What is the duty to intervene?

• A. The duty to intervene is optional for most officers.
• B. It requires officers to intervene when witnessing excessive force by another officer.
• C. It obligates officers to report to internal affairs whenever force is used, regardless of circumstances.
• D. It applies only to supervisors and not to line officers.

Answer: (B)

The duty to intervene means officers must step in when they witness excessive force by another officer. It’s a mandatory obligation to prevent harm, protect everyone involved, and uphold lawful, appropriate conduct during an incident. Training emphasizes acting to de‑escalate, separate the parties, call for backup or a supervisor, and, if needed, render or ensure medical aid after force is used. This duty is generally mandatory in most departments, not optional, and it applies to all officers, not just supervisors.

The other statements don’t fit because intervention isn’t optional for most officers, it isn’t solely about reporting every use of force to internal affairs, and it isn’t limited to supervisors—the responsibility to intervene rests with line officers as well.