What does 'stop-and-reassess' mean in force decision-making?

• A. End the encounter immediately.
• B. Continue force application at the same level.
• C. Pause force application to evaluate ongoing threat and options; adjust plan accordingly to avoid unnecessary force.
• D. Increase threat display.

Answer: (C)

Stop-and-reassess in force decision-making means pausing the use of force to evaluate the ongoing threat and the options available, then adjusting the plan to avoid unnecessary force. This approach supports safety, proportionality, and de-escalation by giving time to observe, communicate, and switch to a less forceful option if appropriate. The other options miss that pause-and-evaluate element: ending the encounter immediately is not about ongoing assessment, continuing at the same level ignores new information, and increasing the threat display escalates risk.