What is the duty to intervene in excessive force by another officer?

• A. Only the supervising officer is responsible for intervention.
• B. A bystander in the chain-of-command.
• C. Officers must intervene to prevent or stop excessive force and provide aid.
• D. Intervention is optional if the force seems justified.

Answer: (C)

The on-scene expectation is that every officer has a duty to intervene when a colleague uses or appears ready to use excessive force, and to provide aid to anyone who is injured. If you witness force that looks beyond what is necessary to control a situation, you should act to stop that force, de-escalate the scene if possible, and summon or render medical assistance as needed. This duty is shared by all officers, not just supervisors or bystanders, and it exists to protect people’s rights and safety as well as to uphold department policy and accountability. It’s not optional or contingent on your belief that the force was justified; you intervene promptly to prevent harm and then report what happened. If needed, steps include verbally commanding a halt, moving to separate the parties, calling for backup, applying less-lethal tools or tactics as appropriate, and providing or coordinating medical aid and a thorough after-action report.