CPD EXAM 6 2026 Questions and
Answers
1. Define reasonable suspicion - Answer -n. Reasonable Suspicion is the amount of
evidence which justifies an officer stopping a suspect to investigate crime. This
type of seizure is known as a Terry stop.
Circumstances when a stop is authorized. - Answer -1. When a police officer has a
reasonable suspicion, based on articulable facts, that an individual may be engaged
in unlawful conduct, or is about to commit a crime, the officer has the right to stop
that individual and inquire as to his or her identity, purpose, and otherwise
investigate the suspicions.
Reasonable suspicion based on articulable facts requires that the officer be able to
point to actual circumstances - FACTS - which make his or her suspicion
reasonable. - Answer -1. Unsubstantiated hunches, or suspicion not backed up by
facts, will justify neither the stop nor the frisk.
4. *Recognize circumstances when a frisk is authorized. - Answer -1. Incident to
such a stop, IF the officer also has reasonable suspicion, based on articulable facts,
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,which lead the officer to believe that the individual stopped could be armed and
may be dangerous to the officer or to others, the officer may frisk the outer
clothing of the person for purpose of determining whether the person is carrying a
weapon.
Frisk or pat down - Answer -limited search of outer garments for weapons only
1. According to Minnesota v. Dickerson, what else may an officer seize during a
frisk? - Answer -Contraband
1. According to Terry v. Ohio, what may the officer seize during a frisk? - Answer -
Weapons
1. Describe the "scope of the frisk" (physically what is the officer doing and what
is the officer searching for)? - Answer -- Patting outer clothing, looking for
weapons or hard objects that can be used as a weapon (for your safety)
1. When is a "frisk" of a suspect lawful? - Answer -- Reasonable suspicion / person
is armed and dangerous (not automatic)
- After a lawful temporary detention
- Limited search of outer garments for weapons only
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, Contraband: - Answer -any property the possession or transportation of which is
illegal. Typical examples are narcotics and illegal weapons. Keep in mind that this
is what police are interested in searching for and seizing.
"Open Fields" - Answer -are not protected by the Fourth Amendment. An open
field is beyond the curtilage of the home. A person has no legitimate expectation of
privacy in and open field and the police can look into that type of area without a
warrant, without probable cause, regardless of the fact that the property is privately
owned.
Abandoned" - Answer -property is not protected by the Fourth Amendment. Trash
put out on the curb, or property in which a person disclaims a possessory interest,
are examples of abandoned property. Once property is abandoned the police may
look in it and /or take it without a warrant, without probable cause.
When is a search warrant required? - Answer -- Expectation of privacy
1. What is "contraband?" - Answer -- Any property the possession or transportation
of which is illegal.
- Ex: narcotics & illegal weapons
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Answers
1. Define reasonable suspicion - Answer -n. Reasonable Suspicion is the amount of
evidence which justifies an officer stopping a suspect to investigate crime. This
type of seizure is known as a Terry stop.
Circumstances when a stop is authorized. - Answer -1. When a police officer has a
reasonable suspicion, based on articulable facts, that an individual may be engaged
in unlawful conduct, or is about to commit a crime, the officer has the right to stop
that individual and inquire as to his or her identity, purpose, and otherwise
investigate the suspicions.
Reasonable suspicion based on articulable facts requires that the officer be able to
point to actual circumstances - FACTS - which make his or her suspicion
reasonable. - Answer -1. Unsubstantiated hunches, or suspicion not backed up by
facts, will justify neither the stop nor the frisk.
4. *Recognize circumstances when a frisk is authorized. - Answer -1. Incident to
such a stop, IF the officer also has reasonable suspicion, based on articulable facts,
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,which lead the officer to believe that the individual stopped could be armed and
may be dangerous to the officer or to others, the officer may frisk the outer
clothing of the person for purpose of determining whether the person is carrying a
weapon.
Frisk or pat down - Answer -limited search of outer garments for weapons only
1. According to Minnesota v. Dickerson, what else may an officer seize during a
frisk? - Answer -Contraband
1. According to Terry v. Ohio, what may the officer seize during a frisk? - Answer -
Weapons
1. Describe the "scope of the frisk" (physically what is the officer doing and what
is the officer searching for)? - Answer -- Patting outer clothing, looking for
weapons or hard objects that can be used as a weapon (for your safety)
1. When is a "frisk" of a suspect lawful? - Answer -- Reasonable suspicion / person
is armed and dangerous (not automatic)
- After a lawful temporary detention
- Limited search of outer garments for weapons only
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
, Contraband: - Answer -any property the possession or transportation of which is
illegal. Typical examples are narcotics and illegal weapons. Keep in mind that this
is what police are interested in searching for and seizing.
"Open Fields" - Answer -are not protected by the Fourth Amendment. An open
field is beyond the curtilage of the home. A person has no legitimate expectation of
privacy in and open field and the police can look into that type of area without a
warrant, without probable cause, regardless of the fact that the property is privately
owned.
Abandoned" - Answer -property is not protected by the Fourth Amendment. Trash
put out on the curb, or property in which a person disclaims a possessory interest,
are examples of abandoned property. Once property is abandoned the police may
look in it and /or take it without a warrant, without probable cause.
When is a search warrant required? - Answer -- Expectation of privacy
1. What is "contraband?" - Answer -- Any property the possession or transportation
of which is illegal.
- Ex: narcotics & illegal weapons
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
