Suburban Law Enforcement Academy (SLEA) BA State Certification Practice Exam

True or False: A suspect must be physically resisting for an officer to use OC spray.

1. True

2. False

3. Not always true

4. Depends on the situation

The correct answer is: True

The correct answer is False. The use of OC spray, commonly known as pepper spray, is not solely dependent on whether a suspect is physically resisting. Law enforcement officers are trained to use OC spray as a non-lethal means of gaining control over a situation, which can be applicable under various circumstances, even when a suspect is not actively resisting. Officers have discretion in their use of force continuum, and OC spray can be employed when an officer perceives a potential threat or in situations where an individual may be threatening harm to themselves or others, regardless of physical resistance. Therefore, the idea that physical resistance is a prerequisite for the use of OC spray does not align with the broader principles of law enforcement response.