When is a police officer justified in using physical force?

A police officer is justified in using physical force when the force applied is both proportional and necessary to achieve a lawful objective. This principle is grounded in the idea that any use of force must correspond to the threat faced and the situation at hand.

Proportionality means that the level of force must be appropriate to the severity of the situation. For instance, if a subject poses a minor threat, excessive force would not be justified. Similarly, the necessity of the force implies that there are no reasonable alternatives available that could resolve the situation without resorting to physical force. Officers must assess the circumstances and determine if their actions can be justified based on these criteria, ensuring that their response is measured and appropriate based on what is happening in the moment.

The other options involve conditions that do not meet these important legal and ethical standards. For example, feeling threatened is subjective and does not automatically justify force unless the danger is imminent and requires action. The mere risk of being filmed or the act of pursuing a fleeing suspect does not provide a blanket justification for the use of physical force; those situations must also be analyzed through the lens of necessity and proportionality.