Which statement reflects the duty to intervene when another officer's use of force is inappropriate?

• A. Document after the incident only.
• B. Wait for a supervisor to decide.
• C. Intervene to stop the inappropriate use and report it.
• D. Do nothing and walk away.

Answer: (C)

The duty to intervene centers on preventing harm by stopping inappropriate use of force and then reporting it through the proper channels. If you witness a fellow officer applying force in a way that isn’t justified, you must step in to halt that action if it can be done safely, and then document what happened and report it through your chain of command. This reflects accountability, protects the person on the receiving end from excessive force, and helps maintain trust and integrity within the department.

Relying on post-incident documentation alone or waiting for a supervisor to decide can allow inappropriate conduct to continue and delays accountability. Doing nothing is not acceptable, as it compromises safety and undermines policy and training. Intervening should be done by staying within safe boundaries—verbal commands, creating space, securing backup if needed—followed by the required reporting to ensure the issue is properly addressed.