An officer must limit the number of shots they take at a suspect.

• A. An officer must limit the number of shots to three.
• B. An officer must limit the number of shots to two.
• C. There is no fixed limit; force should match the threat.
• D. An officer should not shoot more than once.

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is proportionality and necessity in use-of-force. There isn’t a fixed number of shots that must be used; instead, the amount of force, including how many shots, should match the level of threat presented and be limited to what is needed to stop that threat. If the suspect continues to present an imminent danger, more force may be necessary; if the threat is neutralized or de-escalation is possible, force must stop. This reflects the principle of using the minimum amount of force required at each moment, tailored to the situation.

Fixed limits like two or three shots aren’t appropriate because they ignore how the threat can change with distance, weapon, number of suspects, and surrounding risks. Shooting more than once can be necessary in real-time scenarios, and shooting only once can be insufficient.