What is the deadliest type of call for service?

• A. Disturbance
• B. Suspicious Person
• C. Domestic dispute
• D. Traffic stop

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is that uncertainty about a person’s threat level makes a call extraordinarily dangerous. When you respond to a suspicious person, you often have little concrete information about who you’re dealing with, what they’re up to, or whether they’re armed. That unknown element can allow a weapon to be hidden, a hostile reaction to occur suddenly, or an ambush to be sprung before you can properly assess the situation. The risk isn’t just from the person’s actions, but from the lack of reliable details before you arrive and begin contact. Because you’re moving into a scenario with limited warnings and potentially concealed danger, these encounters can escalate quickly and catch officers off guard.

To stay safer in these situations, you emphasize scene safety: request backup, position yourself with cover and distance, verify identities from a safe vantage, and approach methodically with a clear plan and appropriate commands. While disturbances or domestic disputes can also become dangerous—emotions run high and long-standing grievances can erupt—the unknown threat in a suspicious person call creates the highest likelihood of a lethal encounter. Traffic stops carry their own risks, but they typically come with more information to guide how you approach safely.