AL POST cheat sheet

Fourth Amendment governs searches and seizures; a seizure of a person occurs when a reasonable person would not feel free to leave.

Terry stop requires reasonable suspicion, articulable and particularized, that criminal activity is afoot; frisk requires reasonable suspicion the person is armed and dangerous.

Probable cause is a fair probability that contraband or evidence of a crime will be found in a particular place.

Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination applies to testimonial communication; Miranda custody plus interrogation triggers the warning requirement.

Sixth Amendment right to counsel attaches at formal charging (indictment, information, or arraignment) for all critical stages.

Exclusionary rule suppresses evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment; fruit of the poisonous tree extends suppression to derivative evidence.

Consent searches require voluntary consent given by a person with actual or apparent authority over the area.

Plain view requires lawful vantage point, immediate apparent incriminating character, and lawful right of access to the object.

Reasonable suspicion for a traffic stop exists when an officer observes a violation of the vehicle code or equipment standard.

A stop may be extended only if the extension is justified by independent reasonable suspicion of separate criminal activity.

During a lawful stop, officers may order occupants out of the vehicle (Pennsylvania v. Mimms for driver; Maryland v. Wilson for passengers).

Vehicle exception to the warrant requirement requires probable cause that contraband or evidence is inside the vehicle and the vehicle is readily mobile.

Inventory searches require standardized, written procedures and a lawful custodial impound.

High-risk vehicle stops follow the felony stop sequence: position, cover, verbal commands, one-at-a-time approach, and control of hands.

Traffic collision documentation records position of vehicles, skid marks, debris, lighting, weather, and roadway geometry before clearing the scene.

DUI investigation commonly follows the three-phase sequence: vehicle in motion, personal contact, and pre-arrest screening.

Chain of custody documents every transfer of evidence by date, time, person, and purpose to preserve admissibility.

Crime scene priorities in order: render aid, secure the scene, identify witnesses, document, collect, and process.

Interview versus interrogation: interviews are non-accusatory information gathering; interrogations are accusatory and designed to elicit incriminating statements.

Modus operandi analysis links offenses by consistent behavioral patterns, not by mere similarity of crime type.

Photograph the scene before altering it; take overall, mid-range, and close-up photographs with scale markers.

Physical evidence categories include transient, pattern, conditional, transfer, associative, and physiological evidence.

Buccal cell collection for DNA requires lawful authority; reference samples do not incriminate and are not testimonial.

Field identification procedures should minimize suggestiveness; sequential presentation reduces misidentification risk.

Graham v. Connor objective reasonableness standard considers severity of the crime, immediate threat, and active resistance or flight.

Tennessee v. Garner limits deadly force against fleeing felons to cases where the officer has probable cause the suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious physical injury.

Force must be objectively reasonable at the moment applied; hindsight and 20/20 evaluation are not permitted.

Duty to intervene applies when an officer observes excessive force by another officer and has a realistic opportunity to stop it.

Force options continuum ranges from officer presence, verbal direction, soft empty hand control, hard empty hand control, intermediate weapons, to deadly force.

Escalation and de-escalation are situational; officers may move up or down the continuum based on subject behavior.

Handcuffing procedures require double-lock and check for tightness, and continuous monitoring of the subject's position and breathing.

Positional asphyxia risk increases with prone restraint, weight on the back, and prolonged struggle; recovery position is required as soon as practical.

The four universal firearm safety rules: treat every firearm as loaded, never point at anything you are not willing to destroy, keep finger off trigger until sights are on target, and know your target and what is beyond it.

Weapon retention principles include maintaining control during approach, using a security holster, and defending against a disarm attempt.

Deadly force justification requires the officer reasonably believes the subject poses an immediate threat of death or serious bodily injury to the officer or another.

Sight alignment and trigger control are the two fundamentals of marksmanship; sight picture is the relationship of the aligned sights to the target.

Malfunction clearance drills: tap-rack-bang for a failure to fire; lock-rack-look for a failure to extract.

Cover protects against incoming fire; concealment hides the officer but does not stop rounds.

Low-light considerations include target identification, use of a handheld light versus weapon-mounted light, and avoiding backlighting.

Qualification standards vary by agency; officers must demonstrate proficiency at defined distances and reload under time constraints.

Crisis intervention first steps: ensure safety, assess for immediate danger, and establish communication with active listening.

Active listening skills include open-ended questions, paraphrasing, reflecting feelings, summarizing, and silence.

Mental health hold criteria generally require a mental disorder plus danger to self, danger to others, or grave disability.

Suicide risk assessment screens for ideation, plan, means, intent, and prior attempts; access to lethal means increases risk.

Excited delirium or hyperactive delirium is a medical emergency; request EMS and avoid continued struggle.

Autism and developmental disability considerations include literal language, sensory sensitivity, and difficulty with eye contact.

De-escalation techniques include slowing the pace, reducing stimuli, creating distance, and offering choices.

Trauma-informed approach recognizes that past trauma can shape current behavior and responses to authority.

A complete report answers who, what, when, where, why, and how, and identifies all persons, property, and evidence involved.

Reports are written in first person, past tense, and chronological order using factual, objective language.

Avoid conclusory language such as 'the subject was uncooperative'; describe the observable behavior instead.

Include the legal basis for any search, seizure, or arrest, including the specific statute or warrant.

Document use of force with the force used, the reason, the subject's actions, and the resulting injuries or medical aid.

Reports are public records subject to discovery and disclosure; write only what you can defend in court.

Evidence numbers, photographs, and property receipts must be cross-referenced in the narrative.

Corrections to reports should be documented by supplemental report or by striking through with initials, not by erasing.

Procedural justice elements: voice, neutrality, respect, and trustworthiness.

Legitimacy is built on consistent, fair application of the law and transparent decision-making.

Ethical decision-making frameworks include the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics and the test of whether an action is legal, moral, and defensible.

Gratuities and gifts can create a conflict of interest and are restricted by most agency policies.

Bias-based policing is prohibited and includes any action initiated based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or national origin.

Community-oriented policing emphasizes partnerships, problem-solving, and organizational transformation.

Duty to report misconduct is a professional obligation; retaliation against reporting officers is prohibited.

Confidential informant handling requires documentation, supervision, and protection of identity consistent with policy and law.

Emergency vehicle operation requires due regard for the safety of all persons; statutory exemptions do not shield reckless disregard.

Vehicle pursuit policy typically weighs the seriousness of the offense, traffic and weather conditions, and the risk to the public.

Pursuit termination criteria include loss of visual or radio contact, excessive speeds in populated areas, and conditions that make continued pursuit unsafe.

Emergency response driving requires the use of lights and siren as required by statute and policy.

Intersection clearing requires slowing, visual sweep, and confirmation that cross traffic has yielded before proceeding.

Following distance increases at night, in rain, and at higher speeds; use the three-second rule as a baseline.

Skid recovery: steer in the direction of the skid while easing off the accelerator and avoiding hard braking.

Vehicle inspection and equipment checks should be documented before and after shift.

Adult CPR ratio: 30 compressions to 2 breaths at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute with a depth of at least 2 inches.

AED use: turn on, attach pads, clear the patient during analysis and shock, and resume CPR immediately after the shock.

Severe bleeding control: apply direct pressure, then a tourniquet if needed; note the time applied.

Recovery position for an unresponsive but breathing person: place on the side to maintain an open airway.

Choking adult: abdominal thrusts; choking infant: back slaps and chest thrusts.

Stroke recognition: use the FAST mnemonic (Face, Arms, Speech, Time).

Opioid overdose: administer naloxone and support breathing.

Shock signs include pale or clammy skin, rapid weak pulse, and altered mental status; keep the patient warm and lying flat.

Cardiovascular fitness is commonly assessed by 1.5-mile run time, 300-meter sprint, or 1.5-mile walk; standards vary by agency.

Muscular strength and endurance are commonly assessed by push-ups and sit-ups within a timed interval.

Flexibility is commonly assessed by a sit-and-reach test.

BMI and body composition standards vary by agency and should be referenced to the specific policy.

Physical fitness programs should follow the FITT principle: Frequency, Intensity, Time, and Type.

Occupational wellness includes sleep hygiene, nutrition, and stress management to reduce cardiovascular risk.

Critical incident stress and cumulative trauma are managed through peer support, EAP, and early intervention.

Proper warm-up and cool-down reduce injury risk and improve performance during fitness testing.

Emergency vehicle operation requires due regard for the safety of all persons; statutory exemptions do not shield reckless disregard.

Vehicle pursuit policy typically weighs the seriousness of the offense, traffic and weather conditions, and the risk to the public.

Pursuit termination criteria include loss of visual or radio contact, excessive speeds in populated areas, and conditions that make continued pursuit unsafe.

Emergency response driving requires the use of lights and siren as required by statute and policy.

Intersection clearing requires slowing, visual sweep, and confirmation that cross traffic has yielded before proceeding.

Following distance increases at night, in rain, and at higher speeds; use the three-second rule as a baseline.

Skid recovery: steer in the direction of the skid while easing off the accelerator and avoiding hard braking.

Vehicle inspection and equipment checks should be documented before and after shift.