According to the International Association of Chiefs of Police, police are expected to achieve the following outcomes:

• Reduce crime and disorder
• Reduce the fear of crime
• Solve neighborhood problems and improve the quality of life
• Develop greater community cohesion

To achieve these outcomes, police intervene in the daily affairs of private citizens. This includes asking or telling citizens not to move, where to stand, what to do, how to behave, and when they are free to leave. When citizens refuse to cooperate, police have the authority to force citizens to comply if necessary.

Police are most often called upon to stop some act of violence, unwanted behavior, or threats to public safety. In these situations, the use of unnecessary force by police an lead to negative consequences, including avoidable injuries or death, community complaints, distrust of the police, civil liability, civil unrest, and federal injunctive orders. On the other hand, insufficient use of force exposes officers to their own harm or death, negatively affects an officer's ability to enforce the law, and may increase the danger to public safety. Fyfe (1987) concludes that unnecessary force "could be avoided by measures such as better training, officer selection, and other use-of-force options."

Discussion Questions:

1. Should police officers be permitted to use force when unarmed citizens refuse to comply? Too what degree should police be permitted to use force on an unarmed citizen who refuses to comply (i.e. lethal force)? Explain your answer.

1. What do you think would be a viable alternative to use of force in situations where citizens will not comply?

1. Which poses a greater risk to the community, unnecessary use of force, or insufficient use of force?