The use of lethal force by police officers is a very important topic in today's society. Many consider the use of deadly force excessive in most cases. However, there are many aspects to consider when considering this topic, such as: Why was lethal force necessary? When did the officer feel it was necessary to apply deadly force? What will the implications be for the officer after the fact? How does the use of lethal force affect society as a whole? To get all the answers to these questions, we must first define lethal force. According to the Legal Dictionary, the use of lethal force is often granted to police forces when the person or persons in question are deemed to pose an immediate danger to those around them. For example, a gunman in a shopping mall who shoots civilians without regard for the safety of anyone around him, and refuses or is unwilling to negotiate, would justify the use of deadly force, as a means of preventing further danger to the community . The use of deadly force is also authorized when a person poses a significant threat to a law enforcement officer, usually when the officer is at risk of serious bodily injury or death. The OLR research report details what procedures Connecticut law requires when a law enforcement officer uses deadly force. In the summary, it states that “the statutory provisions permit an officer to use deadly physical force when he reasonably believes that it is necessary to (1) defend himself or a third person from the use or imminent use of deadly physical force or ( 2) apprehending or preventing the escape of someone who the officer reasonably believes has committed or attempted to commit a crime involving the infliction or threat of serious bodily harm and… half of the document… d, rationalization and l acceptance and this can take a long time. Essentially, this phase involves the officer coming to terms with the incident and being able to find peace within themselves, although some officers deal with an incident for their entire lives. Unfortunately, many officers never fully recover from these types of incidents and experience many post-traumatic injuries. symptoms for years and in the worst cases they have jeopardized their careers or committed suicide. Law enforcement departments can offer psychological therapy, and friends and family can offer support, but the officer is the individual who must overcome this tragic event. In conclusion, according to the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, “it is often not a shooting by law enforcement that generates negative consequences, but rather it is the way in which the agency involved handles the incident that can foster and fuel perceptions wrong.