Which of the following is NOT a level in the Use of Force Continuum as described?

• A. Presence
• B. Verbal Commands
• C. Aggressive Response Techniques
• D. Warning Shots

Answer: (D)

The Use of Force Continuum is a progression of responses an officer uses as a situation unfolds, moving from less to more assertive options in a controlled, proportional way. At the start is presence—being visible and asserting authority—and then verbal commands to instruct the person to comply. If those steps don’t resolve the threat, officers move to techniques that physically control or restrain, and then to higher-level options, including intermediate tools or methods, up to deadly force if necessary. A warning shot, though, isn’t a formal level within this continuum. It isn’t a sanctioned, structured step with a defined purpose and outcome, and it carries unpredictable risks to bystanders and the subject. Because of that lack of a controlled, policy-based foundation, warning shots aren’t considered part of the continuum. The other options—presence, verbal commands, and aggressive response techniques—fit clearly as recognized stages or options within the progression.