What is the purpose of using a baton in law enforcement?

The correct answer, which emphasizes the purpose of using a baton in law enforcement, is focused on how a baton can be used to impede an individual's actions. In law enforcement, batons are primarily viewed as tools for controlling a situation, particularly when dealing with potentially violent individuals.

When officers use a baton to impede someone, it may involve blocking their movements or creating a physical barrier that disrupts their advance or escape. This technique serves to prevent escalation of a situation and allows officers to maintain control without resorting to lethal force.

Other terms, such as detain, restrain, or immobilize, may carry connotations that suggest a more permanent or complete restriction of a person's freedom of movement. While a baton may contribute to these outcomes, its primary tactical purpose in many situations is to create a physical impediment, giving officers the opportunity to safely manage and de-escalate confrontational encounters.