Policy Text
Revisions or additions are highlighted 1 (04/29/2024 ) ST. PETERSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
Subject: FIELD CONTACTS
Index as: Contacts, Formal Field Interview Reports (FIR) Investigatory Stop
Contacts, Informal FIR Investigatory Stop of a Vehicle
Field Contacts Frisk Loitering and Prowling
Field Interview Frisk of Individuals Terry Stop
Accreditation Standards: 1.2.3 , 1.2.4
Cross Reference: G.O. II-42, Use of Force
§§ 901.151 and 856.021, Florida Statutes .
Terry v. Ohio
Replaces : G.O. III-01, Field Contacts (March 5, 2021 )
This Order consists of the following sections:
I. Policy
II. Definitions
III. Informal Contact - Consensual Encounter
IV. Formal Contact - Investigatory Stop
V. Investigatory Stop of a Vehicle
VI. Frisk of Individuals
VII. Loitering and Prowling
VIII. Field Interview Reports
I. POLICY
A. Police officer s have frequent contact with many persons under circumstances of every conceivable nature. These
contacts may be generated by citizens or by the officer and may be very informal or, when required by the situation,
more formal and investigatory in nat ure.
B. It is the policy of this Department to encourage frequent and ongoing contact with members of the community.
When contacts are investigatory or performed under articulable suspicious circumstances, the contact will be
documented by the completion of a Field Interview Report (FIR) .
C. During field contacts, the officer will immediately provide descriptive information of the individual to the Emergency
Communications Center.
II. DEFINITIONS
A. Field Interview – Any contact between a private citizen and a law enforcement officer acting in an official capacity,
whether or not related to suspicion of criminal activity.
B. Field Interrogation – The formal questioning, by an officer in the field, of a person who has come under suspicion
in relation to a criminal event. DATE OF
ISSUE EFFECTIVE DATE NUMBER
August 2017 Immediately III-01
Distribution: All Employees
General Order III -01
Revisions or additions are highlighted 2 (04/29/2024 ) C. Frisk – The contact with the outer clothing of a person to detect whether a concealed weapon is being carried.
D. Investigatory Stop – Also referred to as a “Terry Stop.” The temporary detention of an ind ividual for the purpose of
a field interrogation, when an officer has a reasonable suspicion that a crime has been committed, is being
committe d, or was about to be committed.
III. INFORMAL CONTACT - CONSENSUAL ENCOUNTER
A. Informal contact with any member of the public is desirable and encouraged.
1. The ability to engage in casual conversation and a general inquiry field Interview with any person is basically
unlimited; however, the citizen is not required to answer any question, provide identification, nor can they be
detained in any manner.
2. Information developed during an informal contact may, given the totality of circumstances, result in the situation
becoming a formal contact.
B. Informal contact with occupant(s) of a stationary or par ked motor vehicle are permitted; however stopping a moving
vehicle must be based upon the commission of a traffic offense or a reasonable suspicion the occupant(s) has
committed, is committing, or is about to commit a crime.
C. The completion of a FIR is opt ional upon the conclusion of an informal contact.
IV. FORMAL CONTACT -INVESTIGATORY STOP
A. Formal contact or an Investigatory stop of a citizen, either on foot or in a vehicle, may be conducted in accordance
with the provisions of Florida’s “Stop and Frisk Law” ( § 901.151, F.S.S.).
1. Any person may be stopped when an officer has reason to believe the person has committed, is committing, or
is about to commit a violation of the criminal laws of the State of Florida, applicable criminal ordinances of the
County of Pinellas, or criminal ordinances of the City of St. Petersburg. The provisions of section 901.151,
Florida Statutes . do not apply to non -criminal offenses.
2. The stop must be based upon reasonable belief, and cannot be based on mere suspicion, or to merely complete
a Field Interview Report. The specific factual circumstances which gave rise to the development of reasonable
belief must be articulable and included in the report of the incident. The circumstances may include but are not
limited to:
a. Time of day and/or location;
b. Place and/or proximity to a reported crime;
c. Actions or physical appearance of the individual; and
d. Knowledge of a bulletin or information describing the person by name or conduct.
B. Reasonable force may be used to temporarily detain a person for an investigatory stop. This force may not extend
to that which may cause serious bodily injury or death. If physical force as defined in G.O. II -42, Use of Force , is
employed, a charge equal to the level of unlawful resistance, separate from any other offense, should be made
against the person.
C. Under circumstances justifying an investi gatory stop ( reasonable suspicion the person has, is or was about to
commit a crime), an officer may make an inquiry into the identity of the person and the articulable circumstances
which led to the stop. Although the courts have deemed the