Police brutality is described as which term?

• A. True
• B. Sustained complaints
• C. Avenues of a complaint
• D. Excessive force

Answer: (D)

Police brutality is described as excessive force. Officers may use force only to the extent necessary to protect themselves or others and to control a situation; when the amount or type of force goes beyond what is reasonably needed given the threat or resistance, it is deemed excessive. This standard is often assessed through an objective lens—would a reasonable officer in the same situation view the force as appropriate? Factors include the seriousness of the offense, immediacy of danger, resistance offered, and availability of less forceful options. The other terms refer to complaints or reporting processes rather than the actual conduct, so they don’t capture the behavior that police brutality describes.