If the level of force you are using is not effective to gain control, what may you do?

• A. Disengage and/or escalate to a higher level of force
• B. Increase to maximum immediately
• C. Reduce to zero and wait
• D. Use verbal commands only

Answer: (A)

When your current level of force isn’t doing the job, you adjust by disengaging and/or stepping up to the next appropriate level of force. This keeps you and others safer by avoiding persisting at a level that isn’t gaining control, while staying within policy and the use-of-force continuum. Disengaging creates space to reassess the situation, regain balance, and reapply a more suitable, proportionate approach to regain control. Verbal commands and de-escalation remain important, but when they don’t work, moving to the next level is the practical, safer option to restore control without jumping straight to the most extreme response. Increasing to maximum immediately is excessive and risky, reducing to zero and waiting leaves you unprotected, and relying on verbal commands alone may be insufficient in a resisting subject.