What situation would most likely require the use of deadly force from an officer?

The use of deadly force by an officer is primarily justified in situations where there is an immediate threat to life. In this context, self-defense during such a threat means that the individual officer must perceive a clear and present danger to their own life or the lives of others.

When faced with imminent threats, such as an armed suspect who is about to cause severe harm or death, the officer's response is governed by the need to protect themselves or others from significant physical harm. This highlights the critical importance of the "immediacy" aspect—action must be necessary to thwart the threat right then and there, reinforcing the concept of proportionality in the use of force.

Options that lack an immediate threat or involve confusion or passive resistance do not meet the threshold for employing deadly force, as they do not present the urgent need for self-defense associated with situations characterized by imminent danger.