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Use of force MPTC (2025) comprehensive questions
and verified answers ( detailed & elaborated)
ACTUAL EXAM 2025 TEST!!
Define Force - (answers)Any action, with or without a weapon, used by offenders
to resist and police to stop.
Define non-deadly force - (answers)Any force neither intended nor likely to cause
serious bodily injury or death
Define deadly force - (answers)Physical force that can be reasonably expected to
cause death or serious bodily injury
When can an officer use deadly force in Massachusetts? - (answers)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
Bodily Harm - (answers)injury does not pose or create a substantial risk of death,
permanent disfigurement or significant loss or impairment
Serious bodily injury - (answers)Permanent disfigurement
Long-term loss of bodily function, limb or organ
, 2
Causes a substantial risk of death.
Graham vs Connor - (answers)Judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer
on the scene rather than the 20/20 vision of hindsight.. *Reasonable standard
totality of circumstances - (answers)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?
Officer perception - (answers)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?
Tennessee vs. Garner - (answers)Police may use deadly force to stop a fleeing
felon if:
1. The suspect threatens the officer with a weapon; OR there is PC to believe the
suspect has committed a crime involving infliction or threatened infliction of
serious bodily harm; AND
2. Deadly force is necessary to prevent escape
AND
, 3
3. Where feasible, some warning was given
Commonwealth v. Klein - (answers)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
Body lanaguage - (answers)Some body language cues are unintentional
physiological responses to stress that may indicate forthcoming resistance
Clenching - (answers)Suspect may clench fists or teeth
Unusual sweating - (answers)Sweating on palms, bridge of nose or profuse
sweating during cold temps
Scanning - (answers)Suspect repeatedly looks around; behind and away from
officer. May be looking for escape or weapon
Target Glancing - (answers)Suspect repeatedly looks at officer's duty belt
equipment and positioning
Use of force MPTC (2025) comprehensive questions
and verified answers ( detailed & elaborated)
ACTUAL EXAM 2025 TEST!!
Define Force - (answers)Any action, with or without a weapon, used by offenders
to resist and police to stop.
Define non-deadly force - (answers)Any force neither intended nor likely to cause
serious bodily injury or death
Define deadly force - (answers)Physical force that can be reasonably expected to
cause death or serious bodily injury
When can an officer use deadly force in Massachusetts? - (answers)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
Bodily Harm - (answers)injury does not pose or create a substantial risk of death,
permanent disfigurement or significant loss or impairment
Serious bodily injury - (answers)Permanent disfigurement
Long-term loss of bodily function, limb or organ
, 2
Causes a substantial risk of death.
Graham vs Connor - (answers)Judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer
on the scene rather than the 20/20 vision of hindsight.. *Reasonable standard
totality of circumstances - (answers)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?
Officer perception - (answers)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?
Tennessee vs. Garner - (answers)Police may use deadly force to stop a fleeing
felon if:
1. The suspect threatens the officer with a weapon; OR there is PC to believe the
suspect has committed a crime involving infliction or threatened infliction of
serious bodily harm; AND
2. Deadly force is necessary to prevent escape
AND
, 3
3. Where feasible, some warning was given
Commonwealth v. Klein - (answers)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
Body lanaguage - (answers)Some body language cues are unintentional
physiological responses to stress that may indicate forthcoming resistance
Clenching - (answers)Suspect may clench fists or teeth
Unusual sweating - (answers)Sweating on palms, bridge of nose or profuse
sweating during cold temps
Scanning - (answers)Suspect repeatedly looks around; behind and away from
officer. May be looking for escape or weapon
Target Glancing - (answers)Suspect repeatedly looks at officer's duty belt
equipment and positioning
