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Newport News Police Department
H. Significant Threat to Human Life: Any action or application of force that might ultimately result in the loss
of life.
I. Spontaneous Impact Weapon: Any object used impulsively as an impact weapon in place of an issued
impact weapon due to the critical nature of the situation.
J. Electronic Control Device (ECD): A less than lethal force option designed to disrupt a subject's central
nervous system by means of deploying electrical energy sufficient to cause uncontrolled muscle
contractions and override an individual's voluntary motor responses. ECDs may go by other specific
manufacturers’ names and descriptors.
K. For this policy, the term “officer” shall mean all sworn personnel and those civilian personnel designated
to carry a firearm in the performance of their duties, as authorized by the Chief of Police.
III. PROCEDURE
A. Parameters for the Use of Non-Lethal Force
1. De-escalation
All officers who encounter a situation where the possibility of violence or resistance to a lawful arrest
is present should, if possible, attempt to defuse the situation by: [4.1.1]
a. Using clear commands and allowing a reasonable amount of time and opportunity for the subject
to comply,
b. Increasing or decreasing the number of officers present,
c. Engaging in conversation and listening,
d. When appropriate, requesting a Crisis Intervention Trained officer per OPS-645 Mental
Disturbance Cases.
NOTE: Verbal directions can legally qualify as use of force.
2. If a situation escalates beyond the effective use of techniques to defuse the situation, officers are
authorized to use department approved compliance techniques in the manner in which they were
trained.
3. Officers shall modify their level of force relative to the amount of resistance offered by a subject.
Officers shall use only that necessary and reasonable force to overcome the resistance or threat. As
the subject offers less resistance, the officer shall lower the amount or type of force used. Conversely,
if resistance escalates, officers are authorized to respond in accordance with their training in
reasonable force options. The force used must be immediately discontinued upon the cessation of the
threat or resistance. [4.1.1]
4. The use of serious injurious force, including the use of issued defensive weapons such as an ECD, may
be employed when an objectively reasonable officer would conclude that the circumstances present
a risk of immediate danger that could be mitigated by the use of force. [4.1.1]
a. All authorized personal defensive weapons shall be used in the manner prescribed during
training.
NOTE: No officer shall employ any agency-authorized weapon before the successful
completion of department approved training courses as directed by the Virginia
Department of Criminal Justice Services. [4.1.4; 4.3.2]
b. Officers will only carry and utilize department issued and/or authorized weapons. All weapons
carried require authorization by the designated Training section staff. Examples of unauthorized
weapons include but are not limited to blackjacks, saps, nunchakus, Kempo sticks, brass knuckles,
or weighted gloves.
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