Which statement best describes the authority to use force?

• A. The authority is based on the officer's reasonable belief that a crime has been, is being, or is about to be committed.
• B. The authority is granted by public opinion.
• C. The authority requires that force be used in every encounter.
• D. The authority ends when backup arrives.

Answer: (A)

Authority to use force comes from acting on a reasonable belief that a crime has been, is being, or is about to be committed and that using force is necessary to stop the threat or protect life or property. In practice, this means you evaluate the situation with the information you have at that moment and apply force only to what is reasonable and proportional to the threat. This is guided by an objective standard — what would a reasonable officer in the same situation believe and do? Public opinion or popularity does not grant authority, force is not required in every encounter, and backup arriving does not inherently end your authority; it may influence the response, but the legitimate basis for action remains your reasonable belief about the crime and the threat.