Report: Joplin Police officers used force 45 times in past three months

(The Joplin Police Department released its third quarter use of force report today. Some of the information included in that report is reprinted below.)

In the third quarter of 2014 Joplin Police Officers employed some level of force 45 times to effect an
arrest or assist with a prisoner/medical patient. There were 74 officer involvements, meaning that in
some arrests more than one officer was involved. During the third quarter of 2013 Joplin Police Officersemployed some level of force 38 times to effect an arrest or assist with a prisoner/medical patient.

There were 67 officer involvements.


The analysis provided is based upon averages. The actual use of force by individual officers can be
influenced by a number of factors such as assignment, patrol area, shift, number of hours worked and
other variables.

-Joplin Police Officers made 1,970 arrests during the third quarter of 2014.
-Joplin Police Officers made 2,279 arrests during the third quarter of
2013.

-When at full strength the Joplin Police Department has 111 officers.
-In 2013 the Joplin Police Department had 111 officers.

-Use of force occurred an average of once in every 43.8 arrests for the third
quarter of 2014.
-Use of force occurred an average of once in every 59 arrests during
the same time period in 2013.

-The average use of force per officer was .40 for the reporting period.
-The average use of force per officer was .34 for the same reporting
period in 2013.

-The use of force rate for 2014 third quarter is 2.28%
-The use of force rate for the 2013 third quarter reporting period was
1.67%.

Type of force tally
The following statistics are a comprehensive breakdown of individual use of force events. As such, they are representative of the dynamic and fluid nature of such events wherein a single use of force event is comprised of phases of escalation and de-escalation. A number of levels of force and methods of force are utilized to bring about a successful resolution to the event. The following numbers reflect th multiple efforts in use of force events and do not represent a change in the total use of force eventse listed above.

Type of Force Total
1 Active Pointing of Weapon 13
2 Arm bar 5
3 Come-Along 1
4 Control Hold 8
5 Elbow Strikes 2
6 Empty Hand Control 13
7 Escort 1
8 Fist 4
9 Foot 1
10 Handgun 2
11 Joint Lock 6
12 Knee Strike 5
13 Physical Restraint 2
14 Pressure Point(s) 1
15 Push 8
16 Strikes 1
17 Take to Ground 6
18 Taser 14
19 Tinsley 5
20 Verbal Direction 24
21 Wrist Lock 1

Citizen Resistance Tally
Types of Resistance;

Psychological Intimidation – Verbal and Non-Verbal cues indicative of a subject’s mental or physical preparedness to resist and/or assault the officer or others.

Non-Compliance - Non compliance or verbal responses or threats of non-compliance to officer’s
directions.

Passive Resistance - Dead weight; no active participation, not influencing, not exerting any force
(internal or otherwise)

Active Resistance - Clinging to objects in an attempt to prevent the officer from gaining control, exerting influence by physical effort or action. (i.e. using muscle tension to prevent movement.)

Escape Resistance - Fleeing, pushing or pulling away from the officer to avoid control, however, not
attempting to harm the officer.

Active Aggression - Physical actions of assault.

Deadly Force Threat – Assaults with the perceived intent and apparent ability to cause death or great
bodily harm.

 Reason Count Percent of total
 Active Aggression 16 15%
Active Resistance 20 18%
Escape Resistance 18 17%
Felony Car Stop 6 6%
Knife 1 1%
 Non-Compliance 30 28%
None 3 3%
 Passive Resistance 5 5%
Psychological Intimidation 6 6%
Showed Great Strength 4 4%
 Total 109

Citizen was injured in conjunction with use-of-force (# incidents):
Count Percent of total
No 30 67%
Yes 15 33%
Total 45

Citizen taken to hospital in conjunction with use-of-force ( # incidents):
 Count Percent of total
No 39 87%
Yes 6 13%
Total 45

Officer injured in conjunction with use-of-force (# incidents):
 Count Percent of total
No 41 91%
Yes 4 9%
Total 45

Officer taken to hospital in conjunction with use-of-force (# incidents):
 Count Percent of total
No 42 93%
Yes 3 7%
Total 45

Reason for use-of-force:
Reason Count Percent of total
To assist another agency 1 2%
To defend another person 1 2%
To defend self 8 18%
To effect arrest 27 60%
Investigative Detention 4 9%
To Prevent a Violent Misd. 2 4%
To restrain for subjects safety 1 2%
Transport Prisoner 1 2%
Total 45

Type of service being rendered at time of use-of-force:
Service type Count Percent of total
Call for Service 15 33%
Criminal Investigation 2 4%
Disturbance 16 36%
Felony Car Stop 1 2%
Foot Pursuit 3 7%
Mental 1 2%
Pedestrian Check 1 2%
Prisoner Transport 2 4%
Suspicious Activity 1 2%
Traffic Stop 3 7%
Total 45