Which case law establishes what a reasonable police officer believes in the context of use of force?

The case law that establishes what a reasonable police officer believes in the context of use of force is Graham v. Conner. This pivotal Supreme Court decision, issued in 1989, set the standard for evaluating claims of excessive force under the Fourth Amendment. In this case, the Court determined that the reasonableness of a police officer's use of force should be assessed from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, rather than with the benefit of hindsight. This framework emphasizes the importance of considering the context in which officers operate, including the tense, rapidly evolving situations they often face.

The decision in Graham v. Conner established the "objective reasonableness" standard, which requires that all use of force decisions be judged by evaluating how a reasonable officer would have acted in the same situation. This ensures that police officers are not held to a perfect standard, but rather assessed based on their training, experience, and the circumstances at hand. The ruling has profound implications for law enforcement practices and the legal assessments of officers' decisions during encounters with the public.