1- The Police Use-of-Force Rule on Moving Vehicles – Simon Ateba
1- The Police Use-of-Force Rule on Moving Vehicles
Core Police Rule taught nationwide: Officers should not intentionally place themselves in front of or in the path of a moving vehicle and then use deadly force to stop it.
2- DOJ / FBI / National Policing Standards
The U.S. Department of Justice and FBI training doctrine states: A moving vehicle alone is not considered a deadly threat. Officers must attempt to move out of the vehicle’s path rather than fire.
Deadly force is not justified if: The officer voluntarily placed themselves in front of the vehicle. The vehicle is attempting to flee. There are other avenues of escape
3- International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
The IACP model policy says:
Officers shall not fire at or from a moving vehicle unless:
There is an imminent threat other than the vehicle itself, and No reasonable alternatives exist
Standing in front of a vehicle creates the danger and invalidates the justification.
4- Minnesota training explicitly teaches:
Officers must avoid positioning themselves in front of vehicles during enforcement actions
Use of deadly force is not justified when the danger results from the officer’s own tactical decisions
This is drilled into recruits.
5- Supreme Court Context
While not a numbered rule, courts repeatedly rule that:
An officer cannot manufacture a deadly-force scenario and then claim self-defense.
This is known legally as “officer-created jeopardy.”
6– How It’s Taught to Police
Police are taught:
Step aside
Let the vehicle go
Identify later
Do not block with your body
Do not draw a gun in front of a car
Why?
Because:
Cars are common
People panic
Officers escalate situations unnecessarily
Innocent people get killed.
🔗SOURCE ➡️ Simon Ateba
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