What determines the level of force officers must use to establish control?

• A. Suspect
• B. Agency policy
• C. Officer training
• D. Public demand

Answer: (A)

The level of force used to establish control is driven by the suspect’s actions at that moment. Officers must match their response to the resistance and threat the suspect is presenting, using a proportional and reasonable approach to gain control and achieve a lawful objective. Training and agency policy guide what options are available and how they should be used, but the immediate decision about how much force to apply comes from evaluating the suspect’s behavior—their level of resistance, whether a weapon is involved, and the risk to others. Public demand or pressure does not determine the force used; it’s the suspect’s conduct that dictates escalation or de-escalation.