When is a police officer allowed to use deadly force?

A police officer is permitted to use deadly force when they believe there is imminent danger of death or serious injury. This standard is grounded in the necessity to protect oneself or others from life-threatening situations. The concept of "imminent danger" indicates that the threat must be immediate and unavoidable, necessitating a decisive response to prevent catastrophic outcomes.

This principle is reinforced by legal precedents and departmental policies that aim to ensure the use of force is reasonable and necessary in the face of grave threats. The focus on imminent danger places the emphasis on the urgency of the situation, rather than broader or subjective feelings about the suspect's danger level or chaotic circumstances surrounding the encounter.

In contrast, feeling that a suspect may be dangerous lacks the concrete justification for the use of deadly force, and chaotic situations do not automatically justify such an extreme measure. Lastly, responding to property crimes typically does not meet the threshold for the use of deadly force, as these incidents generally do not pose a direct threat to human life.