Pepper Spray: When to use it & When not to

When used properly, pepper spray is an excellent distraction, allowing you ample time to get away. Most pepper spray victims instinctively fall immediately to their knees and start rubbing their eyes (which makes it worse). There’s a time and place where pepper spray should be used and when it shouldn’t.

Pepper spray should be used for the purpose of:
1. Gaining control over highly aggressive, violent or emotionally disturbed subjects.
2. To restrain non-compliant subjects, especially if they are under the influence of narcotics or alcohol.
3. Minimizing physical contact, reducing injury and other risks for both officers and subjects.
4. Reducing or eliminating the need to escalate to higher levels of force.

ANY SITUATION THAT REQUIRES SELF-DEFENSE.

 

Pepper Spray should not be used when:
1. The subject submits peacefully to arrest.
2. The subject complies with lawful commands.
3. The subject is expressing mere verbal disagreement that does not threaten the officer or bystanders.

ANY SITUATION WHERE SELF-DEFENSE ISN'T REQUIRED