Law Enforcement Use of Force and Tactics 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under Graham v. Connor, an officer's use of force is judged by what standard?
- Objective reasonableness from the perspective of a reasonable officer on scene (Correct answer)
- The officer's subjective intent
- Whether the suspect was actually guilty
- 20/20 hindsight review by a court
Correct answer: Objective reasonableness from the perspective of a reasonable officer on scene
Graham v. Connor established the objective reasonableness standard based on the totality of circumstances known to the officer at the moment.
Question 2: Which is NOT one of the Graham factors used to assess reasonableness of force?
- Severity of the crime
- Immediate threat to safety of officers or others
- Whether the suspect is actively resisting or fleeing
- The suspect's prior criminal record (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The suspect's prior criminal record
The three Graham factors are crime severity, immediate threat, and active resistance or flight—not prior record.
Question 3: The concept of the 'use of force continuum' primarily helps officers to:
- Escalate force as quickly as possible
- Apply force proportional to the level of resistance encountered (Correct answer)
- Avoid all physical contact
- Document arrests after the fact
Correct answer: Apply force proportional to the level of resistance encountered
A force continuum guides officers to use force proportional to the subject's level of resistance.
Question 4: Tennessee v. Garner limits the use of deadly force against a fleeing suspect to situations where:
- The suspect committed any felony
- The suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious physical harm (Correct answer)
- The officer simply wants to make the arrest
- The suspect refuses verbal commands
Correct answer: The suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious physical harm
Garner held deadly force on a fleeing suspect is only justified when the suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious injury.
Question 5: Verbal de-escalation techniques are most effective when:
- Used only after force has failed
- Employed early to gain voluntary compliance and reduce tension (Correct answer)
- Combined with raised voice and threats
- Reserved for armed suspects only
Correct answer: Employed early to gain voluntary compliance and reduce tension
De-escalation works best when applied early to reduce tension and gain voluntary compliance when time and circumstances allow.
Question 6: The '21-foot rule' (Tueller Drill) refers to the principle that:
- Officers must stand 21 feet from all suspects
- A suspect with an edged weapon can close roughly 21 feet before an officer can draw and fire (Correct answer)
- Patrol cars must park 21 feet apart
- Backup must arrive within 21 feet
Correct answer: A suspect with an edged weapon can close roughly 21 feet before an officer can draw and fire
The Tueller principle illustrates that an attacker with a knife can cover about 21 feet in the time it takes to draw and fire.
Question 7: When an officer uses force, the duty to render or summon medical aid arises:
- Only if the suspect requests it
- Promptly once the scene is safe and the need is apparent (Correct answer)
- Only after booking
- Never, that is EMS responsibility alone
Correct answer: Promptly once the scene is safe and the need is apparent
Officers have a duty to render or summon appropriate medical aid promptly after using force once the scene is secure.
Law Enforcement Use of Force and Tactics 2
Under Graham v.
Connor, an officer's use of force is judged by what standard?