How does de-escalation interact with the use-of-force policy?

• A. Officers should always use force first
• B. De-escalation is optional and rarely used
• C. Force should be applied before any de-escalation attempts
• D. It is preferred to prevent escalation, with force used only after reasonable options to de-escalate have been exhausted

Answer: (D)

De-escalation is the primary approach to reduce the chances a situation will require force. The use-of-force policy expects officers to use time, distance, communication, and other non-harmful tactics to resolve a situation safely and to attempt reasonable de-escalation before applying any force. Force, when necessary, must be proportional to the threat and only used after other options have been tried or when they are clearly impractical. This means aiming to prevent escalation and using force as a last resort. The other statements imply force first or treat de-escalation as optional, which contradicts policy and best practice.