What method should be used if a suspect begins to violently resist?

• A. Two on one takedown
• B. One on one takedown
• C. Verbal de-escalation only
• D. Tear gas

Answer: (A)

When someone is actively resisting violently, the priority is to regain control quickly and safely while minimizing harm to everyone present. Having a second officer involved changes the dynamic from a single point of failure to a supported, safer control—one officer can establish control while the other helps prevent the suspect from escalating, disrupts their momentum, and reduces the likelihood of injury to both the officers and bystanders. This approach also speeds the resolution of the encounter, which limits exposure to risk for everyone involved.

Verbal de-escalation alone isn’t sufficient once there is active violence; it may calm a tense moment, but it won’t reliably stop physical resistance. A one-on-one takedown places a single officer at a higher risk of being overpowered or injured, which can escalate danger rather than reduce it. Tear gas, while a tool in some scenarios, isn’t universally applicable or reliable in confined spaces, with wind or environmental factors, or when there are vulnerable individuals nearby; it also requires appropriate authorization and conditions.

So, the two-on-one takedown best addresses safety, control, and efficiency when a suspect violently resists.