Factors Distinguishing Less-Experienced and Experienced Officers in Use-of-Force DecisionMaking
Abstract
Across a series of tactical decision exercises, experienced officers were more likely to use verbal commands, while less-experienced officers escalated more quickly to less-lethal or lethal force. Three key assessments during the exercises accounted for the distinct patterns of use-of-force decisions observed across experience levels: availability of force mitigation opportunities (time, cover, distance, etc.), presence of nearby weapons, and likelihood of subject escape. These insights can be integrated into training programs by guiding the design of training scenarios that cultivate expert use-of-force decision-making skills.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Policing Practices and Perceptions
Deception detection and forensic psychology
Restraint-Related Deaths
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Applied police briefings :
- Volume
- 3
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 38–40
- Publication date
- 4 February 2026