What should an officer do when confronted with an unlawful order?

• A. Follow the order and seek forgiveness later.
• B. Refuse to comply, seek clarification, document, and report through proper chain of command.
• C. Ignore the order and continue with personal action.
• D. Complain informally to peers.

Answer: (B)

When an order seems unlawful, the duty is to act within the law and the established chain of command. The best approach is to refuse to comply, seek clarification if the legality is uncertain, document what happened (who said what, when, where), and report through the proper chain of command. This sequence stops a potentially illegal action before it occurs, creates a clear record, and gives higher authorities a chance to review the order’s legality. It also protects the officer from personal liability and maintains accountability within the department.

Taking the order and hoping for forgiveness later can still expose the officer to criminal or disciplinary consequences. Ignoring the order and acting on your own bypasses oversight and can cause harm. Complaining informally to peers doesn’t initiate the formal review needed to address the issue or prevent further improper actions.