North Carolina Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) State Practice Exam

If no items were found during a search, what should you declare regarding the area?

1. You should declare it safe

2. You should state nothing was found

3. You should keep the area under surveillance

4. You should close the area for further inspection

The correct answer is: You should state nothing was found

The correct response acknowledges the outcome of the search process. Stating that nothing was found provides clear and concise information about the results of the search. This documentation is essential in law enforcement, as it ensures that there is a record of the search's findings, contributes to transparency, and aids in the assessment of the location or ongoing investigation. Declaring the absence of items helps to inform subsequent actions that might be required in that area, whether it involves further investigative steps or allowing others to access the location. It's important for officers to communicate findings to maintain clarity in operations and to uphold proper procedure. While declaring the area safe, keeping it under surveillance, or closing it for further inspection could be reasonable actions, those decisions should be based on additional context and not merely on the search's results. Documentation of what was found or not found therefore becomes a fundamental aspect of police procedure and accountability.