<P> The United States Armed Forces defines deadly force as `` force that a person uses causing , or that a person knows or should know would create a substantial risk of causing , death or serious bodily harm or injury '' . In the United States , the use of deadly force by sworn law enforcement officers is lawful when the officer reasonably believes the subject poses a significant threat of serious bodily injury or death to themselves or others . The use of deadly force by law enforcement is also lawful when used to prevent the escape of a fleeing felon when the officer believes escape would pose a significant threat of serious bodily injury or death to members of the public . Common law allowed officers to use any force necessary to effect a felony arrest but this was narrowed in the Tennessee v. Garner ruling in 1985 when the U.S. Supreme Court said that `` deadly force ... may not be used unless necessary to prevent the escape and 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 . '' </P>
<P> The United States Armed Forces defines deadly force as `` force that a person uses causing , or that a person knows or should know would create a substantial risk of causing , death or serious bodily harm or injury '' . In the United States , the use of deadly force by sworn law enforcement officers is lawful when the officer reasonably believes the subject poses a significant threat of serious bodily injury or death to themselves or others . The use of deadly force by law enforcement is also lawful when used to prevent the escape of a fleeing felon when the officer believes escape would pose a significant threat of serious bodily injury or death to members of the public . Common law allowed officers to use any force necessary to effect a felony arrest but this was narrowed in the Tennessee v. Garner ruling in 1985 when the U.S. Supreme Court said that `` deadly force ... may not be used unless necessary to prevent the escape and 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 . '' </P>
when is an officer justified in using deadly force
when is an officer justified in using deadly force
when the officer reasonably believes the subject poses a significant threat of serious bodily injury or death to themselves or others
when the officer reasonably believes the subject poses a significant threat of serious bodily injury or death to themselves or others