Colorado POST Practice Exam

In a domestic dispute, if an officer has probable cause to believe a crime has occurred, what is their obligation?

1. File a police report

2. Make an arrest

3. Issue a warning

4. Call for backup

The correct answer is: Make an arrest

When an officer has probable cause to believe that a crime has occurred during a domestic dispute, their obligation is to make an arrest. This stems from the legal principle that law enforcement has a responsibility to protect individuals and prevent further harm, especially in situations involving domestic violence. Probable cause indicates that the officer has sufficient evidence to believe that a crime is occurring or has occurred, which empowers the officer to take action to ensure safety and enforce the law. Making an arrest in such situations also reflects the policy of mandating arrests in cases of domestic violence to address the serious nature of these incidents effectively. While other actions such as filing a police report, issuing warnings, or calling for backup may be relevant in different scenarios or follow-up processes, the immediate obligation when probable cause is established is to make an arrest to protect vulnerable individuals involved in the domestic dispute. This approach aims to deter future violence and hold offenders accountable for their actions.