What is the definition of ambush, according to LEOKA?

• A. A routine traffic stop that escalates.
• B. An officer is assaulted with no premeditation.
• C. A spontaneous assault by a lone actor.
• D. Situation in which an officer is unexpectedly assaulted as the result of premeditated design by the perpetrator.

Answer: (D)

Ambush, in LEOKA terms, is a premeditated, unanticipated attack on a law enforcement officer. This means the attacker plans the assault in advance and uses surprise to strike, catching the officer off guard. The other scenarios don’t fit because they involve either reactive or non-premeditated violence: a routine stop that escalates is not a preplanned assault; an assault with no premeditation isn’t an ambush; and a spontaneous assault by a lone actor lacks the deliberate design that defines an ambush. The key element is the combination of premeditated design and unexpected timing, which is exactly what the LEOKA definition captures.