PA Act 120 MPOETC key terms

Facts and circumstances that would lead a reasonable officer to believe a crime has been, is being, or will be committed, and that a particular person or place is connected to it.

Specific, articulable facts, not a mere hunch or instinct, that criminal activity may be occurring and that the person stopped is connected to it. It is the standard for an investigative detention.

A written order signed by a judge or magisterial district judge directing officers to take a named person into custody. It must be supported by probable cause and be properly served.

A court order, based on probable cause, authorizing officers to search a specific person, place, or vehicle for specific items. It must particularly describe the place to be searched and the things to be seized.

Urgent conditions such as hot pursuit, imminent destruction of evidence, or danger to life that make waiting for a warrant unreasonable and permit immediate police action.

Permission to seize items without a warrant when officers are lawfully present, the item is in open view, and its incriminating character is immediately apparent.

A warrantless search allowed when a person with authority over the place or property gives voluntary, unambiguous permission. That person may limit the scope of the search or withdraw consent at any time.

A warrantless search of an arrestee's person and the area within immediate reach, justified by officer safety and the need to prevent destruction of evidence.

Advisements required before custodial interrogation: the right to remain silent, that anything said can be used in court, the right to counsel, and appointed counsel for those who cannot afford one.

Police questioning, or words or actions reasonably likely to elicit an incriminating response, that occurs after a person has been arrested or otherwise deprived of freedom in a significant way.

A brief seizure based on reasonable suspicion during which officers may identify the person, ask questions, and pat down outer clothing if they suspect the person is armed and dangerous.

Evidence obtained through an unconstitutional search or seizure that is generally excluded from trial unless an exception, such as inevitable discovery or attenuation, applies.

A civil court order under Pennsylvania law directing an abuser to stay away from and have no contact with a family or household member; officers enforce the order and act on violations.

An active attempt by an officer driving a patrol vehicle to apprehend a fleeing suspect who is aware of the attempt and resisting apprehension by fleeing. It requires continuous risk assessment under department policy.

A stop of a vehicle whose occupants are believed to be armed or dangerous, conducted with multiple units, cover, and felony-stop procedures instead of routine contact.

The immediate response to an ongoing attack causing death or serious injury: officers move toward the threat, locate and stop the attacker, then render aid, without waiting for specialized units.

A coordinated, systematic movement through a structure to locate a suspect or victim, using cover, concealment, team communication, and controlled angles.

Concise, standard transmissions using proper unit identification and clear speech so dispatch and other units can copy critical information correctly the first time.

The documented, unbroken record of every person who handled an item of evidence, and when and why, from collection through court, showing that the item is authentic and unaltered.

Protecting a scene by setting a perimeter, controlling access, keeping an entry log, and preventing contamination so that evidence is documented in its original condition.

Sealing each item in an appropriate container and labeling it with case number, item number, date, and collector to prevent loss, cross-contamination, or degradation.

Recording a scene before anything is moved, using overall, mid-range, and close-up photographs with a scale, so the images accurately show the location and condition of evidence.

Presentation of a single detained suspect to a witness soon after a crime. It is inherently suggestive and is admissible only when necessary and not conducted in an unnecessarily suggestive way.

A factual written record of an officer's involvement in an event, in chronological order, including names, times, observations, and actions taken; it may later be used in court.

Force measured from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, weighing the severity of the crime, the immediate threat, and whether the subject was resisting or fleeing.

A framework matching officer response levels, such as presence, verbal direction, control techniques, intermediate weapons, and deadly force, to the subject's behavior, allowing escalation or de-escalation.

Force that the officer knows or should know creates a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury. It is justified only to prevent an imminent threat of death or serious injury to the officer or another person.

Using time, distance, cover, containment, and communication to reduce the intensity of an encounter so that force is avoided or minimized when it is safe to do so.

Restraint and physical techniques used to gain and maintain lawful control of a resisting subject, applied with the minimum force needed and adjusted if the subject stops resisting.

Treating people with dignity and respect, giving them a voice, making neutral decisions, and communicating trustworthy motives, which encourages voluntary compliance with the law.

Making enforcement decisions based on race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, religion, or sexual orientation rather than on behavior or reliable information about an individual.

An officer's obligation to stop another officer's excessive force or clear misconduct when in a position to do so, and to report that conduct to a supervisor.

A strategy in which officers build ongoing partnerships with residents and organizations to identify problems and solve them together, rather than only responding to calls for service.

A statement of core values, including integrity, honesty, respect for constitutional rights, and service to the public, that sets the standard of conduct expected of officers on and off duty.

The job-related fitness levels in areas such as aerobic capacity, strength, and flexibility that a police recruit must meet for certification and that officers are expected to maintain throughout their careers.

Normal physical and emotional reactions, such as fatigue, intrusive thoughts, anger, or sleep problems, that can follow a traumatic event and are managed through peer support, debriefing, and professional care.

A support program in which trained officers confidentially help colleagues cope with job-related stress, trauma, or personal problems and connect them with professional resources.