What is the purpose of a stop and frisk by police officers?

The purpose of a stop and frisk by police officers is fundamentally about ensuring officer safety and the public's safety during law enforcement encounters. When officers perform a stop and frisk, they are briefly detaining a person based on reasonable suspicion that the individual may be involved in criminal activity and may be armed. This allows officers to investigate any immediate threats without necessarily arresting the individual. The pat-down, or "frisk," is specifically aimed at discovering weapons that could pose a danger to the officers or others nearby.

This procedure is rooted in the legal framework established by the Supreme Court, particularly in the case of Terry v. Ohio, which recognized the necessity for law enforcement to take precautionary measures when they have a reasonable belief that a person may be armed and dangerous. Thus, the focus of a stop and frisk is on safety rather than on formal criminal charges or evidence collection, distinguishing it from other policing actions operating under different objectives, such as traffic stops or curfew enforcement.