Explain the main issue in the case Tennessee v. Gardner.

The case of Tennessee v. Gardner fundamentally shifted the legal standards regarding the use of deadly force by law enforcement against fleeing suspects. The main issue at hand was whether law enforcement officers could use deadly force to stop a fleeing suspect who was not posing an immediate threat to the officer or others.

The Supreme Court ruled that deadly force may not be used to apprehend a suspect who is running away unless that suspect poses a significant and immediate threat to the officer or the public. This decision underscored the balance between the requirement for law enforcement to enforce the law and the necessity to protect the lives of individuals, in alignment with the principles of constitutional rights and the use of excessive force.

Therefore, the ruling established a critical standard that emphasizes the necessity of evaluating a suspect's threat level before employing lethal measures, fundamentally shaping police conduct and policy regarding the pursuit of suspects. This has had lasting implications for law enforcement training and the application of deadly force in the field.