CLET Basic Law Enforcement Auxiliary
Exam Prep: Practice Questions with Detailed
Answer Explanations, Legal Principles,
Patrol Procedures & Professional Readiness
Topic 11: Use of Force.
Q1. The constitutional standard for evaluating police use of force is:
A) Subjective good faith of the officer
B) Objective reasonableness under the totality of the circumstances
C) Whether the suspect was injured
D) Whether the officer intended to cause harm
✔ Correct Answer: B
In Graham v. Connor (1989), the Supreme Court held that use of force is evaluated under an
objective reasonableness standard based on the totality of the circumstances known to the
officer.
Q2. The three factors from Graham v. Connor for evaluating excessive force are:
A) Severity of the crime, whether the suspect poses an immediate threat, and whether the
suspect is actively resisting or attempting to flee
B) The officer's intent, the suspect's injury, and the time of day
C) The officer's training, the department's policy, and the suspect's criminal history
D) The officer's age, the suspect's age, and the location
✔ Correct Answer: A
Graham identified three factors: (1) severity of the crime, (2) whether the suspect poses an
immediate threat, and (3) whether the suspect is actively resisting or attempting to flee.
Q3. The "objective reasonableness" standard is based on:
A) What the officer subjectively believed
B) What a reasonable officer would do under the same circumstances, without the benefit of
hindsight
,C) Whether the suspect was convicted
D) Whether the officer was tired
✔ Correct Answer: B
*Reasonableness is judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, not with
20/20 hindsight. It accounts for split-second decisions.*
Q4. Deadly force is defined as force that is likely to cause:
A) Temporary pain
B) Death or serious physical injury
C) Minor injury
D) Property damage
✔ Correct Answer: B
Deadly force creates a substantial risk of causing death or serious physical injury.
Q5. Under Tennessee v. Garner (1985), deadly force may be used to prevent escape of a fleeing
felon only if:
A) The felon committed any felony
B) The officer has probable cause to believe the felon poses a threat of death or serious injury
to officers or others
C) The officer warns the felon first
D) The felon is armed
✔ Correct Answer: B
Garner held that deadly force to prevent escape is justified only if the officer has probable cause
to believe the suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious injury.
Q6. An officer may use deadly force to protect themselves or others from:
A) Any threat, including property threats
B) Imminent threat of death or serious physical injury
C) Verbal threats only
D) Non-violent resistance
✔ Correct Answer: B
Deadly force is justified when the officer reasonably believes it is necessary to prevent imminent
death or serious physical injury to themselves or another person.
, Q7. The "use of force continuum" typically progresses from:
A) Deadly force to presence
B) Officer presence, verbal commands, empty hand control, less-lethal weapons, deadly force
C) Verbal commands only
D) Deadly force only
✔ Correct Answer: B
The continuum generally progresses from least to most force: presence, verbal commands,
empty hand (soft/hard), less-lethal (OC, taser, baton), deadly force.
Q8. The lowest level of force on the continuum is:
A) Verbal commands
B) Officer presence
C) Empty hand control
D) Less-lethal weapons
✔ Correct Answer: B
Officer presence (just being there in uniform) is often enough to gain compliance without any
physical force.
Q9. "Soft empty hand control" includes:
A) Strikes with a closed fist
B) Pain compliance (joint locks, pressure points)
C) Baton strikes
D) Firearms
✔ Correct Answer: B
Soft empty hand control includes techniques like joint locks, pressure points, and escort holds.
Hard empty hand includes punches and kicks.
Q10. "Hard empty hand control" includes:
A) Punches, kicks, and strikes
B) Officer presence
C) Verbal commands
D) Less-lethal weapons
Exam Prep: Practice Questions with Detailed
Answer Explanations, Legal Principles,
Patrol Procedures & Professional Readiness
Topic 11: Use of Force.
Q1. The constitutional standard for evaluating police use of force is:
A) Subjective good faith of the officer
B) Objective reasonableness under the totality of the circumstances
C) Whether the suspect was injured
D) Whether the officer intended to cause harm
✔ Correct Answer: B
In Graham v. Connor (1989), the Supreme Court held that use of force is evaluated under an
objective reasonableness standard based on the totality of the circumstances known to the
officer.
Q2. The three factors from Graham v. Connor for evaluating excessive force are:
A) Severity of the crime, whether the suspect poses an immediate threat, and whether the
suspect is actively resisting or attempting to flee
B) The officer's intent, the suspect's injury, and the time of day
C) The officer's training, the department's policy, and the suspect's criminal history
D) The officer's age, the suspect's age, and the location
✔ Correct Answer: A
Graham identified three factors: (1) severity of the crime, (2) whether the suspect poses an
immediate threat, and (3) whether the suspect is actively resisting or attempting to flee.
Q3. The "objective reasonableness" standard is based on:
A) What the officer subjectively believed
B) What a reasonable officer would do under the same circumstances, without the benefit of
hindsight
,C) Whether the suspect was convicted
D) Whether the officer was tired
✔ Correct Answer: B
*Reasonableness is judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, not with
20/20 hindsight. It accounts for split-second decisions.*
Q4. Deadly force is defined as force that is likely to cause:
A) Temporary pain
B) Death or serious physical injury
C) Minor injury
D) Property damage
✔ Correct Answer: B
Deadly force creates a substantial risk of causing death or serious physical injury.
Q5. Under Tennessee v. Garner (1985), deadly force may be used to prevent escape of a fleeing
felon only if:
A) The felon committed any felony
B) The officer has probable cause to believe the felon poses a threat of death or serious injury
to officers or others
C) The officer warns the felon first
D) The felon is armed
✔ Correct Answer: B
Garner held that deadly force to prevent escape is justified only if the officer has probable cause
to believe the suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious injury.
Q6. An officer may use deadly force to protect themselves or others from:
A) Any threat, including property threats
B) Imminent threat of death or serious physical injury
C) Verbal threats only
D) Non-violent resistance
✔ Correct Answer: B
Deadly force is justified when the officer reasonably believes it is necessary to prevent imminent
death or serious physical injury to themselves or another person.
, Q7. The "use of force continuum" typically progresses from:
A) Deadly force to presence
B) Officer presence, verbal commands, empty hand control, less-lethal weapons, deadly force
C) Verbal commands only
D) Deadly force only
✔ Correct Answer: B
The continuum generally progresses from least to most force: presence, verbal commands,
empty hand (soft/hard), less-lethal (OC, taser, baton), deadly force.
Q8. The lowest level of force on the continuum is:
A) Verbal commands
B) Officer presence
C) Empty hand control
D) Less-lethal weapons
✔ Correct Answer: B
Officer presence (just being there in uniform) is often enough to gain compliance without any
physical force.
Q9. "Soft empty hand control" includes:
A) Strikes with a closed fist
B) Pain compliance (joint locks, pressure points)
C) Baton strikes
D) Firearms
✔ Correct Answer: B
Soft empty hand control includes techniques like joint locks, pressure points, and escort holds.
Hard empty hand includes punches and kicks.
Q10. "Hard empty hand control" includes:
A) Punches, kicks, and strikes
B) Officer presence
C) Verbal commands
D) Less-lethal weapons
