If an officer gives a suspect an order and the suspect fails to follow it, the officer should use what?

When an officer issues an order to a suspect, the appropriate response to a failure to comply is often to employ contact controls. This approach involves using communication and physical means that do not escalate to deadly force or incapacitating measures. Contact controls focus on establishing compliance without necessarily resorting to aggressive tactics.

These may include techniques that enhance the officer's presence and assertiveness, encouraging the suspect to follow the order through non-harmful means. This approach aligns with the principles of de-escalation in law enforcement, emphasizing safety for both the officer and the suspect. Contact controls might involve redirecting the suspect or using holds that can restrain but are not intended to cause injury.

Other methods, such as deadly force, are appropriate only in life-threatening situations and should be avoided in scenarios that do not warrant such an extreme response. Verbal warnings are often preliminary steps but can be ineffective if the suspect continues to resist. Physical restraints may be necessary but are usually a follow-up action once contact controls have been attempted or when immediate compliance is critical. Therefore, employing contact controls serves as a balanced first step in managing a situation where obedience to an officer's command is not forthcoming.