What is the primary intention of using strikes in law enforcement?

The primary intention of using strikes in law enforcement is to immediately stop violent conduct. This approach is grounded in the objective of restoring safety and control to a situation where a suspect poses an imminent threat to the officer, themselves, or others. Strikes are considered a tactical response to rapidly de-escalate a scenario that has escalated to violence.

When officers are faced with a suspect who is actively aggressive or violent, using strikes can incapacitate the individual and allow officers to regain control quickly. This tactic is based on the use of reasonable force to protect both the public and law enforcement professionals from harm.

While establishing dominance, distracting the suspect, and avoiding confrontation are considerations in various contexts of law enforcement tactics, they do not encapsulate the primary goal as effectively as immediately stopping violent conduct does. The pressing need in such circumstances is to neutralize the threat swiftly and effectively to prevent further harm.