Police-Citizen Contacts

This presentation will explore the legal guidelines handed down by the United States Supreme Court governing contacts between citizens and peace officers. Special attention will be given to the understanding of the concepts of reasonable articulable suspicion (RAS) and probable cause (PC) and their applications to the seizure of persons and property. Particular focus will be paid to how these concepts apply to the armed citizen. The legal framework for the evaluation of use of force by the courts will also be discussed.