Use of force MPTC (2025) comprehensive
questions and verified answers ( detailed
& elaborated) ACTUAL EXAM 2025 TEST
📌📌
Any action, with or without a weapon, used by offenders to resist and police to
stop. - - Define Force
📌📌
Any force neither intended nor likely to cause serious bodily injury or death -
- Define non-deadly force
📌📌
Physical force that can be reasonably expected to cause death or serious bodily
injury - - Define deadly force
1. The arrest is for a felony
2. The officer believes deadly force, if used, will not create substantial risk of
injury to innocent persons; and
3. Crime conduct involved includes use or threatened use of deadly force, or
📌📌
there is substantial risk hat the person being arrested will cause death or serious
bodily injury if apprehension is delayed - - When can an officer use deadly
force in Massachusetts?
📌📌
injury does not pose or create a substantial risk of death, permanent
disfigurement or significant loss or impairment - - Bodily Harm
Permanent disfigurement
📌📌
Long-term loss of bodily function, limb or organ
Causes a substantial risk of death. - - Serious bodily injury
📌📌
Judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene rather than the
20/20 vision of hindsight.. *Reasonable standard - - Graham vs Connor
Courts will judge the perspective of a reasonable officer on scene:
1. type and severity of the crime involving the arrest/stop
📌📌-
2. Suspect pose an immediate threat?
3. Was the suspect actively resisting or attempting to escape by flight? -
totality of circumstances
Includes but not limited to:
is the suspect capable of carrying out the actions?
📌📌
is the suspect in a position to actually carry it out? Is it imminent?
did the suspect show intent but overly acvt, word or deed? - - Officer
perception
, 📌📌- Tennessee vs. Garner
AND
3. Where feasible, some warning was given -
police may use deadly force when requirements are met for deadly force and
1. felony arrest
2. deadly force if used, will not create a risk to innocent persons
📌📌
3. crime includes threatened or use of deadly force, the person to be arrested will
cause death/SBI if apprehension is delayed - - Commonwealth v. Klein
📌📌
Some body language cues are unintentional physiological responses to stress
that may indicate forthcoming resistance - - Body lanaguage
Suspect may clench fists or teeth - 📌📌- Clenching
📌📌
Sweating on palms, bridge of nose or profuse sweating during cold temps -
- Unusual sweating
📌📌
Suspect repeatedly looks around; behind and away from officer. May be looking
for escape or weapon - - Scanning
Suspect repeatedly looks at officer's duty belt equipment and positioning - 📌📌-
Target Glancing
📌📌
Suspect removes clothing, jewelry, glasses, etc that would restrict ability to
physically resist - - Dressing-Down
📌📌
Suspect tightens belt, shoelaces, adjusts clothing to prepare for physical
altercation - - Dressing-Up
Suspect intentionally stares directly at officer's face without looking away - 📌📌-
Staring
Suspects may make statements that indicate imminent resistance - 📌📌-
Communication
Overt warnings to officers ("I'm going to kick your ass") - 📌📌- Direct threats
📌📌
Suspect repeats same question/statements. This may indicate suspect's mental
focus is on preparing to resist and not communicate - - Repeated phrases
📌📌-
Suspect mumbles, use incomplete sentences, or sudden increase in word
cadence. This may indicate drug/alcohol use and possible resistance -
Incoherent
Name calling, racist, sexist or other profane language - 📌📌- Hate speech
questions and verified answers ( detailed
& elaborated) ACTUAL EXAM 2025 TEST
📌📌
Any action, with or without a weapon, used by offenders to resist and police to
stop. - - Define Force
📌📌
Any force neither intended nor likely to cause serious bodily injury or death -
- Define non-deadly force
📌📌
Physical force that can be reasonably expected to cause death or serious bodily
injury - - Define deadly force
1. The arrest is for a felony
2. The officer believes deadly force, if used, will not create substantial risk of
injury to innocent persons; and
3. Crime conduct involved includes use or threatened use of deadly force, or
📌📌
there is substantial risk hat the person being arrested will cause death or serious
bodily injury if apprehension is delayed - - When can an officer use deadly
force in Massachusetts?
📌📌
injury does not pose or create a substantial risk of death, permanent
disfigurement or significant loss or impairment - - Bodily Harm
Permanent disfigurement
📌📌
Long-term loss of bodily function, limb or organ
Causes a substantial risk of death. - - Serious bodily injury
📌📌
Judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene rather than the
20/20 vision of hindsight.. *Reasonable standard - - Graham vs Connor
Courts will judge the perspective of a reasonable officer on scene:
1. type and severity of the crime involving the arrest/stop
📌📌-
2. Suspect pose an immediate threat?
3. Was the suspect actively resisting or attempting to escape by flight? -
totality of circumstances
Includes but not limited to:
is the suspect capable of carrying out the actions?
📌📌
is the suspect in a position to actually carry it out? Is it imminent?
did the suspect show intent but overly acvt, word or deed? - - Officer
perception
, 📌📌- Tennessee vs. Garner
AND
3. Where feasible, some warning was given -
police may use deadly force when requirements are met for deadly force and
1. felony arrest
2. deadly force if used, will not create a risk to innocent persons
📌📌
3. crime includes threatened or use of deadly force, the person to be arrested will
cause death/SBI if apprehension is delayed - - Commonwealth v. Klein
📌📌
Some body language cues are unintentional physiological responses to stress
that may indicate forthcoming resistance - - Body lanaguage
Suspect may clench fists or teeth - 📌📌- Clenching
📌📌
Sweating on palms, bridge of nose or profuse sweating during cold temps -
- Unusual sweating
📌📌
Suspect repeatedly looks around; behind and away from officer. May be looking
for escape or weapon - - Scanning
Suspect repeatedly looks at officer's duty belt equipment and positioning - 📌📌-
Target Glancing
📌📌
Suspect removes clothing, jewelry, glasses, etc that would restrict ability to
physically resist - - Dressing-Down
📌📌
Suspect tightens belt, shoelaces, adjusts clothing to prepare for physical
altercation - - Dressing-Up
Suspect intentionally stares directly at officer's face without looking away - 📌📌-
Staring
Suspects may make statements that indicate imminent resistance - 📌📌-
Communication
Overt warnings to officers ("I'm going to kick your ass") - 📌📌- Direct threats
📌📌
Suspect repeats same question/statements. This may indicate suspect's mental
focus is on preparing to resist and not communicate - - Repeated phrases
📌📌-
Suspect mumbles, use incomplete sentences, or sudden increase in word
cadence. This may indicate drug/alcohol use and possible resistance -
Incoherent
Name calling, racist, sexist or other profane language - 📌📌- Hate speech
