Use of Deadly Force by Police

What is the Meaning of Use of Deadly Force?

What is the Meaning of Use of Deadly Force?

            Use of deadly force is referred to as the use of a certain level of force that a police officer may use that may cause considerable risks such as death and body injury. This is only justified when other lesser forces have been used with no success especially under extreme circumstances. Some of the situations where this use of deadly force is permitted include cases where the offence is quite severe such that the suspect poses a greater threat. Writers who offer law assignment help services at Edudorm notes that in this case the suspect runs way and totally refuses to be arrested, and then use of deadly force can be permitted in this case. Another case where use of force is permitted is when the police officer shoots at the suspect while undertaking self-defense against a misdemeanor case. Felony cases permit an officer to use all the available forces even if it means killing the suspect in question (Belur 2010).

When the Use of Deadly Force Is Not Permissible

            However use of deadly force is not permissible to all cases for instance while protecting or defending a property from being interfered with by someone else even when these interferences are unlawful and there exist no other way to control this interference, one is not allowed to use deadly force. Experts who offer criminal law assignment help at Edudorm essay writing service indicates that police officers should not employ use of force in cases where their action is viewed to endanger the lives of the innocent bystanders and passers-by (Belur 2010).

Ambiguity in the Use of Deadly Force

            Ambiguity is quite realized by police officers in their daily routine especially in situations that require use of force. They are regarded as ambiguous since they raise confusion in police officers as they are unsure whether to draw their weapons or to shoot and within this short span some other innocent officers and passersby may be killed by the suspect (Belur 2010). Authors who offer law essay help at Edudorm essay writing service points that this occurs when the officer has to fight the stress within so as to come up with a final decision that will be safeguard him and others. With this kind of stress the police officer may be triggered to be anxious and thus increasing his heart rate that may affect their judgment at that time. Unpreparedness also causes ambiguity as the police officers are faced with emergency cases where they have no other option rather than the use of deadly force.

Conclusion

            It is important to note that policing is important in the society and hence proper procedure ought to be used while making arrests or in using force to ensure that they protect the society from criminal activities. Law should be used to those police officers who violate these standards of using the use of deadly force that are unjustifiable by law.

References

Belur, J. (2010). Permission to shoot?: Police use of deadly force in democracies. New York: Springer.

https://www.justice.gov/jm/1-16000-department-justice-policy-use-force

https://bjs.ojp.gov/topics/law-enforcement/use-of-force

https://police.ucla.edu/other/use-of-force

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