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Newport News Police Department
OPERATIONAL MANUAL
OPS-110 – USE OF FORCE
Amends/Supersedes: OPS-110 (03/19/2025) Date of Issue: 08/11/2025
I. GENERAL
A. In all situations, officers will apply only that force that is reasonable and necessary to effectively bring an
incident under control while protecting the life of the officer or others. The force used to gain control of
a situation will be used with restraint and in proportion to the legitimate objective to be achieved. [4.1.1;
26.1.1]
B. Law enforcement officers are ethically and legally obligated to intervene when an officer observes a
fellow officer or public safety professional, regardless of agency affiliation, title, rank, or seniority, violate
an individual's constitutional rights by engaging in an unreasonable use of force. See ADM-217 Duty to
Intervene. Any law enforcement officer who fails to intervene may be deemed complicit and subject to
prosecution under 18 U.S. Code § 242 - Deprivation of rights under color of law for failure to intervene
to stop the constitutional violation. See also ADM-210 Standards of Conduct/Disciplinary Action, Section
II. C. 4.) [1.2.10]
C. The use of reasonable force may become necessary in situations that cannot otherwise be controlled.
When resistance to police action or a threat to human life is encountered, and reasonable alternatives
have been exhausted, the amount and type of force may be escalated as reasonably necessary in
accordance with the available reasonable force options and stated policy.
D. In all officer-involved shootings and critical incidents, Police Department personnel shall refer to OPS-
617 Response to Officer Involved Critical Incidents.
II. DEFINITIONS [4.1.2]
A. Physical Force: The application of either lethal or non-lethal force as defined in Sections II. B. and C.
B. Lethal Force: Any use of force reasonably likely to cause death.
C. Non-Lethal Force: Any use of force other than that which is considered lethal force. This includes any
physical effort used to control or restrain another or to overcome the resistance of another.
D. Reasonably Necessary/Reasonable Belief: Those actions, based upon the known facts or circumstances,
which would normally be expected from a reasonable and prudent law enforcement officer under similar
circumstances.
E. Less-Lethal Force Philosophy: A concept of planning and force application, which meets operational
objectives, with less potential for causing death or serious physical injury than conventional police
tactics. Less lethal options may encompass (but not be limited to) issued items such as O.C. Spray/Fogger,
Electronic Control Device (ECD), ASP baton, and other less lethal munitions (See also: ADM-510
Weapons)
F. Reasonable Force Options: A training model/philosophy that supports the progressive and reasonable
escalation of officer-applied force in proportional response to the actions and level of resistance offered
by a given subject. Such a response may progress from the officer’s actual physical presence at the scene
to the application of lethal force. The level of response is based on the situation encountered at the scene
and the actions of the subject in response to the officer’s commands and actions at a given instance.
G. Serious Physical Injury: An injury that creates a substantial risk of death, serious and protracted
disfigurement, or impairment of the function of any bodily organ or limb.
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