Use of force continuum

The use of force continuum is like a rulebook that helps police officers understand how to use force when they need to. It's like a ladder that has different steps, and the police can only move up the ladder if the situation gets more serious.

At the bottom of the ladder is using simple words to persuade someone to do what the police officer wants. If that doesn't work, the police officer can use physical touch, like holding someone's arm to guide them. If that still doesn't work, the police officer can use non-lethal tools like a stun gun or pepper spray to safely stop the person from doing something dangerous.

If the situation gets even more serious and none of the previous steps have worked, the police officer may have to use more serious force, like using a baton, a taser, or even their gun. But they can only do this if they truly believe that they or someone else are in danger of getting hurt.

The important thing to remember is that police officers can only use as much force as necessary to get the job done, and they have to try the lower steps on the ladder first before moving up to more serious force. This helps to make sure that everyone stays safe and that the police officer doesn't use too much force and hurt anyone.