In use-of-force policies, which statement is true?

• A. Warning shots are permitted
• B. Officers must use force only when commanded by supervisor
• C. Deadly force may not be used to prevent escape
• D. Deadly force may be used to prevent escape

Answer: (C)

Use-of-force decisions hinge on immediate risk to life. Deadly force is justified only when there is an imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm to the officer or others. Because of that, it’s not allowed to use deadly force solely to prevent someone from escaping; the person’s escape does not in itself create the immediate danger that would justify deadly force.

Context helps: warning shots are not permitted in most policies because they endanger bystanders and can undermine control of the scene. Officers rely on reasonable, necessary force in response to the threat they actually face, not on commands from a supervisor to apply force. So the rule that deadly force may not be used merely to stop an escape aligns with preserving life and applying force only when there is an immediate and serious threat.