What is a protective stop?

• A. Officers may detain a suspect's companion briefly under potentially dangerous circumstances.
• B. Officers may search a vehicle without probable cause.
• C. Officers may detain a suspect's companion briefly for questioning.
• D. Officers may seize property at a checkpoint.

Answer: (A)

A protective stop is a brief, safety-focused detention by police when there is potential danger at a scene. It allows officers to momentarily detain individuals who might be involved or could pose a risk, in order to prevent harm while they assess the situation. Detaining a suspect’s companion briefly under potentially dangerous circumstances fits this idea, because the priority is safety at the moment, not conducting an interrogation or a full search.

Detaining someone just to question them would move more toward an investigative detention than a protective stop, which centers on immediate safety needs. Similarly, searching a vehicle without cause and seizing property at a checkpoint involve different authority and purposes beyond a safety stop.