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Gen. 33] 33 PUBLIC SAFETY POLICE OFFICERS – USE OF FORCE STATUTE – MEANING OF THE REQUIREMENT THAT FORCE USED BY OFFICERS MUST BE “NECESSARY” AND “PROPORTIONAL” February 25, 2022 Woodrow W. Jones III Superintendent, Maryland State Police You have asked for our opinion on the meaning of the phrase “necessary and proportional” in the new Maryland Use of Force Statute, which takes effect July 1, 2022, and provides that a police officer “may not use force against a person unless, under the totality of the circumstances, the force is necessary and proportional to” (1) “prevent an imminent threat…