Which elements must be present for the use of deadly force according to law enforcement standards?

The rationale surrounding the use of deadly force in law enforcement typically revolves around the concepts of ability, opportunity, and jeopardy.

Ability refers to the potential of the threat to inflict serious harm. This means that the individual posing the threat must have the means to carry out an attack, such as possessing a weapon or being physically imposing.

Opportunity involves the circumstances that allow this threat to act on their intention. For instance, the threat must be in a position where they can execute the violent act against the officer or another person.

Jeopardy is the imminent threat of harm to oneself or others. This means that there must be a reasonable belief that the threat poses an immediate risk of causing serious injury or death.

These three elements create a framework in which law enforcement officers must assess the situation before deciding to engage with deadly force. If any of these components are missing, the justification for using lethal force weakens significantly. Hence, this combination of ability, opportunity, and jeopardy is critical in determining when the use of deadly force is legally and ethically justified.