Law Enforcement Bulletin 

Question: Is an officer’s “pacing” of a vehicle sufficient to create reasonable suspicion to stop the vehicle for speeding?
 
Quick Answer: Yes, but only if the officer can show that he maintained a constant distance between vehicles for a sufficient amount of time.

Question: Can you pat down a suspect a second time based on his behavior following the first pat-down?
 
Quick Answer: A suspect may be patted down a second time if he continues to act suspiciously, even after a previous pat-down was performed and nothing was found.

Question: Is an anonymous informant’s tip enough to create the reasonable suspicion necessary to stop a suspect, even without corroborating evidence?
 
Quick Answer: Usually, no. But when the officer has significant reason to believe the informant is genuinely concerned and credible, a court might treat the informant like an identified citizen and ignore the lack of corroboration.

Bob has schizophrenia. Though he had just been released from a mental health hospital, he skipped his follow-up appointment and instead went to a grocery store, where he was shaking and harassing customers. His unruly behavior would typically have gotten him arrested. But, the officers who responded to the call took a different approach. They talked to Bob. They found out he hadn’t been taking his medications, and they got him to agree to meet with his case manager. The officers took Bob back to the hospital and then to his home for his medications. At Bob’s home, the situation escalated when he refused to take his medication and went for a knife.