Former suburban Minneapolis officer Kim Potter sentenced to 2 years in prison for killing Daunte Wri

[Jedi Guy]

26. Cops are generally trained on what they call the ATM (Ask, Tell, Make) System.

First, they'll ask someone to do what they want them to do. If the person fails to comply, then they'll move on to telling them to do it. If that doesn't work, then they'll make the person comply and will use force to do so if necessary. Establishing and maintaining control of a situation/suspect is a very large part of their training.

While "danger" is a consideration, it's mainly just part of their job. They're law enforcement, so the force is built in. They're going to deal with people who don't want to be pulled over, don't want to be searched, don't want to be detained or arrested, don't want to go to jail. In those cases, they use force. Sometimes that involves pain compliance (e.g., bending a wrist backwards so that it hurts to get someone to stop struggling), throwing punches, and/or using a baton, Taser, or sidearm.

What's the alternative? Asking nicely and just letting people walk/drive away if they don't feel like obeying the law? Reasonable people can disagree on whether and what degree of force are appropriate, but it's an inescapable fact of law enforcement that force will have to be used sometimes.