If you decide to use a CEW, what should you articulate in court about the decision?

• A. It was the best force option based on training, experience, and circumstances
• B. It was illegal
• C. It was accidental
• D. It was the only option

Answer: (A)

Explain that when you chose to use the CEW, you did so because it was the best force option available given what you were trained to do, your experience in handling similar situations, and the specific circumstances you faced. In court, the focus is on objective reasonableness: you assess the level of threat, the potential risk to bystanders and officers, and what other options were feasible at that moment. Saying that the CEW was chosen because it could rapidly control the situation while minimizing harm shows that the decision was deliberate, policy-consistent, and guided by training rather than impulse. You would describe the factors you considered—the subject’s behavior, proximity, potential weapons, the need to protect yourself and others, and whether other measures (warnings, de-escalation, or alternative techniques) were insufficient or impractical—so the court can see why this was the most appropriate option under the circumstances.