Elements Of Deadly Force

Question 1

Ability

Answer 1

Ability exists when a person has the means or capability to cause substantial bodily injury or death to an officer or another.

Question 2

Opportunity

Answer 2

Opportunity exists when a person is in a position to effectively resist an officer’s control or to use force or violence upon the officer or another.

Question 3

Imminent Jeopardy

Answer 3

Based upon all the facts and circumstances confronting the officer, the officer reasonably believes the subject poses an imminent threat to the life of the officer(s) or other third parties and the officer must act immediately to prevent death or substantial bodily harm.

Question 4

Preclusion

Answer 4

All other lesser alternatives have been reasonably considered and exhausted prior to the use of deadly force, to include disengagement. Deadly force in response to the subject’s actions must remain reasonable while based upon the totality of the circumstances known to the officer at the time force was applied.