The Power of the Police: Understanding the Force Continuum

The police use of force continuum is a model used by law enforcement to regulate the use of physical, non-lethal and deadly levels of force. It is based on the officer's assessment of the situation, the resistance of the suspect and the need for protection. Depending on the police department’s policies, the continuum can range from verbal commands to various defensive tactics such as pepper spray, tasers and firearms. The continuum helps police officers make crucial decisions in high intensity situations.

Wiki offers a good explanation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Use_of_force_continuum