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Reference Series - Stop & Frisk (Part 2)

Course Hours: 2.0 Hours

Course Description

With an emphasis on federal and state case law, this two-hour online course provides a comprehensive examination of the Terry stop, also known as investigative detention or the Tier 2 police-citizen encounter. Building upon the landmark Terry v. Ohio decision explored in Part 1, this training distinguishes between mere suspicion, which permits only consensual encounters, and the articulable reasonable suspicion (ARS) required to lawfully seize a person. Students will navigate the complex legal landscape of the Fourth Amendment, analyzing the difference between actual and constructive seizures, the necessity of objective fact-based reporting over subjective feelings, and the reliability of information sources such as anonymous tips and collective police knowledge. 


The program further explores the strict legal boundaries of frisk, emphasizing that its sole purpose is to discover weapons to protect officers and others, rather than to seize evidence. Participants will examine the "plain feel" doctrine established in Minnesota v. Dickerson and learn to identify when the seizure of contraband is constitutionally permissible. Additionally, the course details lawful authority regarding weapons in vehicles under Michigan v. Long, guiding officers through four distinct scenarios involving visible weapons and the presence or absence of ARS to ensure actions remain within federal and state appellate guidelines.

Who Should Attend

This course is suitable for law enforcement officers at all levels of experience, from recruit to senior management.  Any officer with a desire to understand the "why" behind the "how" to perform a stop and frisk will find the program highly beneficial.

Name Start Date End Date Location Time Course Number Status
Reference Series - Stop & Frisk (Part 2) 03/01/2026 03/31/2026 ONLINE ITCW26165 Register