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Guidelines to the use of lethal force

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By Valerie Lough, Staff Writer 5:47 PM Tuesday, November 17, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — Imminent danger lies at the center of guidelines covering deadly force, said Karen Benton, associate professor of criminal justice at Urbana University.

“Basically, (police) are looking at safety issues,” she said Tuesday, Nov. 17.

Overall, officers are trained to assess the situation for the level of danger and respond accordingly, she said.

“You don’t want to use a tourniquet when a band-aid works just as well,” said Benton. “It has to be proportionate to what they’re facing.”

Benton said lethal force can be justified when the officer considers the following factors: whether the officers believe that a felony has been or is about to be committed; whether the officer feels there is a threat to himself or others and; the risk to the bystanders.

Some law enforcement agencies don’t authorize the use of lethal force at all, said Benton.

Springfield Police Division uses the same guidelines, according to documents provided by the department.

According to SPD guidelines, the use of deadly force is justified only after “other reasonably apparent means” have been exhausted.

Some instances in which an officer may have to use deadly force, according to SPD guidelines:

• Attack with a deadly weapon on the officer or others.

• Life threatening, weaponless assault.

• Attempts to disarm the officer.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0360 or vlough@coxohio.com.

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