Which action is generally deadly force in pursuits requiring supervisor approval?

• A. Stationary roadblock
• B. High-speed pursuit
• C. Verbal warning
• D. Pursuit across counties

Answer: (A)

In pursuit policy, actions that have a high likelihood of causing death or serious bodily harm are treated as deadly force and require supervisor approval. A stationary roadblock exemplifies this risk: it inserts a physical barrier into the suspect’s path, and if a vehicle collides with it or if bystanders are impacted, the outcome can be catastrophically lethal. Because the potential consequences are so severe and uncertain, deploying a roadblock is a tactic that typically must be reviewed and authorized by a supervisor before use.

Verbal warnings do not involve force, and while high-speed pursuit is extremely dangerous, it is not inherently classified as deadly force in the same way a roadblock is. Pursuit across counties relates to jurisdiction and coordination rather than the force category itself.