TCA 39-11-620
Use of deadly force by a law enforcement officer
FELONYFelony
What does this charge mean?
This statute allows a police officer, after identifying themselves, to use necessary force to arrest someone who resists or tries to flee—but deadly force can only be used if the officer has exhausted other options, warned the suspect, and has probable cause to believe the person committed a serious felony involving injury or sexual abuse, or poses an immediate threat of serious injury to the officer or others.
Penalty Details
ClassificationFelony
Penalty SummaryFelony
(a) A law enforcement officer, after giving notice of the officer’s identity as such, may use or threaten to use force that is reasonably necessary to accomplish the arrest of an individual suspected of a criminal act who resists or flees from the arrest. (A) Aggravated rape, pursuant to §. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106Law enforcement officer: includes a sheriff, sheriff's deputy, and, only for purposes of the enhancement of a crime, a deputy jailer. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.Serious bodily injury: means bodily injury that involves:(A) A substantial risk of death. See Tennessee Code 39-11-106(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), the officer may use deadly force to effect an arrest only if all other reasonable means of apprehension have been exhausted or are unavailable, and where feasible, the officer has given notice of the officer’s identity as such and given a warning that deadly force may be used unless resistance or flight ceases, and: (1) The officer has probable cause to believe the individual to be arrested has committed a felony involving the infliction or threatened infliction of serious bodily injury or grave sexual abuse; or (2) The officer has probable cause to believe that the individual to be arrested poses a threat of serious bodily injury or grave sexual abuse, either to the officer or to others unless immediately apprehended.
View on official sourceLast verified: Feb 25, 2026
Quick Facts
FELONY
TCA Section39-11-620