Use of Force and Defensive Tactics
Core concepts
Understand the constitutional standard: force must be objectively reasonable under the totality of circumstances, judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, without hindsight. Know the Graham factors: severity of the crime, immediate threat, and active resistance or flight. Know the force continuum or response-to-resistance model, de-escalation, duty to intervene, and duty to render aid. Understand deadly force standards, including imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury. Know defensive tactics fundamentals: stance, distance, control holds, takedowns, handcuffing, and positional asphyxia risks.
Traps
A frequent trap is judging force with hindsight or by the outcome rather than the facts known at the time. Another is assuming any resistance justifies deadly force-it does not. Questions often test whether de-escalation is required when feasible and whether an officer must intervene when a colleague uses excessive force. Watch for questions about prone restraint and positional asphyxia.
Rule of thumb
Use the "reasonable officer on the scene" test: What did the officer know, what threat was present, and what options were available? Force must be proportional to the threat and stop when the threat stops.
Worked example
A subject advances with a knife within striking distance while ignoring commands. The officer faces an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury, which may justify deadly force. If the subject drops the knife and surrenders, the threat ends and force must stop.