What is the duty to intervene in excessive force situations?

• A. Intervene only if the suspect has a weapon.
• B. Intervention is not required.
• C. Only supervisors can intervene.
• D. Officers must intercede to stop excessive force if safe to do so and report the incident.

Answer: (D)

The main idea is that officers have a duty to intervene when they witness excessive force. This isn’t limited to situations where a suspect has a weapon; excessive force can occur with or without a weapon, and bystander officers are expected to step in to stop it. Intervening is required if it can be done safely, because preventing harm and protecting constitutional rights is a fundamental part of the job. After stopping the excessive force, the incident must be reported through the proper channels so it can be reviewed, documented, and accountability can be maintained.

Intervening isn’t something only supervisors do; any on-scene officer has this responsibility. It isn’t optional or dependent on particular circumstances that aren’t present—if it’s safe to intervene, you should do so and then report. And while safety is crucial, the obligation remains to act and to document what happened to support transparency and due process.