Suburban Law Enforcement Academy (SLEA) BA State Certification Practice Exam

Excessive force by law enforcement is typically defined as...

1. Using lethal force when unnecessary

2. Any action that results in injury to a compliant individual

3. A reasonable response to a threat

4. Actions that do not follow police protocol

The correct answer is: Any action that results in injury to a compliant individual

Excessive force by law enforcement is typically characterized by actions that are disproportionate to the level of threat or resistance encountered. When defining excessive force, the focus is often on how the force used aligns with the compliance of the individual involved. In situations where an individual is compliant—meaning they are not resisting arrest or posing a threat—any force that results in injury can be deemed excessive. This definition emphasizes the principle that law enforcement should only use the minimum necessary force to achieve lawful objectives. If an officer applies force that causes injury to someone who is not resisting, that action can be viewed as crossing the line into excessive force. The other definitions do not capture the essence of what constitutes excessive force as clearly. Using lethal force unnecessarily speaks to a specific type of excessive force, but it is not a comprehensive definition applicable in every situation. A reasonable response to a threat inherently is about the appropriateness of force relative to the situation, which does not define excessive force. Lastly, actions that do not follow police protocol may lead to excessive force scenarios, but this concept is too broad and does not directly address the core concern of inappropriate force usage.