Warning Before Shooting: Illinois Training Requirements

The Illinois State Police (ISP) will comply with existing law on the use of force. Sworn employees may resort to the use of force only when permitted by law. Illinois State Police ("ISP") sworn employees must consider the following factors prior to the use of force up to and including deadly force: (i) the threat posed to the safety of the sworn employee or another by the subject; (ii) the subject's ability and opportunity to inflict great bodily harm or death to the sworn employee or another; (iii) the probability that great bodily harm or death to the sworn employee or another will occur if the subject is not arrested without delay; "Warning: Whenever possible, a sworn employee will exercise persuasion, advice, and/or warning of the impending use of force; Any warning need not specify the exact type or amount of force to be applied and need only indicate that the use of appropriate force is imminent unless the suspect complies. However, sworn employees are not expected to place themselves or another in danger by giving such warning, and if a warning is ineffective, appropriate force should be used to affect arrest; The ISP prohibits the use of warning shots." (Emphasis added.)