Galaxy kinematics and gravitational lensing are two complementary ways to constrain the distribution of dark matter on galaxy scales. The typical dark matter density profiles adopted in dynamical studies cannot easily be adopted in lensing studies. Ideally, a mass model should be used that has the global characteristics of realistic dark matter distributions, and that allows for an analytical calculation of the magnifications and deflection angles. A simple model with these properties, the broken-power-law (BPL) model, has very recently been introduced. We examine the dynamical structure of the family of BPL models. We derive simple closed expressions for basic dynamical properties, and study the distribution function under the assumption of velocity isotropy. We find that none of the BPL models with realistic parameters has an isotropic distribution function that is positive over the entire phase space, implying that the BPL models cannot be supported by an isotropic velocity distribution, or models with a more radially anisotropic orbital structure. This result limits the attractiveness of the BPL family as a tool for lensing studies to some degree. More generally, we find that not all members of the general family of double power-law or Zhao models, often used to model dark matter haloes, can be supported by an isotropic or radially anisotropic distribution function. In other words, the distribution function may become negative even for spherically symmetric models with a well-behaved density profile.
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