What must actions by law enforcement officers consider to avoid excessive force?

The actions by law enforcement officers must consider the level of subject resistance to avoid excessive force because this principle is rooted in the legal standard known as the "reasonable person" standard. Officers are trained to evaluate how an individual is responding to their commands or interventions. The level of resistance presented by a subject guides an officer in determining the appropriate amount and type of force to use within the confines of the law and departmental policy.

When a subject is compliant, a minimal response is warranted. Conversely, if a subject exhibits active resistance or aggression, law enforcement may escalate their response proportionately to manage the situation safely. This assessment is critical in ensuring that necessary force is neither more than what is required to comply with the situation nor disproportionate to the threat level posed by the subject. Overstepping this balance can lead to allegations of excessive force, which can have legal repercussions and undermine community trust in law enforcement.

Factors such as the number of officers present, the complexity of the situation, and the time of day do play a role in the broader context of incident management, but they do not directly dictate the threshold of force used in response to a subject's resistance.