What does reasonable suspicion allow an officer to do?

Reasonable suspicion is a legal standard that allows a law enforcement officer to temporarily stop and question an individual based on specific and articulable facts that suggest the individual may be involved in criminal activity. This concept is a vital part of officer training, as it provides the necessary threshold for initiating contact with a person when there are concerns about possible criminal behavior.

When an officer has reasonable suspicion, they can conduct what is known as a "Terry stop," named after the landmark Supreme Court case Terry v. Ohio. During this stop, the officer can ask questions to confirm or dispel their suspicions. This practice is meant to strike a balance between individual rights and public safety, allowing officers to investigate without needing probable cause, which is a higher standard required for arrest or search warrants.

In terms of the other options, while arresting an individual typically requires probable cause and a full search generally demands consent or a warrant, the authority to issue traffic citations also rests on clear violations of law rather than reasonable suspicion alone. Therefore, the ability to temporarily stop and question an individual is the most appropriate and legal use of reasonable suspicion.