Question 1

The U.S. Supreme Court identified which of the following as the appropriate standard for judging officer actions during high speed pursuits in the case of the County of Sacramento v. Lewis?&#10;A) Officer displayed deliberate indifference.&#10;B) Officer displayed reckless indifference.&#10;C) Officer's actions were not acceptable to a reasonable person.&#10;D) Officer's conduct &#34;shocks the conscience.&#34;

Accepted Answer

In the case of County of Sacramento v. Lewis, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the appropriate standard for judging officer actions during high-speed pursuits is whether the officer's conduct "shocks the conscience." This standard takes into account the need for officers to make split-second decisions during pursuits but also holds them accountable for conduct that is so egregious that it shocks the conscience.

Question 2

What is the definition of excessive use of force?&#10;A) Less than lethal force&#10;B) The application of more force than is necessary&#10;C) Causing bodily harm&#10;D) Lethal force

Accepted Answer

Excessive use of force is defined as the application of more force than is necessary in a given situation. This can include the use of physical force, such as striking or using a weapon, or non-physical force, such as verbal threats or intimidation. It is important for law enforcement officers to use only the amount of force necessary to accomplish their objectives and to avoid using excessive force, which can lead to injury and civil liability.

Question 3

Which of these factors influence police officers' use of force?&#10;A) Laws, training, family background&#10;B) Laws, training, research, and evaluation&#10;C) Laws, departmental culture, and the average tenure of the officer&#10;D) Laws, training, departmental culture, and individual characteristics

Accepted Answer

Laws set the legal boundaries for the use of force by police officers, training influences officer behavior and decision-making, departmental culture can shape how force is viewed and implemented, and individual characteristics (such as attitudes, beliefs, and experiences) can also affect an officer's use of force. Research and evaluation can also play a role in understanding and addressing the use of force, but it is not included in all of the listed factors. Family background, while potentially influential in some cases, is not generally considered a major factor in determining police use of force.

Question 4

What is the significance of the Supreme Court's decision in Tennessee v. Garner (1985)?&#10;A) It allowed police officers to use deadly force to apprehend any fleeing felon.&#10;B) It allowed anyone to use deadly force to apprehend any fleeing felon.&#10;C) It set limits on the use of deadly force used to apprehend a suspected felon.&#10;D) It rejected the subjective standard that had been applied in judging officers' actions.

Accepted Answer

The significance of the Supreme Court's decision in Tennessee v. Garner (1985) is that it set limits on the use of deadly force by law enforcement officers to apprehend a suspected felon. The court ruled that the Fourth Amendment prohibits the use of deadly force against an unarmed and non-dangerous fleeing suspect unless the officer has probable cause to believe that the suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious bodily harm to the officer or others. This decision was important in establishing the standard for the use of deadly force by law enforcement and protecting the civil rights of citizens from excessive and unnecessary use of force by the police.

Question 5

The training program provided by law enforcement academies, agencies frequently have policies-at a minimum-in the following areas:&#10;A) Legal rights and responsibilities, use of force, and investigating skills&#10;B) Administration, management, and use of deadly weapons&#10;C) Use of force, use of firearms, and regulations for officers being armed off duty&#10;D) Use of firearms and intelligence gathering and use

Accepted Answer

Law enforcement agencies typically have policies on the use of force, use of firearms, and regulations for officers being armed off duty to ensure safety and compliance with legal standards.

Question 6

When does the use of deadly force arise?&#10;A) When the officer is responding to suspects who are resisting&#10;B) When the officer's or another person's life is in danger&#10;C) When the officer's verbal commands are ignored&#10;D) When the officer is restraining uncooperative suspects

Accepted Answer

The use of deadly force is only legally justified when an officer's or another person's life is threatened by deadly force.

Question 7

Can policies, in and of themselves, influence police officers' use of force?&#10;A) They cannot make any difference.&#10;B) If they are regularly updated, clearly explained, and actually enforced&#10;C) If they contain more than just rules and procedures&#10;D) If they are informed by the latest research

Accepted Answer

Policies can influence police officers' use of force if they are regularly updated, clearly explained, and actually enforced. This means that policies that are well-written, well-communicated, and well-enforced can help guide officer behavior and prevent unnecessary use of force.

Question 8

We do not have reliable numbers of citizens killed by the police. Which of the following statements explains why?&#10;A) The government measures undercount the true numbers.&#10;B) The official measures came from underfunded departments and agencies.&#10;C) The official measures are no up-to-date.&#10;D) The best sources are the Washington Post and the Guardian.

Accepted Answer

Many instances of police violence are not properly reported or investigated, leading to undercounting of the true numbers of citizens killed by police. Additionally, different agencies may use different criteria for what constitutes a police killing, leading to discrepancies in official measures.

Question 9

What are some of the strategies that departments can use to deal with police abuses of authority?&#10;A) Personnel selection and performance evaluations&#10;B) Requiring psychological tests&#10;C) Disarming bad officers&#10;D) Peer reviews

Accepted Answer

Personnel selection and performance evaluations can help ensure that officers who are hired and retained are less likely to abuse their authority.

Question 10

Does the use of CEDs (conducted energy devices) represent excessive force?&#10;A) They are less harmful alternative to striking suspects or shooting them.&#10;B) They have been linked to a rising number of deaths&#10;C) Not if they reduce injuries to suspects&#10;D) Only if the suspect is not being violent and unruly

Accepted Answer

The answer of Does the use of CEDs (conducted energy...

Question 11

Most police officers complete their entire careers without ever using deadly force.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Most police officers complete their entire careers...

Question 12

The police do not have the power to lawfully control the behavior of other citizens.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The police do not have the power...

Question 13

Shouting, cursing, and threatening force are not considered examples of a use of force.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Shouting, cursing, and threatening force are not...

Question 14

The number of police killed in the line of duty is higher than the number of citizens killed by the police.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The number of police killed in the...

Question 15

While police officers and others often talk about lethal force versus less-than-lethal-force, the latter is best described as less lethal force.

Accepted Answer

The answer of While police officers and others often talk...

Question 16

Suicide by cop refers to situation where some individuals set out to provoke a confrontation with law enforcement with the intent of being shot.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Suicide by cop refers to situation where...

Question 17

Under current rules, no officer may use deadly force against a &#34;fleeing felon.&#34;

Accepted Answer

The answer of Under current rules, no officer may use...

Question 18

Drugs or alcohol are involved in a significant portion of incidents alleging police use of excessive force.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Drugs or alcohol are involved in a...

Question 19

Torts are defined as criminal wrongs.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Torts are defined as criminal wrongs....

Question 20

No matter what the departmental policy says, in practice, the departmental culture influences what the officers do.

Accepted Answer

The answer of No matter what the departmental policy says,...

Deck 5: Police and the Use of Force