Injury-Based
Use-of-Force Chart
Greg Meyer
© 1992
"Meyer, studying the injury patterns
for TASERs, Mace, and several more conventional less-than-lethal tactics and
weapons used by the LAPD, developed a five-part typology of injury that other
analysts may find useful in future research." -- Geller & Scott in Deadly
Force: What We Know, p. 361, PERF 1992
|
Suspect's Actions |
Officer's Response |
Expected Injury |
|
Deadly or GBI Attack, or Fleeing Felon Rule |
Deadly Force |
Death or Serious Injury |
|
Attacks Officer, and Unable to Use OC/Taser |
Baton, Kick, Other Impact |
Moderate to Major |
|
Aggressive Resistance, and Unable to Use OC/Taser/Swarm |
Tackle, Leg Sweep or Aggressive Compliance Holds (e.g., PPCT/Carotid/LVNR) |
Minor to Major |
|
Bizarre Resistance, and Unsafe to Approach, PCP/Psycho/Etc. |
Taser, Swarm |
None to Moderate |
|
Defiance of Verbal, Plus Credible Threat |
OC (Pepper Spray), Stun Gun |
None to Minor |
|
Passive Resistance, Drunk Pick-Up |
Firm Grip or Passive Compliance Holds |
None |
|
Cooperative |
Presence, Verbalization |
None |
Minor Injuries = pain
complaints, redness, scratches, Taser darts
Moderate Injuries = significant lacerations, welts, contusions, bruises
Major Injuries = breaks, concussions, large lacerations or contusions,
sprains, strains
Actual
Injuries To Officers and Suspects (four charts)
From "Nonlethal Weapons vs. Conventional Police Tactics: The LAPD
Experience"
©1991 by Greg Meyer
Injuries To Suspects By Effective Force Type
|
Effective |
No |
Taser/Gas |
Minor |
Moderate |
Major |
TOTAL |
|
Baton |
24 |
0 |
24 |
66 |
7 |
121 |
|
Kick |
20 |
0 |
9 |
12 |
0 |
41 |
|
Punch |
6 |
0 |
5 |
15 |
1 |
27 |
|
Misc. |
51 |
0 |
20 |
58 |
6 |
135 |
|
Flashlight |
4 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
6 |
24 |
|
Swarm |
33 |
0 |
3 |
10 |
1 |
47 |
|
Chemical |
0 |
18 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
19 |
|
Taser |
0 |
88 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
88 |
|
TOTAL |
138 |
106 |
62 |
175 |
21 |
502 |
Injuries To Officers By Effective Force Type
|
Effective |
No |
Taser/Gas |
Minor |
Moderate |
Major |
TOTAL |
|
Baton |
99 |
0 |
4 |
10 |
8 |
121 |
|
Kick |
36 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
41 |
|
Punch |
19 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
3 |
27 |
|
Misc. |
109 |
0 |
5 |
13 |
8 |
135 |
|
Flashlight |
20 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
24 |
|
Swarm |
39 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
1 |
47 |
|
Chemical |
14 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
19 |
|
Taser |
88 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
88 |
|
TOTAL |
424 |
5 |
13 |
38 |
22 |
502 |
Injuries To Suspects By Ineffective Force Type
|
Effective |
No |
Taser/Gas |
Minor |
Moderate |
Major |
TOTAL |
|
Baton |
8 |
0 |
1 |
10 |
3 |
22 |
|
Kick |
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
|
Punch |
2 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
9 |
|
Misc. |
6 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
8 |
|
Flashlight |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Swarm |
3 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
|
Chemical |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Taser |
0 |
14 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
|
TOTAL |
26 |
16 |
1 |
19 |
4 |
66 |
Injuries To Officers By Ineffective Force Type
|
Effective |
No |
Taser/Gas |
Minor |
Moderate |
Major |
TOTAL |
|
Baton |
15 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
22 |
|
Kick |
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
|
Punch |
4 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
9 |
|
Misc. |
4 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
8 |
|
Flashlight |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Swarm |
3 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
|
Chemical |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
Taser |
14 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
|
TOTAL |
48 |
1 |
5 |
11 |
1 |
66 |