What constitutes reasonable suspicion for a police officer?

Reasonable suspicion is a legal standard that allows police officers to briefly detain an individual for investigative purposes when they have specific, articulable facts that suggest criminal activity is afoot. This standard is less stringent than probable cause, which is required for arrests or obtaining search warrants.

In the context of law enforcement, reasonable suspicion must be based on the officer’s observations, experience, or information received rather than just a vague or unparticular feeling. This means that the officer needs a rationale that can be articulated and that justifies the suspicion based on the circumstances observed.

The other choices represent either insufficient grounds for suspicion, such as a mere hunch or intuition, or situations that may not apply to the requirements of reasonable suspicion. While an evident observation of a crime can indeed lead to probable cause for an arrest, it doesn't necessarily fall into the realm of reasonable suspicion unless it is accompanied by additional context that suggests a crime may occur. Similarly, while a reliable informant's confirmed tip may lend credible basis for suspicion, it still needs to be supported by the officer’s own observations or corroborative evidence to establish reasonable suspicion comprehensively.