When may an officer legally use force according to the use-of-force continuum?

The use-of-force continuum is a vital framework that guides law enforcement officers in applying appropriate levels of force based on the situation they encounter. The correct answer indicates that an officer may legally use force based on determined levels of threat and resistance. This means that the level of force deployed must align with the perceived threat from a suspect and their level of resistance during an encounter.

For example, if an individual is compliant and poses no threat, the officer is expected to use minimal to no force. Conversely, if the individual exhibits aggressive behavior or poses a significant threat, the officer can escalate the level of force used in response, always ensuring that it is proportional to the threat level. This graduated approach is essential for ensuring that force is justified and necessary, promoting accountability and minimizing the potential for excessive force.

Situations where force is used arbitrarily, such as solely based on an officer's feelings of threat, or in every arrest regardless of the context, would violate the principles of the use-of-force continuum. Similarly, being dependent on instructions from a superior officer can hinder an officer's ability to make real-time, critical decisions based on immediate threats they are facing. Therefore, the answer that emphasizes the alignment of force usage with assessed threat levels is the correct approach.