Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) Practice Exam 2025 - Free TCOLE Practice Questions and Study Guide

The use of a baton may be justified when the officer is in imminent danger. This means that the officer is under a direct and immediate threat, requiring a response that goes beyond verbal communication or other non-lethal measures. In situations where life or serious injury is at risk, law enforcement personnel are trained to use batons as an intermediate force option to incapacitate a threat and protect themselves or others.

Harnessing justifiable use of a baton in the context of imminent danger aligns with the principles of proportionality and necessity in the use of force continuum, which dictates that the level of force applied must be proportional to the threat faced. Officers are not only accountable for their actions but also trained to assess and respond judiciously to threats.

The other options present valid but generally less pressing scenarios for baton use. For example, defense of property is typically not regarded as a critical enough reason for the use of a baton compared to immediate threats to personal safety. Justifiable pursuit may refer to actions taken while trying to apprehend a suspect but does not independently warrant baton use unless a direct threat is present. Similarly, self-defense is a strong rationale but is generally encompassed under the broader context of imminent danger. Thus, the situation needs to rise to an immediate