What is the purpose of a pat-down?

• A. To discover evidence
• B. To identify the subject's name
• C. To search for weapons only with consent
• D. Not to discover evidence, but for officer safety

Answer: (D)

The key point is that a pat-down is a quick, protective search aimed at detecting weapons to keep the officer and others safe during an encounter. It is not conducted to gather evidence. Because of its safety focus, the best choice says that the pat-down’s purpose is not to discover evidence, but for officer safety. It’s a brief frisk of outer clothing designed to feel for weapons, and any weapons found can be secured; it isn’t a broad search for contraband or to identify the person’s name. The other ideas don’t fit because a pat-down isn’t about collecting evidence, isn’t meant to identify someone, and isn’t inherently restricted to searches only with consent (it can occur without consent when there’s reasonable suspicion of danger).