Use of Force Principles Flashcards

The fleeing felon rule established in Tennessee v. Garner permits deadly force to stop a fleeing suspect only when:

Answer: The officer has probable cause the suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious injury

Tennessee v. Garner holds that deadly force to stop a fleeing felon is constitutional only when the officer has probable cause that the suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious bodily harm.

A trooper is faced with a subject holding a knife at a distance of 21 feet who begins advancing. Which principle is most relevant to the decision to use deadly force?

Answer: Reactionary gap — a subject with an edged weapon at close range may close the distance before an officer can react

The reactionary gap concept recognizes that a subject with an edged weapon can cover 21 feet before an officer can typically draw and fire, making proximity a deadly-force factor.

Which of the following is NOT a factor courts consider under the 'totality of circumstances' test for use of force?

Answer: The officer's prior disciplinary history unrelated to this incident

Totality of circumstances focuses on the objective conditions at the time of the incident, not the officer's unrelated disciplinary record.

A trooper fires warning shots into the air to deter an advancing subject. Most departmental policies and courts view this practice as:

Answer: Prohibited because falling projectiles create a public danger

Warning shots are generally prohibited because spent rounds that travel upward must come down, creating lethal risks to bystanders.

Under the concept of 'officer-created jeopardy,' an officer may be found to have used excessive force when:

Answer: The officer's own unnecessary tactical choices escalated the situation requiring force

Officer-created jeopardy refers to situations where an officer's own unreasonable actions or tactics needlessly created the dangerous circumstances that led to force.

Which document or policy most commonly governs a trooper's authorized use-of-force options in the field?

Answer: The department's Use of Force policy and the continuum it outlines

Departmental use-of-force policy defines the authorized options, progression, and reporting requirements that troopers must follow.

A trooper responding to a disturbance finds two subjects fighting each other. One subject charges the trooper. The trooper's use of force to stop the charge is best justified as:

Answer: Self-defense, because the trooper is now the direct target of an imminent attack

When a subject charges the officer directly, the immediate legal justification for force is self-defense against an imminent threat to the officer.