If a weapon is felt during a frisk, what is an officer permitted to do?

When an officer conducts a frisk and feels a weapon, the appropriate action is to retrieve the weapon and make an arrest if the circumstances justify it. This is based on the officer's training regarding the safety of both themselves and the public. The frisk is intended to ensure that the individual does not pose a threat, and upon discovering a weapon, the officer must act to secure it.

Retrieving the weapon is within the scope of the limited search allowed during a frisk, which permits the officer to seize items that are readily identifiable as weapons or contraband. This action is a direct response to an officer's need to maintain control of a potentially dangerous situation and is conducted under the authority given by the Fourth Amendment when there is a reasonable suspicion that the person may be armed and dangerous.

Other options, such as using immediate force or searching the individual without further cause, exceed the lawful boundaries of what a frisk allows. Calling for backup may be a prudent choice in certain situations, but it does not address the immediate need to secure a weapon. Therefore, retrieving the weapon and potentially making an arrest aligns with the lawful procedures following the discovery of a weapon during a frisk.