If an officer's decision to use force is legal and appropriate, how is it defined?

When determining if an officer's decision to use force is legal and appropriate, it is defined as "justifiable." This term encompasses the idea that the use of force is justified under the circumstances, meaning that the officer had a legitimate reason to employ that level of force based on the situation they were facing.

In a law enforcement context, an action is considered justifiable when it aligns with legal standards allowing officers to protect themselves or others, prevent a crime, or make an arrest. The determination of what is justifiable takes into account various factors such as the severity of the threat, the level of resistance faced, and the context of the situation.

While "reasonable" might seem applicable in assessing an officer’s use of force, it pertains more to whether a reasonable officer would have acted similarly under the same circumstances. However, the specific term that denotes the legal right to use force in this context is "justifiable."