When Police Use Force

In Arizona, a person making or assisting in an arrest or detention, or preventing an escape after one, is justified in threatening or using physical force when a reasonable person would believe the force immediately necessary, the person makes known the purpose of the arrest or believes it known or impossible to make known, and a reasonable person would believe the arrest or detention lawful.

• §A.R.S. 13-409

A peace officer's use of deadly force is justified only when the officer reasonably believes it necessary:

• §A.R.S. 13-410

• To defend the officer or a third person from what the officer reasonably believes to be the use or imminent use of deadly physical force.
• To arrest or stop the escape of a person the officer reasonably believes committed or is committing a felony involving the use or threatened use of a deadly weapon.
• To arrest or stop a person attempting to escape by use of a deadly weapon.
• To arrest a person whose known conduct makes it likely the person will endanger human life or inflict serious bodily injury unless apprehended without delay.
• To lawfully suppress a riot where a participant is armed with a deadly weapon.

• §A.R.S. 13-410

Separately, an officer is justified in threatening deadly physical force when and to the extent a reasonable officer believes it necessary for protection against another's potential use of physical force or deadly physical force.

• §A.R.S. 13-410

This is the statute, not an assessment. Whether any particular use of force was justified, and what claim may follow, turn on facts and on case law these sections do not contain. A licensed Arizona attorney is who answers them.

• §A.R.S. 13-409
• §A.R.S. 13-410