Which term describes a subject's hostile, attacking movements that create a reasonable perception by the officer that the subject intends to cause and has the capability of causing death or great bodily harm to the officer or others?

• A. Deadly Force Resistance
• B. Descalation
• C. Defensive Tactics
• D. Dialogue

Answer: (A)

Deadly force resistance describes a subject’s hostile, attacking movements that create a reasonable perception by the officer that the subject intends to cause and has the capability of causing death or great bodily harm to the officer or others. The crucial point is the threat must be imminent and serious, prompting the officer to assess that there is real danger of lethal harm. The term relies on an objective standard: the officer’s perception must be reasonable under the circumstances, not based on conjecture. When such movements are observed, deadly force may be justified if there is no lesser option to prevent the harm. This differs from de-escalation, which aims to reduce danger without using force, and from defensive tactics or dialogue, which focus on controlling the situation or communicating rather than defining the threat itself.