Can a male officer pat down a female suspect?

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Question: Can a male officer pat down a female suspect?

Answer: Depends. Most police departments have policies regarding male officers searching female suspects and female officers searching male suspects. If it is just a pat down on the outside of the clothes, then the officer probably can do it regardless of the sex of the officer or the suspect.

Many officers will use the back of their hand to do the pat down on an opposite sex suspect, and that may be their departments policy. In smaller departments, there may not be a same sex officer available to do a pat down of a suspect.

If the search is more extensive than just a pat down of the outer clothing, then most police departments require same sex officers to do the search, or they will get assistance from jail personnel if that is available.

There is no law requiring same sex officers to do pat down type searches.

Comments
1 thru 5 of 14 comments	[ 1 ] 2 3
On 08/04/06 connie from WA said: I was told by one lawyer to file charges of 4th degree assault with sexual intensions. I live in a small town. It will be hard to not get harrassed.
On 06/08/06 Connie from WA said: When I was pulled over for driving while suspended, ( which I was unaware of being suspended) I was arrested. After my fiance left the scene, the officer and another male officer, pulled me out of the car. One of the officers had on blue gloves. He proceded to put his hands up inside my shirt and try to 'pat' me down. needless to say, I wasn't very cooperative! Is that legal?
On 03/14/04 milton from CA said: it seems all cops wanna do now a days is pat you down and take you to jail.cops love making money off poor defense less people trying to get their love ones to get out whatever money they could to bail them out.money is all this country worries about.our values have gone down the toilet and its sad that me at 18 years of age has realized that.
On 01/23/04 mitch from NE said: I enjoy pat downs from time to time - they're grrrrreat!
On 10/07/03 Amber from AZ said: I do not think that male officers should be able to pat down females and vice-versa b/c it can so easily be turned around by either party. I also think that it would be very easy for a male officer to take advantage of a female who does not know their rights very well!
1 thru 5 of 14 comments	[ 1 ] 2 3

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