Law Enforcement Use of Force Principles 2

Question 1

Under Graham v. Connor (1989), an officer's use of force is judged by which legal standard?

Accepted Answer

Objective reasonableness from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene

Answer

The officer's subjective intent at the time

Answer

Whether the suspect was actually armed

Answer

20/20 hindsight by a review board

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT one of the three Graham factors used to assess reasonableness of force?

Accepted Answer

The officer's level of fatigue

Answer

The severity of the crime at issue

Answer

Whether the suspect poses an immediate threat

Answer

Whether the suspect is actively resisting or fleeing

Question 3

The concept that officers should use only the amount of force necessary and reduce it as resistance decreases is called:

Accepted Answer

Proportionality

Answer

Qualified immunity

Answer

Probable cause

Answer

Exigent circumstances

Question 4

A suspect complies fully with verbal commands and offers no resistance. What level of force is appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Officer presence and verbal direction only

Answer

Soft empty-hand control

Answer

Hard empty-hand strikes

Answer

Intermediate weapons such as a baton

Question 5

Deadly force is generally justified only when:

Accepted Answer

The officer reasonably believes there is an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm

Answer

A suspect refuses to answer questions

Answer

A suspect runs away from a misdemeanor stop

Answer

The officer is angry about being disrespected

Question 6

Tennessee v. Garner (1985) limited the use of deadly force against:

Accepted Answer

A fleeing, unarmed, non-dangerous felony suspect

Answer

An armed suspect actively shooting

Answer

A suspect holding a hostage

Answer

A driver ramming officers with a vehicle

Question 7

The duty to intervene requires an officer who witnesses excessive force by a fellow officer to:

Accepted Answer

Take reasonable action to stop it and report it

Answer

Ignore it unless directly ordered to act

Answer

Wait for a supervisor before doing anything

Answer

Only intervene if the suspect is a minor