After an officer uses a protective spray or foam, the subject becomes the responsibility of which party?

• A. The security officer
• B. The responding officer
• C. The hospital
• D. The subject's family

Answer: (A)

When protective spray or foam is used, the officer who deployed it has immediate control over the subject and is responsible for that subject’s safety and care. This officer must monitor the subject for any medical issues or adverse reactions, arrange for medical evaluation, manage ongoing custody and safety, and document the use of force. Responsibility transfers only as the situation is handed off to medical staff or another designated authority per policy. The hospital, the subject’s family, or a responding officer do not assume this immediate custody at the moment the spray is used, which is why the security officer is the correct answer.