Unorthodox Methods in Justified Deadly Force: A Police Officer’s Survival Instinct

In the heat of a deadly force encounter, a police officer’s world shrinks to instinct and necessity. The law—anchored in the Fourth Amendment and landmark cases like Graham v. Connor (1989) and Tennessee v. Garner (1985)—demands that force be “objectively reasonable,” judged by the threat at hand, not the tool used. But when a suspect is armed, resisting, or trying to turn an officer’s own weapon against them, the street doesn’t care about policy manuals or standard-issue gear. Survival often demands unorthodox methods—whether it’s a knife, a patrol car, or bare hands. For one officer, a folding knife clipped to the left front pocket isn’t just a tool; it’s a lifeline for when a suspect goes for their gun.

The Constitutional Lens: Reasonableness Above All

The Supreme Court in Graham v. Connor (1989) laid out the benchmark: force must be reasonable based on the facts known at the time—severity of the crime, immediate threat, and resistance or flight. If a suspect attacks with a weapon and an officer stabs them with a knife (assuming they carry one), it’s justifiable if proportional to the danger. The method—gun, baton, or blade—isn’t the focus; the necessity is. Likewise, Tennessee v. Garner (1985) permits deadly force to stop a fleeing felon who poses a significant risk to the officer or others. Stabbing counts as deadly force—likely to kill or seriously injure—so it must clear that bar. California Penal Code § 196 echoes this: an officer can claim justifiable homicide, say, by stabbing a suspect trying to kill them with a knife. The tool doesn’t dictate legality; the justification does.

Beyond the Playbook: Any Means to Survive

Police officers are trained with firearms, tasers, and batons, but real threats don’t wait for the right equipment. We’ve seen officers ram armed suspects with patrol cars—raw, unorthodox, and effective. Courts don’t blink at the instrument if the force is warranted. The same logic applies to stabbing, throat strikes, eye gouges, or even biting. “It comes down to whatever means to survive and go home,” one officer puts it bluntly. When a suspect’s hands are on your holster, the rulebook fades—only the outcome matters.

For years, I have carried a folding knife clipped to my left front pocket, not a backup gun. I’ve never needed the extra firearm, but the knife was there for a deadly force situation—like when a suspect tries to take my gun. It’s a calculated choice. FBI data shows 43 officers were killed with their own weapons between 2013 and 2022 after being disarmed. In a wrestling match over a holster, a knife can cut a strap, slice a hand, or buy seconds to regain control. It’s not about seeking a fight; it’s about ending one.

When the Unorthodox Becomes the Only Option

Incidents of officers stabbing suspects are rare, often buried in vague reports or overshadowed by shootings. In Baytown, Texas, in 2015, Officer D. McClain killed Joshua Garcia after a knife attack turned into a struggle—some speculate the officer used Garcia’s blade before firing, though the shooting took the spotlight. The grand jury saw self-defense, not semantics. Knives aren’t standard issue equipment, and training doesn’t drill stabbing as a tactic—firearms dominate for a reason. But when a gun jams, a taser’s spent, or a suspect’s too close, unorthodox becomes practical.

I’ve seen patrol units hit suspects, and no one questions it if it’s justified. I believe a knife is no different—it’s just closer, messier. Imagine a suspect charging with a machete, the officer’s gun knocked away. A quick stab from that pocketknife could stop the threat when nothing else can. Courts ask: Was it reasonable? Not: Was it pretty?

The Edge of Instinct and Accountability

Critics might call unorthodox methods a sign of poor training or escalation. Why not perfect de-escalation or issue better gear? Valid points—until you’re the one grappling with a suspect who doesn’t negotiate. In Camden, New Jersey, officers once trailed a knife-wielder for blocks, waiting him out ( 2017). That works when there’s distance and time. When there’s neither, and the suspect’s clawing for your gun, a folding knife isn’t a failure—it could be a necessity.

Policies rarely ban specific tools. The Justice Department’s 2022 guidelines limit chokeholds but say nothing about knives. If an officer stabs to stop an imminent threat, Graham governs: Was it reasonable? Post-incident scrutiny—courts, media, public—will dissect it, often expecting clean heroics over gritty survival. But for the officer with that knife in their pocket, it’s not about optics. It’s there if I need it so I can go home.

A Personal Line of Defense

That folding knife, clipped unobtrusively to a pocket, embodies a truth: deadly force isn’t about the weapon—it’s about the moment. Whether it’s a car, a blade, or bare fists, the law bends to the reality of survival. If a suspect tries to turn their own gun against them, they’ve got an answer. Unorthodox? Maybe. Justified? That’s for the threat to decide.