True or False: If a suspect sustains serious injuries as a result of an officer's use of force, the force used will be considered excessive until adjudicated by a court.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Depends on injuries alone
• D. Only if a weapon is involved

Answer: (B)

In evaluating whether use of force is excessive, the key point is objective reasonableness under the circumstances, not the outcome alone. Courts weigh what a reasonable officer would have believed and done on the scene, considering factors like the seriousness of the offense, whether the suspect posed a threat, if there was active resistance, how many officers were present, and what alternatives were available. The fact that serious injuries occurred does not automatically make the force excessive; injuries can result from force that was necessary and proportionate to achieve a legitimate objective. Conversely, force that doesn’t cause injury can still be excessive if it wasn’t needed or proportional. Because reasonableness is judged case by case, the existence of injuries isn’t a definitive determiner before any court ruling. So the statement is false.