On what individuals should an officer refrain from using deadly force?

An officer should refrain from using deadly force against persons threatening themselves or property because the use of such force is not justified unless there is an imminent threat to human life. The primary purpose of the use of deadly force is to protect lives; therefore, the mere threat to property or self-harm does not meet the legal and ethical threshold for deploying lethal measures. Law enforcement methodologies emphasize de-escalation and intervention techniques in situations involving individuals who are a danger to themselves rather than using deadly force, which could exacerbate the situation and lead to unintended consequences.

In contrast, individuals fleeing from a non-violent crime may not present an immediate danger to others that warrants deadly force. Persons threatening to harm others or actively resisting arrest may create scenarios where the use of force could be considered necessary to protect lives or to carry out lawful arrests, hence guidelines typically allow for varying levels of response based on the threat level presented in such cases.