts and conditions at the moment force was used, not just a single factor.