What is the duty to intervene?

• A. A discretionary guideline with no legal consequences.
• B. A policy requiring officers to retreat in all dangerous situations.
• C. The obligation to stop or report excessive force used by colleagues.
• D. A requirement to observe and do nothing about misconduct.

Answer: (C)

The duty to intervene means officers are obligated to stop or report excessive force used by colleagues and to take reasonable steps to prevent harm. It’s about accountability and keeping everyone safe, including the public and the officers themselves. When you witness excessive force, you should intervene in a calm, decisive way—de-escalate if possible, create space, separate the individuals, and ensure the incident is documented and reported up the chain of command. This commitment helps maintain trust and ensures appropriate corrective action is taken.

This isn’t a discretionary guideline with no consequences; failures to intervene can lead to professional discipline, civil liability, or criminal exposure in some cases. It’s not a requirement to retreat from all dangerous situations, which would undermine safety and the ability to protect others. And it’s not about standing by and doing nothing about misconduct; doing nothing contradicts your obligation to prevent harm and uphold lawful and ethical policing.