Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the legal justification required to stop a vehicle?
What is the legal justification required to stop a vehicle?
What type of location should be avoided for a traffic stop?
What type of location should be avoided for a traffic stop?
What information should the officer provide to the dispatcher before getting out of the police car?
What information should the officer provide to the dispatcher before getting out of the police car?
When should an officer call for backup?
When should an officer call for backup?
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How should the patrol car be positioned during an unknown-risk stop?
How should the patrol car be positioned during an unknown-risk stop?
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Why is the positioning of the patrol car important during an unknown-risk stop?
Why is the positioning of the patrol car important during an unknown-risk stop?
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Why are low-risk stops considered unknown risks?
Why are low-risk stops considered unknown risks?
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When is it recommended to contact the dispatcher?
When is it recommended to contact the dispatcher?
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What should an officer consider when choosing a location for a high-risk stop?
What should an officer consider when choosing a location for a high-risk stop?
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What is the recommended distance for positioning a patrol vehicle during a high-risk stop?
What is the recommended distance for positioning a patrol vehicle during a high-risk stop?
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What should an officer do with the violator's car ignition before approaching?
What should an officer do with the violator's car ignition before approaching?
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Why is it important to have a 'visual' on the violator's hands?
Why is it important to have a 'visual' on the violator's hands?
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What is 'gun location'?
What is 'gun location'?
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What are 'Threat Zones'?
What are 'Threat Zones'?
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Why is it important to avoid certain areas around a stopped vehicle?
Why is it important to avoid certain areas around a stopped vehicle?
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What is the goal of an officer's approach during a stop?
What is the goal of an officer's approach during a stop?
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What is the recommended position of the police vehicle during a high risk stop?
What is the recommended position of the police vehicle during a high risk stop?
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What should the officer do before exiting the patrol car during a night stop?
What should the officer do before exiting the patrol car during a night stop?
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What is the primary role of the assisting officer in a high risk stop?
What is the primary role of the assisting officer in a high risk stop?
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When should occupants be removed from the vehicle during an unknown risk stop?
When should occupants be removed from the vehicle during an unknown risk stop?
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What should the officer do after the suspect exits the vehicle during a high risk stop?
What should the officer do after the suspect exits the vehicle during a high risk stop?
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What is the primary goal of the Eight-Step Car Stop/Citizen Contact?
What is the primary goal of the Eight-Step Car Stop/Citizen Contact?
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What should the officer do if a weapon is visible during a high risk stop?
What should the officer do if a weapon is visible during a high risk stop?
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What is the recommended action for positioning the police car during an unknown risk stop?
What is the recommended action for positioning the police car during an unknown risk stop?
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What should the officer do before moving past the limited cover of the open car door during a high risk stop?
What should the officer do before moving past the limited cover of the open car door during a high risk stop?
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What is the general theme of vehicle stops?
What is the general theme of vehicle stops?
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What should the contact officer do with the suspect after thoroughly searching them?
What should the contact officer do with the suspect after thoroughly searching them?
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What is the role of cover officers during a felony stop?
What is the role of cover officers during a felony stop?
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What should the command officer do after instructing the last occupant out of the suspect vehicle?
What should the command officer do after instructing the last occupant out of the suspect vehicle?
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Why should no officer approach a vehicle stopped in a felony situation until the command officer has issued a 'bluff announcement'?
Why should no officer approach a vehicle stopped in a felony situation until the command officer has issued a 'bluff announcement'?
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What is the purpose of the 'Rule of 1 More'?
What is the purpose of the 'Rule of 1 More'?
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What information should an officer report to their agency after stopping a driver for a traffic violation?
What information should an officer report to their agency after stopping a driver for a traffic violation?
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Why should an officer not rush their handling of a felony stop?
Why should an officer not rush their handling of a felony stop?
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What is the purpose of the command officer's instructions to the occupants of the suspect vehicle?
What is the purpose of the command officer's instructions to the occupants of the suspect vehicle?
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What should the contact officer do with each suspect after searching them?
What should the contact officer do with each suspect after searching them?
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What is the purpose of the cover officers watching the suspects closely?
What is the purpose of the cover officers watching the suspects closely?
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What is the main reason behind the passage of RSMo 590.650 and 590.653?
What is the main reason behind the passage of RSMo 590.650 and 590.653?
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What is the minimum amount of justification required to perform a 'Terry Stop'?
What is the minimum amount of justification required to perform a 'Terry Stop'?
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What is the term used to describe the suspicion that an officer must be able to articulate in words?
What is the term used to describe the suspicion that an officer must be able to articulate in words?
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What is the result of accumulating more reasons to articulate suspicion?
What is the result of accumulating more reasons to articulate suspicion?
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What is the purpose of the instructor reviewing objectives and verbally quizzing trainees?
What is the purpose of the instructor reviewing objectives and verbally quizzing trainees?
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What is the term used to describe a stop made by an officer based on a pretext?
What is the term used to describe a stop made by an officer based on a pretext?
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What is the primary role of the command officer during a high-risk stop?
What is the primary role of the command officer during a high-risk stop?
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What is the purpose of the command officer's instructions to the driver to remove the keys from the ignition and place them on the roof of the car?
What is the purpose of the command officer's instructions to the driver to remove the keys from the ignition and place them on the roof of the car?
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What is the command officer's response if they see a weapon as the suspect turns?
What is the command officer's response if they see a weapon as the suspect turns?
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What is the role of the contact officer during a high-risk stop?
What is the role of the contact officer during a high-risk stop?
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What is the width of the Crisis Zone?
What is the width of the Crisis Zone?
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Why is the suspect taken to the rear of the patrol vehicle to be searched?
Why is the suspect taken to the rear of the patrol vehicle to be searched?
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Where does the Crisis Zone typically end?
Where does the Crisis Zone typically end?
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What is the purpose of the command officer's instruction to the driver to walk backwards towards the sound of their voice?
What is the purpose of the command officer's instruction to the driver to walk backwards towards the sound of their voice?
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What is the reason for the officer to holster their firearm during the cuffing process?
What is the reason for the officer to holster their firearm during the cuffing process?
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What is the primary danger of standing in the Point Reflex Zone?
What is the primary danger of standing in the Point Reflex Zone?
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Why is it difficult for a left-handed assailant to shoot in the Crisis Zone?
Why is it difficult for a left-handed assailant to shoot in the Crisis Zone?
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Why is the officer protected while searching the suspect at the rear of the patrol vehicle?
Why is the officer protected while searching the suspect at the rear of the patrol vehicle?
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What is the purpose of the command officer's instruction to the driver to turn slowly around 360 degrees?
What is the purpose of the command officer's instruction to the driver to turn slowly around 360 degrees?
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What is the advantage of approaching through the Crisis Zone?
What is the advantage of approaching through the Crisis Zone?
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What is the primary goal of the high-risk stop procedure?
What is the primary goal of the high-risk stop procedure?
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What is the primary risk of being in the Target Zone?
What is the primary risk of being in the Target Zone?
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What is the benefit of being close to the vehicle in the Crisis Zone?
What is the benefit of being close to the vehicle in the Crisis Zone?
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What is the risk of moving out from the car in the Crisis Zone?
What is the risk of moving out from the car in the Crisis Zone?
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What is the advantage of being alongside the rear fender during an attack?
What is the advantage of being alongside the rear fender during an attack?
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What is the recommended procedure for removing vehicle occupants during high-risk stops?
What is the recommended procedure for removing vehicle occupants during high-risk stops?
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Study Notes
Legal Justification for Stopping a Vehicle
- Two legal justifications required to stop a vehicle:
- Probable cause of a traffic offense
- Reasonable suspicion that the vehicle or its occupants are in violation of some law
Selecting the Best Location for a Traffic Stop
- Avoid stopping at:
- Drinking establishments
- Housing projects
- Public parks
- Fast food hangouts
- Curves
- Hills
- Consider cover options:
- Trees
- Hydrants
- Large rocks
Information to Provide to the Dispatcher
- License number
- Description of vehicle
- Exact location
- Number of visible occupants
- Apparent description of occupants
- Call for backup on all high-risk or felony stops and when assistance is needed
Positioning the Police Car
- Unknown risk stop:
- Position patrol car approximately 15 feet to the rear and 3 feet offset to the driver's side of the suspect vehicle
- Fully illuminate the other vehicle interior and occupants
- Read the license plate without having to re-deploy the patrol car
- High-risk stop:
- Position the police vehicle approximately 30-40 feet behind the suspect vehicle
Approaching the Vehicle
- Park patrol car approximately 15 feet to the rear and 3 feet offset to the left of the violator's vehicle
- Throw a blinding flood or light inside the violator's vehicle at night
- Before exiting, ensure the ignition of the violator's vehicle is turned off
- Before moving past the limited cover of the open car door, gain a "visual on" and control of the violator's hands
- Reach a position that looks non-threatening to the ordinary citizen, but appears unchallengeable to would-be assailants
Actions of the Assisting Officer
- Unknown risk stop:
- Stand behind the passenger door of the patrol car with access to the radio and shotgun
- Have a means of communicating with the approaching officer
- Move to the right rear of the violator's vehicle once the approaching officer has established there's no detectable threat
- High-risk stop:
- Stand behind the passenger door or nearby cover, keeping a shotgun trained on the suspect vehicle
- Serve as a control-and-arrest officer
Removing Vehicle Occupants
- Unknown risk stop:
- Removing occupants is not recommended, but be prepared to escalate to high-risk stop mode if necessary
- High-risk stop:
- Locate the stop to your advantage
- Illuminate the suspect vehicle
- Get behind cover
- Announce your purpose and take charge
- Order the suspect vehicle immobilized
- Command the occupants to stay inside and hold hands up
- Maintain surveillance with a shotgun or rifle trained on the suspect(s)
- Stabilize the situation until enough manpower is available to proceed
High-Risk Vehicle Stops
- Include:
- Felony stops (verified)
- Wanted person stops
- Suspected felony stops
- Considerations for choosing a location:
- Avoid stopping on a hill or curve
- Avoid stopping in a traffic lane or in front of a trouble spot
- Try to stop in a well-lit area
- Positioning patrol vehicles:
- 30-50 feet behind the felony vehicle
- Angle the car at 45 degrees for extra protection
Unknown Risk Stops
- Tactics:
- Choose a location carefully
- Position your vehicle properly
- Avoid rushing your approach
- Prior to leaving the police car, notify your communications
- Reach a position that looks non-threatening to the ordinary citizen, but appears unchallengeable to would-be assailants
Threat Zones
- Crisis Zone: a strip about 20 inches wide that starts at the violator's rear bumper and ends about 10 inches away from the driver's window
- Reach Zones: extend forward an arm's length or so from where the Crisis Zone ends
- Point Reflex Zone: fans out from the back corner of the driver's (or passenger's) window at about a 45° angle to the Crisis Zone
- Target Zone: arcs from where it overlaps the Point Reflex Zone around to the front fender of the vehicle
Procedure for Removing Vehicle Occupants
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Roles of Command Officer, Cover Officers, and Contact Officer
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Command Officer:
- Covers the felony vehicle using his handgun
- Issues loud verbal commands to the occupant(s) of the felony vehicle
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Contact Officer:
- Commands the suspect(s) after the Command Officer talks the suspect(s) back to a specified point
- Takes the suspect(s) into custody
-
Cover Officers:
- Maintain constant surveillance of the suspect vehicle and the surrounding area
- Provide cover for the Command and Contact Officer by using their handgun or a shotgun to establish a constant threat of risk or danger to the occupants of the suspect vehicle### Racial Profiling Law
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The law is found in RSMo 590.650 and 590.653, effective December 7, 2000.
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It requires peace officers to report certain information for every traffic stop.
Reporting Requirements
- Age, gender, and race or minority group of the individual stopped.
- Traffic violation or violations alleged to have been committed that led to the stop.
- Whether a search was conducted, and if so, details about the search.
- Whether any contraband was discovered, and if so, the type of contraband.
- Whether any warning or citation was issued, and if so, the violation charged.
- Whether an arrest was made, and if so, the crime charged.
- Location of the stop.
Context and Purpose
- The law was passed because of concerns about minorities being stopped by peace officers due to their minority status.
- The law does not prohibit vehicle stops based on reasonable suspicion of a crime.
- Reasonable suspicion requires articulable suspicion, meaning the officer must be able to put their suspicions into words.
- The more reasons the officer can articulate, the greater weight or value their suspicions will have.
Review and Quiz
- The instructor will review the objectives, clarify questions, and verbally quiz trainees on objective responses.
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Description
This quiz covers the legal justification and considerations for conducting a traffic stop, including probable cause, reasonable suspicion, and selecting a safe location.