| Lawson Police Department, You Make the Call |
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Modern Policing is an ever changing and often complicated environment. As new laws
and new court decisions are made, Police have to constantly adapt to these changes in
order to make lawful decisions. Often Police Officers are confronted with complicated
and quickly changing situations and are required to make split second decisions. To
be a Police Officer takes experience and constant training to keep up with these ever
changing laws and court rulings.
Now its your turn to make the call and be the Police Officer. Below is an actual situation
where Police Officer's had to make a decision. How would you handle the call?
and new court decisions are made, Police have to constantly adapt to these changes in
order to make lawful decisions. Often Police Officers are confronted with complicated
and quickly changing situations and are required to make split second decisions. To
be a Police Officer takes experience and constant training to keep up with these ever
changing laws and court rulings.
Now its your turn to make the call and be the Police Officer. Below is an actual situation
where Police Officer's had to make a decision. How would you handle the call?
Officer Jones responded to a call of an armed robbery that had just occurred. He
arrived at the scene five minutes later and spoke with the Mrs. Smith. Mrs. Smith said
that a black male armed with a hand gun had just robbed her and described her
attacker. She said that the suspect left in a white Mazda car and gave a partial license
plate number of MJK.
Officer Jones left and patrolled the area looking for the suspect. A few minutes later,
he found a white Mazda at a gas station three blocks from where the crime occurred
with a black male standing near the car. The license plate was MTK340. As Officer
Jones watched, the black male got into the drivers seat of the vehicle. The description
that Mrs. Smith had given of her attacker did not completely match the appearance of
the black male but was close.
Officer Jones along with other Police Officers, surrounded the Mazda and took Mr.
Williams into custody. When they searched the vehicle, Police found cocaine, a
handgun, and money. Mr. Williams was arrested and charged with the armed robbery.
At trial, Mr. Williams lawyers argued that Police did not have reasonable suspicion to
stop Mr. Williams in the parking lot. They argued that since Mrs. Smith had not given
the correct license plate or description, Officer Jones did not have enough grounds to
stop and later arrest Mr. Williams.
arrived at the scene five minutes later and spoke with the Mrs. Smith. Mrs. Smith said
that a black male armed with a hand gun had just robbed her and described her
attacker. She said that the suspect left in a white Mazda car and gave a partial license
plate number of MJK.
Officer Jones left and patrolled the area looking for the suspect. A few minutes later,
he found a white Mazda at a gas station three blocks from where the crime occurred
with a black male standing near the car. The license plate was MTK340. As Officer
Jones watched, the black male got into the drivers seat of the vehicle. The description
that Mrs. Smith had given of her attacker did not completely match the appearance of
the black male but was close.
Officer Jones along with other Police Officers, surrounded the Mazda and took Mr.
Williams into custody. When they searched the vehicle, Police found cocaine, a
handgun, and money. Mr. Williams was arrested and charged with the armed robbery.
At trial, Mr. Williams lawyers argued that Police did not have reasonable suspicion to
stop Mr. Williams in the parking lot. They argued that since Mrs. Smith had not given
the correct license plate or description, Officer Jones did not have enough grounds to
stop and later arrest Mr. Williams.
| Reasonable Suspicion Investigative Stop |